FORWARD PROGRESS
George Demetriou
Colorado Football Officials Association
NFHS Football Rules Interpreters Meeting
July 15, 2008 – Indianapolis Indiana
Colorado Football
Officials Association
Forward Progress
Philosophy
FORWARD PROGRESS and
TIME ….…
are the two most critical
elements of the game.
End of Advancement
Down by rule
Forward movement stopped
Steps OOB
Loses possession
Inadvertent whistle
Helmet comes off
Forward Progress
(2-15-1)
Forward progress is the end of
advancement of the ball in a runner’s
possession...
Rule 2-15-1
… or the forward-most point of the
ball when it is fumbled out of bounds
toward the opponent’s goal...
Rule 2-15-1
… and it determines the dead-ball
spot.
Exception
When part of the ball becomes dead in
a team’s EZ, it is a safety.
Forward progress is not at the
foremost point of the ball (5-3-4).
Play 1
Play 2
Play 3
Play 4
Play 5
Rule 2-15-2
When an airborne player makes a
catch, forward progress is the furthest
point of advancement after he
possesses the ball if contacted by a
defender.
Inbounds Plays
Dives – Must note location of both
knee and ball
Clusters – Judgment call
QB sacks
Dives
Focus on ball while runner is on his
feet.
Focus on knees when runner loses his
balance.
Be cognizant of GL and LTG.
Play 6
Clusters
Judgment call as to when forward
movement is stopped.
Delicate balance between quick and
late whistles.
Allow runner deserved opportunity
Avoid cheap turnover
Two second rule
Clusters
Fumble or strip must occur:
On contact.
While runner is moving forward
Clusters
When pushed back runner breaks free:
Wait
If he does not advance and is
downed, progress is at point of
initial contact
If he does advance voluntarily, allow
play to continue
Clusters
Delayed ruling may be necessary to
GET IT RIGHT
Goal Line Plays
It’s not any different than in the
middle of the field.
If you think of forward progress
as a plane, then the GL is just
another plane.
Play 7
Play 8
Play 9
Play 10
Play 11
Play 12
Play 13
Play 14
QB Sacks
R is on his own most of the time.
Tolerance is one yard.
Contact spot to hitting ground is typically:
3 yds (no resistance).
5 yds (with hopping around).
Play 15
Play 16
Play 17
Play 18
Play 19
Play 20
Overall Philosophy
When runner is knocked backward,
give furthest point achieved.
Do not allow cheap turnovers.
When in doubt, keep the clock
running.
Standards
Loss: +1
Standards
Loss:+1
Long Gains: +/- 1
Standards
Loss: +1
Long Gains: +/- 1
Small Gains: Get it Right
Standards
Loss: +1
Long Gains: +/- 1
Small Gains: Get it Right
Near the Stake: Be Perfect
Standards
Loss: +1
Long Gains: +/- 1
Small Gains: Get it Right
Near the Stake: Be Perfect
Near the GL: Be Better Than
Perfect
Thanks for your attention.
Play Index
Play 1: FP-Intro Easy call
Play 2: FP-6 Hard call, flip over
Play 3: FP-Intro-2 Spt missed 1 yd
Play 4: FP-Missed-Punt Return-1 Also easy, but missed
Play 5: FP-Punt Return – Brighton/Wasson – long discussion
Play 6: FP-5A Knee Down
Play 7: FP-Cluster-1 – Hink/Doh add Fum-1
Play 8: FP-2 FP spot (8) or OOB spot (6)
Play 9: FP-1 Strip after 5 yd pushback
Play 10: FP-7 Was this play over?
Play Index
Play 11: FP- 8 IAW, runner was moving fwd when stripped
Play 12: FP- 4A Delayed ruling
Play 13: FP-Missed QB Sack-9 Breaks free, no advance
Play 14: FP-Missed QB Sack-7 Breaks free, no advance
Play 15: FP-Good QB Sack-1 East/Glenwood – indiscriminate
beanbag
Play 16: FP-Good QB Sack-2 AW/Doh
Play 17: FP-Missed QB Sack-1 Boulder/Fairview 5 yd miss
Play 18: FP-Missed QB Sack-2 Pagosa/Bayfield 2 yd miss
Play 19: FP-Missed QB Sack-3 02 Palmer/Doh
Play 20: FP-Missed QB Sack-4 Alamosa 5 yd miss