Passing Study Guide
8/12/03
www.eteamz.com/csfoa
Handouts section
Colorado Springs Football Officials Association
Pre-Season
• study Rules Book
– definitions covered in Rule 2 (page 17)
– passing rules covered in Rule 7 (page 46)
– momentum exception Rule 8-5-2 (page 54)
– conduct of players Rule 9 (page 55)
– passing fundamentals covered in Section VII (page 67)
• study Case Book
• study Simplified and Illustrated book
• study Mechanics
• exercise - stretching and cardiovascular
Definitions
• loose ball (page 17)
• batting (page 17)
• catch (page 18)
• force (page 20)
• forward progress (page 21)
• interception (page 23)
• muff (page 25)
• passing (page 29)
• player designations (page 26)
• plays for penalty enforcement (page 27)
Rule 9
• holding (9-2-3 page 55)
• illegal blocking (9-3-1 page 56)
• illegal personal contact (9-4-3 page 57)
• noncontact unsportsmanlike (9-5 page 57)
• illegal participation (9-6 page 58)
Case Book
• Catching The Ball (page 13)
• Simultaneous Catch (page 14)
• Force (page 17)
• Forward Progress Airborne (page 17)
• Pass or Fumble (page 19)
• Passing the Ball (pages 49 - 55)
• Momentum Exception (pages 58 -59)
Case Book
• Blocking - Use of Hands (page 62)
• Roughing the Passer (page 65)
• Noncontact Unsportsmanlike Conduct (page 68)
• Illegal Participation (pages 69 - 70)
Simplified and Illustrated
• Catch (2-4-1 page 18)
• Force (2-13-1 page 14)
• Forward Progress Airborne (2-15-2 pages 22 - 23)
• Passing (2-29-2 page 26)
• Passing the Ball (pages 57 - 64)
• Momentum Exception (pages 67 - 68; 70)
• Holding/Pass Interference (9-2-3 page 72)
• Roughing the Passer (9-4-3 pages 77 - 78)
• Taunting (9-5-1 page 80)
• Illegal Participation (9-6-1 & 9-6-4 page 81)
True/False Quiz
• If the number exception is in effect, A1 (#21) can be one of
the 5 interior linemen, but is restricted the same as other
players wearing a number 50 - 79.
• True (7-2-5a Exception)
• A pass thrown forward after a change of possession during
the down is an illegal forward pass.
• True (7-5-2a)
• Touching of a forward pass by B causes all A players to
become eligible.
• True (7-5-6b)
True/False Quiz
• If end A1 accidentally goes out of bounds and returns
during the down, he becomes an ineligible receiver.
• False (7-5-6d)
• If more than one forward pass is thrown, interference
restrictions end for B when the first pass is touched.
• True (7-5-9c)
• If A1’s forward pass is deflected by eligible A2 to ineligible
A3 behind the neutral zone and A3 catches it, there is no
foul.
• False (7-5-13 - Illegal Touching 5 yds + loss of down)
Plays & Rulings
• A14 releases a forward pass when his passing hand is beyond the neutral
zone and the rest of his body is not beyond the neutral zone.
• Legal play. A passer has crossed the neutral zone when either foot is
beyond the neutral zone when the pass is released.
• A's quarterback runs beyond the neutral zone, retreats behind the neutral
zone and throws a forward pass from his 40 yard line. B37 contacts
eligible A86 who catches the pass and runs for an apparent touchdown.
• The pass is legal and pass interference rules apply.
• At the snap, A36 is positioned so that he is neither on the line nor in the
backfield. He runs a down-and-out pattern and catches a legal forward
pass for a 10-yard gain.
• Team A has committed three fouls: illegal formation, ineligible receiver
downfield, and offensive pass interference. The latter includes loss of
down.
Plays & Rulings
• Eligible receiver A88 pushes linebacker B56 five yards beyond
the neutral zone. A10's pass is well over the head of A88 and
lands out of bounds.
• A88 is guilty of offensive pass interference. The fact that the
pass was uncatchable does not affect this ruling.
• Quarterback A19, in his end zone, is unable to find an open
receiver. Under a heavy rush he throws the ball away. His
forward pass hits lineman A71 in the back, also in his end zone,
and falls incomplete.
• Because A71 did not bat, muff or catch the ball, there is no foul
for A71 being touched by the ball. The only foul is for
intentional grounding. In this case, acceptance of the penalty
results in a safety as does the result of the play, since the run
ended in the end zone.
Plays & Rulings
• K punts from their own 5-yard line. R33 muffs the short
kick at K's 25-yard line and the ball rebounds back to K's
goal line where K7 recovers. From K's 2-yard line, K7
throws a forward pass to A88 near A's 35 yard line, where
A88 is flagged for offensive pass interference.
• The pass is legal, as it occurred before any change in team
possession and was thrown from behind the line. K will
keep possession of the ball and will be awarded a new
series, as R was the first to touch the kick beyond the line.
The basic spot is the 5-yard line. Penalize half the distance
to the goal . K's ball, first and 10, on their own 2.5 yard line.
Basic Mechanics - Referee
• Position is behind and about 5 - 7 yards outside the deepest
back or backs. Work on the throwing arm side of the
quarterback. Stay behind and aside from passer - be deep
enough and wide enough to be able to "see through" the
passer, observing the blocking in and around the pocket.
• Observe backs illegally blocking below the waist; observe
that backs and lineman are not clipping or holding rushing
defensive lineman.
• Assist U with blocking on the tackle on your side.
• Do not release coverage too quickly - remain focused on the
passer after the throw and observe action around the passer.
Basic Mechanics - Umpire
• Step up to neutral zone expanded and watch interior
linemen, making sure no lineman passes you prior to last
forward pass being thrown.
• On rollout passes, step forward to line of scrimmage and
turn to passer to assist R on ruling on illegal forward pass.
• Observe backs illegally blocking below waist or clipping
rushing defensive lineman.
• Assist L and LJ on coverage of short passes over the middle.
Turn and look. If you are certain that the pass is incomplete,
give the incompletion signal.
Basic Mechanics - Back Judge
• Responsible to cover deepest receiver on the play and does not let
any player to get behind him.
• Key on tight end or end on strong side. If formation is balanced,
key on end on side of LJ. Watch that the receiver is not held
attempting to move downfield and that the receiver is not illegally
blocking or clipping defensive players (especially linebackers).
• Be ready to rule on all passes at the end line and the goal line.
• When ball is thrown, watch for interference by either team; on
passes between you and sideline, box the play in, officiating from
inside out and assisting side official in determining if there is a
catch, incompletion, fumble, or any player foul.
• If ball is intercepted inside of the 5 yard line, be ready to rule
whether there is a momentum exception if interceptor is downed
in his end zone. Drop a bean bag at spot of on all interceptions
inside the 5 yard line.
Basic Mechanics - Wings
• Read through the end on your side to read the initial actions
of the lineman.
• Responsible for the entire sideline to both end lines.
• Observe action on receivers and linebackers to your side -
that the receiver is not held attempting to move downfield
and that the receiver is not illegally blocking or clipping
defensive players (especially linebackers).
• Assist R on ruling direction of the pass by extending and
holding arm towards backfield on any quick sideline passes
that are backwards.
• Officiate from the outside in. Do not let pass receivers get
between you and the sideline. On passes thrown between
you and BJ, box the play in, assisting the BJ in determining
if there is a catch, incompletion, fumble, or any player foul.
Basic Mechanics - Wings
• Responsible to cover your one-half of field from line of
scrimmage to area in front of BJ. Be prepared to rule on
short passes to receivers running crossing patterns or to
backs running pass routes through the middle of the line of
scrimmage.
• Be prepared to adjust your coverage if the potential passer
becomes a runner.
• If you are unsure of the status of a completed pass near the
line of scrimmage and you observe pass interference, flag
the penalty and after the down has ended, advise the R to
confer with the U to ascertain if the reception was beyond
the line.
Pre-Game
• initial coverage based on formations
• who determines initial direction of pass
• how will the direction of the pass be communicated
• who determines if pass is tipped
• how will a tipped pass be communicated
• who determines if pass was thrown beyond the neutral zone
• who determines intentional grounding
Pre-Game
• when can A block beyond neutral zone
• when do pass restrictions begin/end for A
• when do pass restrictions begin/end for B
• numbering exception
• sideline, end line, and goal line coverage
• signals between wings and BJ
• when in doubt
When In Doubt
• the pass was trapped rather than caught
• the pass is incomplete rather than a fumble
• the passer has thrown a forward pass rather than fumbled
• the pass is forward rather than backward behind the neutral zone
• the pass is backward rather than forward beyond the neutral zone
• the passer has not intentionally grounded the ball
• the defensive back has legally initiated contact in passing
situations
• the receiver would have come down inbounds
• the pass was released behind the neutral zone rather than beyond
• the player has not touched rather than touched the ball (pass or
kick)
Post Pre-Game
• pre-game ball boys
• right-handed or left-handed QB
• types of formations and/or shifts
• types of routes
• get to know the wide-outs and defensive backs
• share the information
Final Thoughts
• expect the unexpected
• referee is responsible for watching the passer
• was it holding or pass interference (OPI vs DPI)
• keep a cushion
• read feet then ball
• sell the call
• whistle first then signal
• be still when making the call and/or giving a signal
Final Thoughts
• know the line-to-gain
• “welk” in the side zones
• use an extra ball to mark forward progress in the side zones
• confirm multiply flags then report
• keep the ball/flag company
• don’t let the ball hit the deck
• communicate with the players and coaches
• the game belongs to the kids