Running Plays

Tony Dutton

Linesman, Line Judge & Back Judge

• Review end keys for who watches which end.• In general, the BJ is responsible for initial action

on and by the strong side end.• L or LJ on the opposite side has the end on that

side.• If there are “trips” (three or more receivers on

the same side), BJ has the two outside receivers. L or LJ on that side has the inside eligible receiver.

Strong Side

• Strength is determined by the number of eligible receivers outside the tackles.

• If there is no strong side, strength is declared to the LJ’s side.

• Motion may or may not change strength.

• No strong side (balanced formation).• Strength declared to LJ side.• BJ has end on LJ side.• L has end on opposite side.

• Strength to L’s side.• BJ has end on L’s side.• LJ has end on opposite side.

• Strength to LJ’s side.• BJ has end on LJ’s side.• L has end on opposite side.

• Strength to L’s side.• BJ has end on L’s side.• L be aware of action on and by the back on his side.• LJ has end on opposite side.

• Formation is balanced. Strength declared to LJ’s side.• BJ has end on LJ’s side.• LJ has outside back on his side.• L has end and back on his side.

• “Trips”• BJ has the two outside receivers on LJ’s side.• LJ has the inside eligible receiver on his side.• L has the end on his side.

• “Double wing.” Strength declared to LJ’s side.• LJ has flanker on his side and looks through to his tackle.• L has end and flanker on his side.

• Motion back clearly on LJ’s side changes strength.• BJ now has end on LJ’s side.• L has end on other side.

• Motion inside tackles does not change strength.• BJ has end on L’s side.• LJ has end on opposite side.

• “Wishbone.” Balanced formation.• Strength declared to LJ’s side.• BJ has end on LJ’s side.• L has end on opposite side.

Umpire, Linesman &Line Judge

• Read keys for run or pass.

• Linemen charge to block linebackers or charge downfield.

• Linemen raise up and step back to pass block.

Linesman & Line Judge:Run Away from You

• Watch action on and by your end or back.

• Observe action down the line of scrimmage.

• Help with action on quarterback after pitch.

• Be alert for reverse (don’t get caught inside).

Linesman & Line Judge:Run Toward You

• Watch action on an by your end or back.

• Watch for illegal block below the waist.

• Watch for illegal block or tackle on pitch man.

• Mark forward progress with downfield foot.

Illegal Block Below the Waist(9-1-2-e)

• A block below the waist is illegal:– If toward the position of the ball at the snap,– In or behind the neutral zone or within ten

yards beyond the neutral zone,– By offensive linemen positioned more than

seven yards from middle lineman or,– By a back positioned outside the normal

tackle position or,– By a back in motion.

OK

FOUL

FOUL

OK

OK

OK

FOUL

10 YDS

Blocking Below the Waist

Blocking or TacklingPitch Man

• 9-1-2-e-6: “A Team A player behind the neutral zone and in position to receive a backward pass shall not be blocked below the waist.”

• 9-3-4-b: “Defensive players may not use hands and arms to tackle, hold or otherwise illegally obstruct an opponent other than the runner.”

Forward Progress

• Move straight downfield, parallel with sideline

• Square off, mark progress with downfield foot

• Come in on close plays: 4th down, goal line

• Tough call: Runner down or score at goal line

More Forward Progress

• Sidelines: watch action out of bounds.

• See the ball (leather) before blowing the whistle.

• “Slow whistle, slow flag”.

Running Play - Umpire

• Focus on point of attack.

• Clipping zone.

• Illegal block from behind and at or below the knee.

• Illegal block in the below the waist.

• Illegal use of hands or arms by offense.

• Chop block.

Use of Hands or Arms by Offense(9-3-3)

• The hands must be:– In advance of the elbow.– Inside the frame of the opponent’s body

(except when he turns his back).– Apart and never in locked position.– At or below the shoulders.– Open with palms out or closed with palms in.

• Hands and arms may not be used to:– Grasp, pull, encircle, hook, clamp or otherwise

illegally impede or obstruct.

• Open palms must be facing the opponent.• Closed palms must be facing in.

• “Spearing is the use of the helmet (including the face mask in an attempt to punish an opponent.” (2-24)• Also 9-1-2-l: use of helmet to ram or butt.

(A)Hands locked on contact.(B) Hands above shoulders.

Chop Block - 1 (2-3-3-a)

• A chop block is:– An obviously delayed block,– At the thigh or below and,– Opponent is:

• In contact with teammate of the blocker,• In the act of disengaging, or• Has just disengaged but is still confronting.

– When in question, the contact is at the thigh or below.

• Applies anywhere on the field.

Chop Block - 2 (2-3-3-b)

• A chop block is:– A high-low, low-high or low-low– Combination block,– By two nonadjacent linemen,– With or without a delay between contacts,– occurring in the neutral zone.

Chop Block - 3 (2-3-3-c)

• A chop block is:– A high-low, low-high or low-low,– Combination block,– By any two offensive players,– With or without a delay between contacts,– When initial contact clearly beyond the neutral

zone.

Running Play – Back Judge

• Cover from behind defensive backs.

• Watch action on and by your end.

• Bracket runner between you and L or LJ.

• Move into dead ball area on out of bounds runs, especially into team areas.

• Be particularly alert when runner goes into opponent’s team area.

• On long gains, assist with spotting the ball.

Running Play - Referee

• Responsible for ball, runner, action around runner, forward progress, and out of bounds spot behind the neutral zone.

• Assist with spotting the ball.

Running Play Penalty Enforcement

• Some basic penalty enforcement:– Spot is specified in penalty:

• USE THAT SPOT.

– Spot is not specified or Basic Spot is specified:

• USE THE ‘3 & 1 PRINCIPLE’

Basic Spot (2-25-10)‘3 & 1’ Principle

• Depending on the situation, the Basic Spot may be:– The Previous Spot, – The Spot Where the Run Ends, or– The Spot where the Kick ends.

• Fouls beyond the Basic Spot by either team:– Penalize from Basic Spot

• Fouls by the team in possession fouls behind the Basic Spot:– Spot Foul.

BASICSPOT

Behind theBasic Spot

Beyond theBasic Spot

Team inPossession

Opponents

X

XX

X

SpotFoul

Running Play (2-30-4)

• Live-ball action that is not: free kick play, scrimmage kick play, legal forward pass play.

• Running play includes Spot Where the Run Ends (2-25-8) and interval of any fumble, backward or illegal pass until possession is gained or ball declared dead.

Kinds of Running Plays

• Running play with neutral zone:– Run ends behind the neutral zone:

• Basic Spot = Previous Spot

– Run ends beyond the neutral zone:• Basic Spot = Spot Where the Run Ends

• No neutral zone (interception and kick runbacks, fumble advances, etc.):– Basic Spot = Spot Where the Run Ends

Running Play Exceptions

• Behind the neutral zone, offensive team: – Facemask, – Illegal use of hands, – Holding, – Illegal block and – Personal fouls.

• Penalize from Previous Spot (not Basic Spot Enforcement). Safety if foul behind Team A’s goal line

Note: Run ends with a backward pass, illegal pass, or fumble.

XRun ends here

B facemask

• Ruling:• Penalize B from previous spot

XRun ends here

XB facemask

Ruling:• Penalize B from spot where run ends.

XRun ends here

XB facemask

Ruling:• Penalize B from spot where run ends.

XRun ends here

Ruling:• Penalize A from previous spot (exception: not spot of the foul).

XA holds

XRun ends here

Ruling:• Penalize A from spot of the foul.

A clips X

XRun ends here

Ruling:• Penalize A from spot where the run run ends.

A block inThe back X

XA fumbles here.

Ruling:• Penalize B from spot of the foul. B’s ball.

B recoversand advances.

During B’s advanceB blocks in the back X

B down.

XA fumbles here.

Ruling:• Penalize B from spot where the related run ends. B’s ball.

B recoversand advances.

During B’s advanceB blocks in the back X

B down.

XA fumbles here.

Ruling:• Penalize B from spot where the run ended (spot of the fumble). A’s ball 1st & 10.

B recoversand advances.

While the ball is looseB commits a personalFoul. X

B down.