- Re: Hurdling. There have been a number of complaints calling for hurdling calls, particularly against the Eagles RB. There are two arguments to refute this (emphasis mine):
Rule 2-14-1
a. Hurdling is an attempt by a player to jump with one or both feet or knees foremost over an opponent who is still on his feet (Rule 9-1-2-i).
b. “On his feet’’ means that no part of the opponent’s body other than one or both feet is in contact with the ground.
Rule 9-1-2
i. There shall be no hurdling (Exception: The ball carrier may hurdle an opponent.).
If ball carriers are athletic enough to be hurdling by the above definition, we should be applauding not penalising them!
- Re: Hands to the helmet. A couple of calls for this have been disputed as "a stiff arm", but the rule is pretty clear that only two exceptions apply:
Rule 9-1-2
k. No player shall continuously contact an opponent’s helmet (including the face mask) with hand(s) or arm(s) (Exception: By or against the ball carrier).
- Re: "Leaping" to block a FG/PAT. The rule in question is as follows:
Rule 9-1-2As always, contact us if you have any questions or comments
n. No defensive player, in an attempt to gain an advantage, may step, jump or stand on an opponent (Rule 9-3-5-b). No defensive player who runs forward from beyond the neutral zone and leaps from beyond the neutral zone in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or try may land on any player(s). It is not a foul if the leaping player was aligned in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped.
This means that the onus is on the defensive player to avoid contact with any player if he takes a run up, even if the offensive player fires out to engage. Despite seeming rather strange, we are interpreting this correctly according to multiple US conference sources.
Simon
