AR 7-1-4 Offside and Blitzer

I. A defender reacts to the snap count of the quarterback and jumps over the scrimmage line.
RULING: Ball remains dead. Penalty for offside as a dead ball foul.
NOTE: Should the defender contacts an opponent with impact (receiver is displaced from the
stationary position), the foul will be for illegal contact additionally enforced.

II. A defender, positioned 7 yd away from the scrimmage line raises a hand for a split second or
raises a hand just at shoulder level.
RULING: Penalty for invalid (illegal) signal, the whistle shall be blown and the ball remains dead.
NOTE: Inform the player before the next down to give a clear signal to get the ROW next time.

III. 3 or more blitzers are giving simultaneously a clear signal for getting the ROW.
RULING: Penalty for illegal blitzer signal, the whistle shall be blown and the ball remains dead.

IV. 2 blitzers are giving simultaneously a clear signal for getting the ROW. Before the snap one of
them drops the hand and afterwards another defender, positioned 7 yd away from the
scrimmage line, raises a hand for a clear signal and holds it through the last second before the
snap.
RULING: No foul for illegal blitzer signal. The 2 blitzers last giving the signal get the ROW.

V. A defender (#46), positioned 6 yd from the scrimmage line, raises a hand for a blitzer signal.
RULING: Penalty for illegal blitzer signal, the whistle shall be blown and the ball remains dead.
NOTE: The FJ should make every attempt to inform the player before the foul with: “Number 46
you are not 7 yd away from scrimmage line.” Should the player adjust to a legal blitzing
position prior to the snap than there is no foul.

VI. A defender (#46), positioned 7.5 yd from the scrimmage line, raises a hand for a blitzer signal.
The player mistakenly anticipates the snap and is 6 yards from the scrimmage line with the
raised hand when the ball is snapped.
RULING: Penalty for illegal blitzer signal, the whistle shall be blown and the ball remains dead.
NOTE: If #46 drop the hand and start the blitz from 6 yd, it will be an illegal blitz as a live ball foul. If #46 drop the hand and does not cross the scrimmage line, then play continues with no foul.

VII. A defender, positioned 10 yd from the scrimmage line, raises a hand for a blitzer signal. The
player starts running towards the SL anticipating the snap and is 7.5 yards from the
scrimmage line with the raised hand when the ball is snapped and continuous a blitz.
RULING: No foul, the blitzer has ROW.
NOTE: If the blitzer drops his hand during their run before the snap, they can still legally blitz
without ROW.