AR 10-1-2 / Unfair tactics

I. A runner is sprinting along the side line for the winning score, the defenders are far away. A
substitute player comes to the side line and pulls a flag of the runner.
RULING: The play is dead where the runner get deflaged, but the Referee should award the score
that was only prevented by the unfair act. The next play is the try after enforcing the penalty.
The player shall be disqualified.
NOTE: If this happens near the middle, the adequate ruling could be a first down somewhere
beyond the middle but still could be a score too.

II. The defense commits repeated offside fouls before the snap to consume time and getting
closer to the Referees notification (2 min warning) to keep the lead in the game.
RULING: The Referee should stop the clock and inform the team that they will see it as unfair
tactic and will only start the clock on a legal snap.
NOTE: The same apply if the offense repetitively commits fouls to consume time. If they will not
stop, the Referee can order a loss of down or award a first down to the defense too.

III. The defense repeatedly commits illegal blitzes from 1-yard away from SL to sack the QB
immediately or intercept the snap.
RULING: Penalty for illegal blitz, but no unfair tactic. The offense is able to gain ground each time
by declining the penalty on a successful play or at least the 5 yd penalty.
NOTE: If this happens near the goal line and the penalties will be enforced by half the distance,
then this will be an unfair tactic.

IV. 2 & middle at Os 21-yd line (less than 5 yards to the middle). A defensive player goes offside
immediately after the snapper has touched the ball in order to force the offense into a 1 & goal
situation from Bs 24-yd line.
RULING: Unfair tactics by the defense, penalize with 10 yards. There is no possibility of an error by the player, so an intentional foul to gain an advantage must be assumed. The offense may
decline the penalty. The defense players and coaches will be warned that any further
infringements will result in both a 10 yard penalty for unfair tactic and an additional 10 yard
penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct being enforced and disqualification of the offending
player.

V. A coach from the defensive team is coming on the field and holds an obviously open receiver
before they can get to the end zone. The quarterback has to withhold the easy pass for a
score but then throws the ball to another receiver in the end zone for a touchdown.
RULING: Live ball foul for game interference, however the Referee should declare it as a dead ball
foul and enforce the penalty on the subsequent play. The coach shall be disqualified.

VI. The offense score a touchdown on the final play to tie the score and the game is extended for
the try. On the Try the QB throws a forward pass which is intercepted by a defender who
returns the ball. The QB is the only player in position to make a flag pull attempt.
The flag pull fails but the QB contacts the defender at Ds 21-yd line causing him to fall to the
ground at Ds 24-yd line.
RULING: Foul for IC by the QB. No score and the try is over.
A game cannot end with an accepted penalty (R 3-2-2), therefore the defense will be awarded
a 1 & goal at their 15-yd line with no time on the clock.
NOTE: If the QB makes no attempt to pull the flag pull and instead pushes the defender to the
ground, it will be the same ruling but the QB should be disqualified, not only because of the
foul, but also because of intentionally preventing a score.