AR 12-1-1 / Challenge

I. 2 & middle at Os 7-yd line. The offense commits a false start. The penalty is enforced from Os
7-yd line with 5 yards. Next play 2 & middle at Os 2-yd line. The offense coach or captain
points out that, half the distance enforcement should be used.
RULING: If the Referee recognizes that they have made the enforcement wrong, they will correct it and inform the coach. If the Referee keep it this way, the coach can request a challenge and
the procedure begins. The Referee takes a timeout, the challenge will be permitted, because it
is about an enforcement, and shall be successful.

II. During a successful try, the defense commits an illegal blitz. The Referee spots the ball for the
new series at the 5-yard line. The offense coach points out the ball should be placed at the
2.5-yd line after enforcement of the penalty. The Referee informs the coach that only 10 yard
penalties will be carried over. The coach disagrees and requests a challenge.
RULING: The Referee takes a charged timeout, the challenge will be permitted, because it is about
an enforcement, and shall be not successful. The Referee may show the coach the respective
R 10-3-2 on paper or an electronic device. Next snap 1 & middle from the 5-yd line.
NOTE: If the offense has no more timeouts, the challenge will not be granted.

III. A team has made a challenge and it was successful. Later in the half the coach wants to make
a second challenge about a ruling. The Referee informs the coach that they already had a
challenge in this half and cannot have a second one. The coach still insists on getting a
challenge.
RULING: The Referee ignores the request from the coach, the play continues.
NOTE: If the coach continues arguing loudly from the sideline, the referee may penalize them for
unsportsmanlike conduct.

IV. After 2 & goal from Ds 16 has ended with an incomplete pass, the DJ announces 4 & goal, all
other officials agree. The play starts, a pass is completed at Ds 5-yard line and the play is
stopped at Ds 2-yard line. The Referee announces a new series for the defense. The offense
coach challenges the ruling about the next down.
RULING: The Referee takes a timeout, the challenge will be permitted, because it is about a ruling
on the next down. Not challenging the first wrong 4th does not forfeit the right to challenge the
next down (new series).
The offense coach explains that they have not played a 3rd down in this series and wants to
get another down to have 4 downs played.
The challenge shall not be successful, because the teams cannot request a change about a
ruling before the last play. To be permitted and successful the offense coach would have had
to challenge the wrong 4th down before it had been played.

V. After 2 & goal from Ds 16 has ended with an incomplete pass, the DJ announces 4 & goal, all
other officials agree. The play starts, a pass is completed at Ds 5-yard line and the play is
stopped at Ds 2-yard line. Both teams start to exchange personnel as the DJ announces they
made a mistake and the upcoming down will be the 4th for the offense at Ds 2 yard line, the
Referee agrees. The defense coach challenges the ruling.
RULING: The Referee takes a timeout, the challenge will be permitted, because it is about a ruling
on the next down. Not challenging the first wrong 4th (why should they?) does not mean the
right to challenge the second 4th down is forfeited.
The defense coach explains that they have played an undisputed 4th down and wants to get
the ball by a turnover on downs.
The challenge shall be successful. After the wrongly announced 4th down has been started by
the snap, it is played as announced and the next down (new series) has to be established.