American Football NCAA Approved Ruling 4-1-2
I. Team A punts on fourth and 15 at the A-30. B44 is in position to receive the kick. In attempting to catch the ball, B44 muffs it at the B-35. The back judge blows his whistle when it appears that B44 is catching the ball, but it rolls along the ground after B44 muffs it. A88 chases the ball, and in the immediate continuing football action he recovers it while grounded at the B-30. B22 is flagged for holding during the kick. RULING: For games without Instant Replay: Inadvertent whistle. Rule 4-1-2-b-3 applies. The ball is returned to the previous spot and the 10-yard holding penalty is enforced. Team A retains possession and will have 1/10 at the A-40. For games with Instant Replay. Inadvertent whistle. Rule 12-3-3-l applies. Team A declines the penalty and will have the ball at the B-30, first and 10.
II. Team A punts on fourth and 15 at the A-30. B44 is in position to receive the kick. In attempting to catch the ball, B44 muffs it at the B-35. The back judge blows his whistle when it appears that B44 is catching the ball, but it rolls along the ground after B44 muffs it. The ball disappears into a pile of players. B22 is flagged for holding during the kick. RULING: For games without Instant Replay: Inadvertent whistle. Rule 4-1-2-b-3 applies. The ball is returned to the previous spot and the 10-yard holding penalty is enforced. Team A retains possession and will have 1/10 at the A-40. For games with Instant Replay: Inadvertent whistle. Rule 12-3-3-l applies. Since the Instant Replay official does not have indisputable video evidence as to which team recovers, the ruling of the dead ball stands. The holding penalty is enforced at the B-35, under postscrimmage kick rules. Team B’s ball, first and 10 at the B-25.
III. First and 10 at the B-45. Ball carrier A22 is tackled and is going to the ground, when he fumbles. An official sounds his whistle inadvertently. Players on both teams go after the ball, and B66 clearly recovers it while grounded. RULING: For games without Instant Replay: Inadvertent whistle. Rule 4-1-2-b-2 applies. Team A will choose to repeat the down at the previous spot. For games with Instant Replay: Inadvertent whistle. Rule 12-3-3-d applies. If the replay official determines that A22 lost control of the ball before he was down, then the ball belongs to Team B at the spot of the recovery by B66. In the event that the replay official is not able to determine which team recovers the ball, the ruling that the ball carrier was down before losing control of the ball stands, and Team A retains possession at the dead-ball spot.
IV. Team A punts on fourth and 15 at the A-30. B44 is in position to receive the kick. In attempting to catch the ball, B44 muffs it at the B-35. The back judge blows his whistle when it appears that B44 is catching the ball, but it rolls along the ground after B44 muffs it. A88 chases the ball, and in the immediate continuing football action he recovers it while grounded at the B-30. RULING: For games without Instant Replay: Inadvertent whistle. Rule 4-1-2-b-3 applies. The ball is returned to the previous spot and the down repeated. Team A, fourth and 15 at the A-30. For games with Instant Replay: Inadvertent whistle. Rule 12-3-3-l applies. Team A will have the ball at the B-30, first and 10.
V. Team A punts on fourth and 15 at the A-30. B44 is in position to receive the kick. In attempting to catch the ball, B44 muffs it at the B-35. The back judge blows his whistle when it appears that B44 is catching the ball, but it rolls along the ground after B44 muffs it. The ball disappears into a pile of players. RULING: For games without Instant Replay: Inadvertent whistle. Rule 4-1-2-b-3 applies. The ball is returned to the previous spot and the down repeated. Team A, fourth and 15 at the A-30. For games with Instant Replay: Inadvertent whistle. Rule 12-3-3-l applies. Since the Instant Replay official does not have indisputable video evidence as to which team recovers, the ruling of the dead ball stands. Team B’s ball, first and 10 at the B-35.