2023 TCAOA Week 5 Football Quiz

Third and 10 from the 20. QB A10 pitches the ball to A33 who runs a sweep to the left. Right guard A76 pulls to be a lead blocker. As A76 approaches defensive end B55 at the 20 yard line, B55 dives into the knees of A76 to make a pile. A33 is stopped for a 2 yard gain.

• No foul on the play. The defense can block low as long as it is back towards the line of scrimmage

• No foul on the play as the contact was against an interior offensive lineman

• Foul for Block below the Waist on the defense. The penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul

• Foul for Block Below the Waist on the defense. The penalty is enforced from the End of the Run.

Answer explanation

9.3.2 covers BBW action, and it can be a foul by either A or B unless it meets the very specific definitions of when it is allowed.

Second and 10 from the 20. At the snap, right guard A60 pulls left to make a trap block out on the left defensive end. Defensive nose tackle B76 sees the pulling guard, and grabs onto his waist to hold him there so he can not continue running down the line. A33 is then tackled for a 2 yard loss.

• No foul as the defense is allowed to grab and pull

• Foul for defensive holding on B76. Enforce the penalty from the end of the run

• Foul for defensive holding on B76. Enforce the penalty from the previous spot

Answer explanation

9.2.3.c says a defensive player may not hook or grasp in an effort to restrain an opponent

10.4.2.d tells us we enforce this penalty from the previous spot

On the kickoff to start the game, R11 catches the kick at the 11 yard line. At the 20 yard line, R40, R50, and R60 stand shoulder to shoulder and hold hands as they start running upfield to block for R11. At the 25, they stop holding hands as they each block a player from K. R11 returns the ball out to the 30 yard line.

• No foul on the play as holding hands does not meet the definition of interlocked blocking

• Foul for interlocked blocking. Being on a kickoff, if accepted the enforcement will be from the previous spot with a rekick

• Foul for interlocked blocking. Enforce the 10 yard penalty from the end of the return

• Foul for interlocked blocking. Enforce the 10 yard penalty from the 20, where the three players first held hands.

Answer explanation

9.2.1b simply says no player may grasp or encircle a teammate to form interlocked blocking

10.4.4.d tells us the basic spot is the spot in this play is the spot of the foul.

First and 10 from the 20. At the snap, middle linebacker B55 runs straight forward on a blitz from his starting position at the 23 yard line. Center A50, after the snap, dips down low and immediately fires out, blocking B55 at the knees at the 21 yard line. On the play, team A completes the pass for a gain of 6 yards.

• Foul for Block Below the waist on A50. Half the distance to the goal line from the 20.

• No foul for block below the waist since A50 immediately blocked low

• Foul for block below the waist. Enforce the penalty from the succeeding spot.

• No foul for block below the waist if the ball was still in the free blocking zone at the time of the block

Answer explanation

9.3.2 defines when BBW can occur, and it references rule 2.17. 2.17.2 has requirements for the BBW to be legal, which includes that the players must be in the zone and on the LOS at the snap. This play occurred as part of Loose-ball-play and thus the basic spot is the previous spot

On the opening kickoff to start the game, K tries an onside kick. While the ball is still rolling and is a yard short of midfield, K20 blocks R22 at midfield in order to allow the ball to continue to cross the 50 where K30 then falls on it.

• No penalty as the ball was grounded already

• Illegal block on K20. Blow the play dead as soon as that illegal block is made. Re-kick after the 10 yard penalty.

• Illegal block on K20. Live ball foul. Re-kick after the 10 yard penalty.

• Illegal block on K20. Live ball foul. Re-kick after the 15 yard penalty.

Answer explanation

9.3.7 says the kicking team cannot block until the kick has traveled 10 yards or they are eligible to recover the kick, or the receiving team first initiates a block. This is a loose-ball play 10 yard penalty.

Fourth and 10 from midfield. K9 punts the ball which is coming down at the 8 yard line. R18 waves for a fair catch, but then allows the ball to bounce at the 8 and roll toward the endzone. R18 then blocks K40 at the 10 in an effort to prevent K40 from downing the punt before it goes into the end zone. The ball does end up in the endzone as a touchback.

• No foul on this play if the block happens AFTER the punt is grounded

• Foul for Blocking After Signal on R18. This is Loose-ball play, enforce the 15 yards from the previous spot.

• Foul for Blocking After Signal on R18, enforce the 15 yards (or half the distance) from the succeeding spot which is the 20.

• Foul for Blocking After Signal on R18, enforce the 15 yards (or half the distance) from the spot of the block.

Answer explanation

9.3.3 defines this penalty at a 15 yard penalty. This is PSK enforcement, and 10.4.3 says R fouls behind the end of the kick are spot fouls.