Zebra
Somewhere in, NJ
Male, 62
I've officiated football for over 30 years, now in my 26th on the college level. I've worked NCAA playoffs at the Division II and III level. In addition, I've coached at the scholastic level and have been an educator for over 35 years. I have no interest whatsoever in being an NFL official! Ever!
Good question. I don't have the NFL rule. But using college as a guide, you can't draw excessive attention to yourself (e.g. a choreographed dance, or taking a marker from the goalpost padding and "signing" the ball). My best guess is that the Lambeau Leap pre-dated the rulings about excessive celebration and it is more a sharing/bonding moment with the fans than highlighting the player. If I'm not mistaken, other players have interacted with fans without a penalty.
You look at the result of the play, not the intent. It's the same as a fake; the result, if successful, is two points for the run/pass play.
Most youth leagues use the rules that the state's high schools use. For most starws, that is the National Federation. If the ball carrier crosses the line, he cannot legallythrow the ball forward. The ball carrier can throw a backwards pass. If that occurs, there is nothing that I can find that would prevent the runner from catching his own backward pass. But, as you describe it, and I'm readingf into it, it sounds as if the ball is thrown ahead of the runner to get past the defender. That is an illegal pass.
There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with this. Not much different than the times when a punter takes a snap and runs around in the endzone (I think this was in last yeat's Super Bowl) to kill time before running out of bounds. Defensive teams have allowed offenses to score in order to get the ball back quickly. It isn't a "mockery" of te game, it's a strategy. As long as the ball carrier isn't taunting (e.g. waving it in the face of the opponent) it seems to be a legal and a smart move.
Investment Banker
Former IRS Revenue Officer
Flight Attendant
That's too broad a question - can you narrow it or clarify it?
Based on what you describe, the player and the ball are still in the field of play. That is not a touchback. To add to the fun, at least in college, if a player intercepts at the one - as you describe - and his momentum carries him into the endzone where he is then downed, the ball is placed at the one.
This varies by conference. As an example, the Big Ten pays around $2600 per game. The official, as I understand it, is responsible for all his expenses out of that, including travel, hotel (they have to be there the night before), and meals. At the Division 2 level, one eastern conference that shall remain nameless, pays $235, again a flat fee regardless of travel. One Division 3 eastern conference I know of pays $190, while another in the same general geographic area pays $175.
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