football rules clarification on defense

Submitted by olsont on

I play a little football for a league but I am very new to actually playing, I never played in highschool or college. 

I primarily play DB and safety but a few times I walk up pretty close to the line for contain and goal line.  

I have 3 major questions on coverage that are not covered well in rule books and just want to draw from all the experience of the coaches and ex players on the forum

 

1: Sometime my coverage is bad and I just stick with a reciver down the field facing them, I occasionally dont turn around for the ball but I watch the recievers eyes andhands and when he goes for the ball I just swat it out and he falls,   Ill work on my covereage but is this pass interference? there is no contact until after the ball has touched his hands

2: A reciever playing tight to the tight end ran forward about 5-6 yards from LOS ( just for the example lets say is was 6-7 yards) and I also walked straight forward and hit him then he whined about it. Is this a penalty/pass interference?   I think it was a run play but coulda been a pass that definitely went to the other side of the field if it was thrown

3.  On the goal line, say on the 2 yard line I am lined up across from a reciever and play press do I get to press for the 2 yards to the goal line or 5 yards from the line of scrimmage (which would partially be in the end zone)

 

Thanks for the help, hard to find on the internet 

 

JClay

June 12th, 2016 at 8:07 PM ^

I do not believe the first example is pass interference of the contact came after he touched the ball as you said.

#2 is contact beyond the five yard zone so should be a penalty, probably holding (or unnecessary roughness of you totally cleaned their clock for no reason).

I do not believe the end zone shortens the five yard contact zone but I'm least sure on this answer.




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olsont

June 12th, 2016 at 8:18 PM ^

for #2 keep in mind I am watching the backfield so just taking a step or two forward as the play develops and he runs straight into me,  I am assuming this a penalty only if its a pass correct? because if this was a run I obviously can push through his block?

Blueblood2991

June 12th, 2016 at 8:20 PM ^

The 5 yard bump rule is only NFL. 

High school and college have no such rule (unless it changed in the last couple years), so I would assume the OPs league wouldn't use NFL rules.

As long as the pass is not in the air yet, and the offensive player is in front or to the side of the defender there can be contact anywhere.  Im talking bumping and minor shoves, obviously holding and excessive roughness are not allowed.

It leaves a little more up to the official disgression, but the thought process is that younger players aren't as quick to identify if someone is blocking or not. 

FolkstyleCoach

June 12th, 2016 at 8:14 PM ^

Just curious, are you saying you play in a men's league that plays in full pads? I'm assuming most guys don't have much experience, what type of players does your league consist of?




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Magnus

June 12th, 2016 at 9:09 PM ^

It's pretty cool to watch. I've seen similar teams play previously, and sometimes they're washed-up former pro players from the CFL or AFL or even NFL. I've seen some college stars, some high school stars, etc. It's basically just guys who love the game and play it in addition to holding down their full-time jobs. The quality of play isn't top-notch, but you still get some guys who are amazing when compared to the competition.

getsome

June 12th, 2016 at 8:27 PM ^

yeah i assumed he was referencing some type of flag football but i guess a mens league makes sense too.

though other than semi-pro or various municipal leagues like with police officers, i havent seen many (if any) random mens leagues requiring full pads.  11 v 11 amateur mens football in full padding is not exactly common like baseball, hoops, hockey, etc where bar leagues are the norm in most towns

Brewers Yost

June 12th, 2016 at 8:21 PM ^

1. That is how they used to teach it at the Michigan football camp with the addition of getting your head turned and look for the ball. Regardless it's not pass interference once they touch the ball.

2. Depends on league rules but generally you are allowed contact for a couple yards but no holding. I would say 6 yards is too much if it's intentional on your part.

3. See above. Personally, 2-3 yards should be max.

Not sure what kind of league your in but if it is a recreational league (ex: flag football) I would shy away from press coverage. Most QBs in those leagues aren't great and it is better sitting off the receiver and trying to get a good break on the ball for an interception.




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olsont

June 12th, 2016 at 8:32 PM ^

Thanks for the help

it is a regular league, some people say semi pro, some people say amateur,  

Our coach plays us with hard man press coverage in certain formations   and that example for #2 was at about the 10 yard line so i was trying to play agressive at the line

Mr. Yost

June 12th, 2016 at 8:31 PM ^

Just go to Michigan State...they grab, hold, and assault you up and down the field. Technique and understanding the rules is completely optional - in fact, under Narduzzi it was frowned upon.

xtramelanin

June 12th, 2016 at 8:56 PM ^

and as others have said, as long as you aren't banging on a guy when the ball is in the air, you are fine.  two things of note: most refs won't call incidental or ticky-tack contact, but that's not universal so you could draw flag once in a while.  secondly, using your examples of goal-line issues or quasi pass/run coverage, again, most refs won't throw the flag as long as they think you are playing it honestly. 

Magnus

June 12th, 2016 at 9:06 PM ^

#1 isn't even faceguarding in the NFL if there's no contact. The idea of faceguarding is that you're trying to prevent the WR from even seeing the football. If it's timed appropriately where you don't put up your hands/rake out the ball until the pass hits the receiver's hands, you have nothing to worry about.

#2 is technically illegal contact if it was a pass, even if it went to the other side of the field. It probably won't be called unless it ends up actually affecting the play. It's not an issue at all if it was a run.

The LOS is what matters for #3. If the ball is at the 2-yard line, you have space to work him as deep as 3 yards into the endzone. 

UNCWolverine

June 12th, 2016 at 9:18 PM ^

Great post. I actually had wanted to ask two basketball rule questions for some time now. So after seeing your post I think this might be the right time.

I never played basketball until joining a men's rec league this past winter. Here are my questions:

1. A guy came down on a fast break and went up to dunk it. I met him above the rim, let's say at about 11 feet. I got all ball on top but slightly bumped him below. Foul or no foul?

2. A different game I was on fire from 3 in the first half, probably had hit 8 or 9 or something similar. After I made the last one I made the "a-ok" sign with my hands, thumb and index finger in a circle with the other three fingers sticking up. I then put both of the circles over my eyes signifying the made 3 as I ran downcourt backpeddling in the defender's face. I got called for technical foul, is that a bit ticky tack or is it just me?

Thanks ahead of time, go blue.

UNCWolverine

June 12th, 2016 at 11:31 PM ^

Ha, my post was written tongue in cheek. I thought it was humorous that someone that claims to have never played football basically is a rec league lock-down cornerback out of nowhere. So I was pretending to do the same but in basketball. I honestly thought it was someone trolling the board, maybe I'm the only person that thought that. Those are three fairly advanced items/plays for someone that has never played the game or apparently even watched much of it before.

In my actual real-life playing time scenario 1 happened from time to time. But I couldn't shoot for shit so my second point was absolutely fictional. 

gnmck7779311

June 12th, 2016 at 10:14 PM ^

In #1...the rule of verticality gives a defender from the floor where he jumped from to infinity straight up as long as he doesn't break the qriginal vertical plane (reach down or into the shooter)....as you discribed it....the question is who created to contact....you or the shooter.....if you....foul call is on you.....if the shooter....it should be a no call (but the way the game is called lately....the defender will get the foul either way)

Mr. Elbel

June 13th, 2016 at 1:42 AM ^

your league doesn't happen to be a madden league, does it? /s

seriously, this actually sounds pretty cool though. it looks like you've already got your answers from some others who know better than I do what they're talking about. I haven't played football since the days of all-time QB's for teams of 4 in the backyard.

CoverZero

June 13th, 2016 at 2:39 AM ^

1) Generally the answer is no, but it depends on the league rules and how the officials call it.  If you do not make contact, generally you are fine...no foul.  However if you cover the WRs face with your back to the ball, at the HS level, you can get flagged for faceguarding even if you dont make contact.  If you are playing in college or NFL, you are OK no penalty unless you make contact.  A good example of this was that Lions / Cowboys game a few years ago when the key play looked like faceguarding, but the officials ruled that there was no contact therefore no foul.  The Lions then proceeded to lose, of course.

Hand checking or any bumping, is kind of normal technique for DBs...as long as you cover it and can get away with it.  Having an idea of where the offical is standing is a good thing.  I used to have my hand on the WRs hips and brush his hands away all of the time, and I never got called for it once because it was brief, small amount of contact and just enough of an annoyance to disrupt a WRs flow, or hands.  Its an art that the best guys like Woodson have down cold.   A young guy who does this very well is Malcolm Butler of the Pats.  He makes up for not being quite as athletic by using his body well to shield the WR off the route and his hands to play the ball in the air.  He gets away with a lot, but gets flagged sometimes too.  The risk is worth it.

 

 

2) the 5yrd rule is explained above.. ball in air rule etc.