OFFICIALS CORNER

THIS WEEK’S RULE: Intentional Grounding

            Intentional grounding in high school id defied as a pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible receiver, or a pass intentionally thrown incomplete to save loss of yardage or to conserve time. There is no Tackle Box in high school football like in the NFL. It doesn’t matter where the quarterback is on the field when he throws the pass. There is one exception to this rule: It is legal to conserve time by intentionally throwing the ball forward to the ground immediately after receiving a direct hand-to-hand snap (more commonly referred to as the quarterback spiking the ball). The quarterback must immediately throw the ball forward at his own feet. He may be stepping backward to clear himself from the line of play.

Following are some different situations concerning Intentionally
Grounding as stated in the high school football rules book.

1)  Quarterback A1 drops back to pass but is unable to find a receiver
and: (a) throws the ball to the ground, or (b) throws the ball to the
ground in an area only occupied by defensive players, or (C) deliberately
throws the ball clearly out of bounds.

Ruling:  Illegal forward pass in (a), (b) and (C).  Penalize Team A five
yards from where the quarterback threw the ball and count the down (also known as a loss of down).

2)  Quarterback A1 takes a direct hand-to-hand snap.  (a) A1 fumbles
the snap but is able to take the ball from the ground and spike it
forward; or (b) A1 receives the snap, but his spike attempt hits snapper
A2's leg and ricochets into the air.  A1 catches the ball and
immediately spikes it forward.

Ruling:  Illegal forward pass in both.  Once the ball touches the
ground, a player or a spike attempt is unsuccessful, it may not be
grounded legally thereafter using the exception rule.  In order to meet
the allowance within the exception, the ball must go immediately from
the snapper to the quarterback without being muffed, fumbled or
otherwise mishandled.

3)  Quarterback A1 drops back to pass and while under a good defensive
rush, he throws the ball forward:  (a) 15 yards behind A3 who has run a
deep post pattern; or (b) 5 to 10 feet over the head of eligible A3 who
lined up near a sideline.

Ruling:  The referee will have to judge whether the pass was
intentionally thrown incomplete or whether A1 was simply unable to throw
the ball close to A3.  Comment:  Some factors to look for in making an
intentional-grounding decision are absence of eligible offensive
receivers in the area and the "dumping" to avoid loss of distance.  The
ability and skill of the passer and the pressure of the defense are also
factors to consider.

Dan Boyer

PIAA. Football Official