Forward Progress

[falcettik]

What determines when a ball carrier's forward progress is halted and the play is blown dead? I have seen some quick whistles as soon as a ball carrier is stood up in a pack of players, and others where it takes several seconds of almost no movement before the play is stopped. Is this a judgment call?

 

[White hat]

Yes, it's judgment so I can't give a set of criteria to help you determine if it's a good whistle or not.

For myself, I look at the feet. If they're not moving or can't move, play over. Also, if the runner is being pushed back, his feet will tell me if he's struggling to get off the tacklers or if he's got no control of his direction and is just moving with the crowd to stay upright. Is there any chance he has to escape the grasp? Is there risk of injury? These are mitigating circumstances.

 

[FBRef]

Realize that the whistle does not cause the play to become dead. The whistle simply recognizes that the ball is dead.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

I don't think whistle is as much of a problem as the spot is. I have seen ball carrier tackled in backfield and ball is spotted up to 5 yards up field. If ball carrier runs backwards he is still live and play is in progress.