Football Rules Hypothetical

So the refs move the spot of the ball up from where the last play stopped, and that's in the rules?

 

My understanding of spotting the ball is the forward tip is the line of scrimmage. So on a change of possession, the ball would flip. If it's on the one going out, the ball would be on the one going in. If you didn't flip it, the other team gains almost a foot.

 

My understanding is that any part of the ball that touches the goal line is considered over the goal line -- so if the backward tip of the ball is over the line, it's a safety. That said, like BD77 noted, no official would spot the ball directly on the goal line and create any doubt.

 

A football field is 100 yards long, not 99 yards and 2 feet.

 

It's actually 120 yards long.

 

Someone should tell the Browns. - Sorry, I could not resist.

 

And if quarters were 14 minutes and 55 seconds, the Cowboys beat the Redskins.

 

I think argument 2 is correct also. Good point about flipping the ball Dan & BD77. I hadn't thought of that.

 

Wikipedia's entry on safeties says No. 1 is correct, but does not cite its source.

 

Well, I loved hearing the arguments. Turns out Argument one takes it (at least in college football). From the NCAA Football Rule Book:

SECTION 5. Safety
How Scored—ARTICLE 1
Approved Ruling 8-5-1
I. A10, after receiving the snap in his own end zone, is downed with
the ball resting on his goal line, its forward point being in the field of
play. RULING: Safety. A part of the dead ball is on the ball carrier’s
goal line.

 

That's also the NFHS ruling as well.

 

In practice though, officials almost always give the offense the benefit of the doubt with forward progress and spot the ball inside the 1.