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This may have been discussed previously on the site but I saw a video talking about officials' possible reviewable interpretations of the amended rule, which was proposed this year (link) as:
Amend Rule 8, Section 7, Article 4 (Handing Ball Forward, pg. 36) (new language underlined, deleted language struck through):
ARTICLE 4. HANDING BALL FORWARD. No player may hand the ball forward except to an eligible receiver who is behind the line of scrimmage.
(a) Loss of player possession by unsuccessful execution of attempted handing is a fumble charged to the player that last had possession.
(b) A muffed handoff (legal or illegal) is a fumble, and the ball remains alive.
Penalty: For handing ball forward beyond the line of scrimmage or to an ineligible receiver behind the line of scrimmage: Loss of down and five yards from spot of the foul.
Penalty: For handing ball forwardto ineligible receiver behind line of scrimmage or not from scrimmage after a change of possession: Loss of five yards from spot of the foul.
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Current rulebook language (link)
Rule 3 Definitions (page 13)
ARTICLE 4. VIOLATION. A violation is an infraction of a playing rule for which a penalty is not prescribed. A violation does not offset a foul.
SECTION 15 HANDING THE BALL
Handing the ball is transferring player possession from one teammate to another without passing or kicking it.
<snip>
(c) A forward handoff occurs when the ball is handed (regardless of the direction of the movement of the ball) to a player who is in advance of a teammate from whose hands he takes or receives it
RULE 15 INSTANT REPLAY (page 69)
ARTICLE 11. OTHER REVIEWABLE PLAYS.
<snip>
Item 4. Illegal Forward Handoff. Whether a player received a handoff clearly in advance of a player making the handoff
2023 INSTANT REPLAY CASEBOOK OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (page 218)
Approved Rulings (A.R.)
ILLEGAL FORWARD HANDOFF
A.R. 15.149 Player not in advance of teammate Second-and-10 on A20. A2 takes a handoff and runs to the 50. As he is being tackled, he hands the ball to A3 who is running parallel with him. A3 initially touches the ball at the 50, but doesn’t control it until the B48 ahead of A2. A3 runs for a touchdown.
Ruling: Reviewable. Legal handoff, touchdown. For it to be illegal, the player receiving the handoff must be clearly in advance of the player making the handoff when he first touches the ball. Only the Replay Official can initiate a review of this play.
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Just posting this if a play results in a big gain or even a score gets reviewed and called back via review. The emphasis will be on exactly where the ball carrier was positioned when the quarterback hands off the ball. I wonder how this will effect read option execution. Handoffs better be perfect in the referees' eyes.
2023 PLAYING RULE PROPOSAL NO. 12 (page 22)
Amend Rule 8, Section 7, Article 4 (Handing Ball Forward, pg. 36) (new language underlined, deleted language struck through):
ARTICLE 4. HANDING BALL FORWARD. No player may hand the ball forward except to an eligible receiver who is behind the line of scrimmage.
(a) Loss of player possession by unsuccessful execution of attempted handing is a fumble charged to the player that last had possession.
(b) A muffed handoff (legal or illegal) is a fumble, and the ball remains alive.
Penalty: For handing ball forward beyond the line of scrimmage or to an ineligible receiver behind the line of scrimmage: Loss of down and five yards from spot of the foul.
Penalty: For handing ball forward
Submitted by Competition Committee
Effect: To make the penalty for illegally handing the ball forward consistent with other illegal acts, such as illegal forward passes.
Reason: Consistent administration of rules
____________________
Current rulebook language (link)
Rule 3 Definitions (page 13)
ARTICLE 4. VIOLATION. A violation is an infraction of a playing rule for which a penalty is not prescribed. A violation does not offset a foul.
SECTION 15 HANDING THE BALL
Handing the ball is transferring player possession from one teammate to another without passing or kicking it.
<snip>
(c) A forward handoff occurs when the ball is handed (regardless of the direction of the movement of the ball) to a player who is in advance of a teammate from whose hands he takes or receives it
RULE 15 INSTANT REPLAY (page 69)
ARTICLE 11. OTHER REVIEWABLE PLAYS.
<snip>
Item 4. Illegal Forward Handoff. Whether a player received a handoff clearly in advance of a player making the handoff
2023 INSTANT REPLAY CASEBOOK OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (page 218)
Approved Rulings (A.R.)
ILLEGAL FORWARD HANDOFF
A.R. 15.149 Player not in advance of teammate Second-and-10 on A20. A2 takes a handoff and runs to the 50. As he is being tackled, he hands the ball to A3 who is running parallel with him. A3 initially touches the ball at the 50, but doesn’t control it until the B48 ahead of A2. A3 runs for a touchdown.
Ruling: Reviewable. Legal handoff, touchdown. For it to be illegal, the player receiving the handoff must be clearly in advance of the player making the handoff when he first touches the ball. Only the Replay Official can initiate a review of this play.
____________________
Just posting this if a play results in a big gain or even a score gets reviewed and called back via review. The emphasis will be on exactly where the ball carrier was positioned when the quarterback hands off the ball. I wonder how this will effect read option execution. Handoffs better be perfect in the referees' eyes.
