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National organization bans the 'Fumblerooski'
FOXSports.com
Posted: 13 minutes ago
A fun and entertaining football play — the fumblerooski — has been banned as preparations for the 2006 high school season have begun, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
The decision, made by the National Federation of State High School Associations football rules committee, will effectively deny offensive linemen across the nation their best opportunity to score a touchdown while making a desperate, sometimes funny sprint toward the end zone.As The Times points out, the fumblerooski was banned in the NFL in the 1960s, and college football officially started to forbid the play in 1993.
The play involves placing the ball on the ground behind the center after it has been snapped. While all of the offensive players move to block in one direction, one lineman (typically a guard) picks it up and begins his rumble — often unnoticed — until it is too late.
The Times says one Thousand Oaks, Calif. lineman ran for two touchdowns in a 2003 game.
But Jerry Diehl, the assistant director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, said the play was seldom used. It also put a burden on officials because teams had to inform the referee before running the play.
"It (the ban) eliminates confusion in a ballgame," Diehl reportedly said.
The rules for the 2006 season, which were approved in January, don't mention the fumblerooski by name. But Rule 7-2-8 states, "The option to use a 'planned loose ball' has been eliminated."
FOXSports.com
Posted: 13 minutes ago
A fun and entertaining football play — the fumblerooski — has been banned as preparations for the 2006 high school season have begun, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
The decision, made by the National Federation of State High School Associations football rules committee, will effectively deny offensive linemen across the nation their best opportunity to score a touchdown while making a desperate, sometimes funny sprint toward the end zone.As The Times points out, the fumblerooski was banned in the NFL in the 1960s, and college football officially started to forbid the play in 1993.
The play involves placing the ball on the ground behind the center after it has been snapped. While all of the offensive players move to block in one direction, one lineman (typically a guard) picks it up and begins his rumble — often unnoticed — until it is too late.
The Times says one Thousand Oaks, Calif. lineman ran for two touchdowns in a 2003 game.
But Jerry Diehl, the assistant director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, said the play was seldom used. It also put a burden on officials because teams had to inform the referee before running the play.
"It (the ban) eliminates confusion in a ballgame," Diehl reportedly said.
The rules for the 2006 season, which were approved in January, don't mention the fumblerooski by name. But Rule 7-2-8 states, "The option to use a 'planned loose ball' has been eliminated."
