The 'Dreaded' Inadvertent Whistle

NFHS Rule 4.2.3

 

1)      Discussion Scenarios

2)      Summary Overview

3)      Rules Book

4)      Case Book

5)      Simplified and Illustrated

6)      Officials Manual

 

I.       Discussion Scenarios

 

1)      On fourth down, K punts to R1, who catches the ball on R's 10-yard line. R1, in an attempt to setup his blocking, circles back into his end zone. R2 clips at the 5-yard line while R1 is still in the end zone, and an inadvertent whistle sounds at this time.

 

2)      An official sounds his whistle when K1 first touches a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone.

 

3)      A trails by two points as they snap the ball 2^nd and 6 from the 50 with 4 seconds left in the 4^th quarter. A2 grabs a pass and advances to B's 5, but fumbles. While the ball is loose on B's 1-yard line, an official (not from the MCOA) blows an inadvertent whistle. Time for the period expired during the down.

 

II.    Summary Overview

 

The ball becomes dead, the clock shall be stopped, and the down is ended.

Therefore, penalties AFTER an inadvertent whistle must be DEAD BALL fouls.

 

If there are NO penalties, or if the penalty for a foul during the down is DECLINED…

The down is always replayed if the whistle occurs

while a legal forward pass or snap is in flight

during a legal kick.

 

If the ball is loose following a backward pass, fumble, illegal forward pass or illegal kick…

the team last in possession has a choice

            Replay the down.

            Count the down, put the ball in play where possession was lost.

           

If the ball is in player possession…

                        that team has a choice

                                    Replay the down.

                                    Count the down, accept the results of the play at the spot of the inadvertent whistle.

 

If the penalty for a foul during the down is ACCEPTED…

The penalty takes precedence and the inadvertent whistle is IGNORED.

 

The clock starts with the ready-for-play (except following a free kick), following an inadvertent whistle.

 

The period MUST be extended by an untimed down if inadvertent whistle sounds during the last timed down.

 

 Inadvertent Whistle in the NFHS RULES BOOK

 

Rule 3-3-3c: A period must be extended by an untimed down if during the last timed down , one of the following occurred: There was an inadvertent whistle.

 

Rule 3-4-2c: The clock shall start with the ready-for-play signal for other than a free kick if the clock was stopped: Because of an inadvertent whistle.

 

Rule 3-4-4i: The clock shall be stopped when: An inadvertent whistle is sounded.

 

Rule 4-2-2e3: The ball becomes dead and the down is ended: When any loose ball: Touches, or is touched by, anything inbounds other than a player, substitute, replaced player, an official, the ground or authorized equipment. In this case the ball will be put in play in accordance with the procedure for an inadvertent whistle as in 4-2-3b.

 

Rule 4-2-2j: The ball becomes dead and the down is ended: When an official sounds his whistle inadvertently.

 

Rule 4-2-3: Inadvertent whistle. During a down, or during a down in which the penalty for a foul is declined, if an inadvertent whistle occurs while:

a. A legal forward pass or snap is in flight, or during a legal kick, the down shall be replayed

b. The ball is loose following a backward pass, fumble, illegal forward pass or illegal kick, the team last in possession may choose to put the ball in play where possession was lost or replay the down.

c. The ball is in player possession, that team may choose to accept the play at that spot or replay the down.

 

Rule 4-3-5b: When the ball becomes dead in a side zone or is awarded to a team there or is left there by a penalty, play is resumed at the inbounds spot. This does not apply to: A replay due to an inadvertent whistle.

 

Rule 6-1-7c: A free kick is not repeated unless: There is an inadvertent whistle during the kick.

 

Rule 6-5-4: The captain may choose to free kick or snap anywhere between the inbounds lines on the yard line through the spot of the catch when a fair catch is made or through the spot of interference, when a fair catch is awarded. These choices remain if a dead-ball foul occurs prior to the down, or a foul or an inadvertent whistle occurs during the down and the down is replayed.

 

Rule 8-2-3: It is a touchdown when a backward pass or fumble is declared dead in the end zone of the opponent of the player who threw the backward pass or fumbled while no player is in possession (other than because of an inadvertent whistle).

 

III. Inadvertent Whistle in the NFHS Case Book

 

3. 3. 3D.  Play: During the last timed down of the period, A1 gains 10 yards and fumbles. An official inadvertently sounds his whistle while the ball is loose.

Ruling: The period shall be extended for an untimed down and Team A may put the ball in play where it lost possession or it may choose to reply the down from the previous spot. (3-3-3c)

 

3. 4. 2C.  Play: Near the end of a period with 28 seconds left, K1 punts on fourth down. During the kick an official inadvertently sounds his whistle. The clock is stopped with 23 seconds remaining.

Ruling: The clock will be started with the ready-for-play signal. The down must be replayed as part of that period.

 

4. 2. 3A.  Play: With fourth and 2 from K's 38-yard line, a scrimmage kick by K1 is muffed beyond the neutral zone by R1 following his signal for a fair catch. While the ball is loose following the muff, an official sounds his whistle inadvertently.

Ruling: Because the whistle was inadvertently sounded during a kick, the down will be replayed even though R1 was first to touch the scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone. The clock will start on the ready-for-play signal. (3-4-2c)

 

4. 2. 3Ba.  Play: While a legal forward pass is in flight B1 interferes with eligible A1 and then there is an inadvertent whistle.

Ruling: If the captain accepts the penalty for a foul which occurred prior to the inadvertent whistle, the whistle is disregarded. It will be a new series for A, 15 yards in advance of the previous spot. (7-5-10a; 9-4-2b)

 

4. 2. 3Bb.  Play: While a legal forward pass is in flight a whistle is inadvertently sounded after which B2 contacts A2 while the ball is still in flight.

Ruling: The contact by B2 occurred during a dead ball period and unless it is a personal foul, will be ignored. Because the whistle was inadvertently sounded while a legal forward pass was in flight, the down shall be replayed.

 

4. 2. 3Ca. Play: With fourth and goal on B's 4-yard line, A1 is hit and fumbles, and as the ball rolls into the end zone, an inadvertent whistle is sounded. The fumble occurs at the 5-yard line.

Ruling: Team B will have a choice of taking the play at the spot of the fumble or replaying the down If a takes the play, it is B's ball at the 5. (4-2-3b)

 

4. 2. 3Cb. Play: With fourth and goal on B's 4-yard line, A1 is hit and fumbles, and as the ball rolls into the end zone, an inadvertent whistle is sounded. The fumble occurs at the 3-yard line.

Ruling: Team B will have a choice of taking the play at the spot of the fumble or replaying the down If a takes the play, it is B's ball at the 3. (4-2-3b)

Comment: Whenever an inadvertent whistle sounds while the ball is loose following a fumble, the ball is returned to the spot of the fumble or spot of last possession. Theoretically, this is when the ball becomes dead. Regardless of where the ball is fumbled, the team last in possession may choose to have the ball put in play where possession was lost and count the down or choose to replay the down.

 

4. 2. 3D. Play: A1 throws a forward pass from his own 40-yard line. B1 intercepts on his 2-yard line and circles back into his end zone. While B1 is in the end zone, and official inadvertently sounds his whistle.

Ruling: Since B1 is in possession, Team B had the option of accepting the results of the play at the time of the whistle or asking for a replay of the down. Since the result of the play would be a safety, Team B would normally chose to replay the down. (4-2-3c; 8-5-2a)

 

6. 5. 4c. Play: R1 signals for a fair catch beyond the neutral zone on K's 40. K2 interferes with R1's opportunity to make the catch. R chooses an awarded catch and to put the ball in play with a snap. During the down an inadvertent whistle sounds during A1's forward pass.

Ruling: The down is replayed and Team A has the option to snap or free kick. (10-4-4a)

 

IV.   Inadvertent Whistle in the NFHS Simplified and Illustrated

 

4-2-3b: The inadvertent whistle procedure is the same for action in (1), (2), and (3). If the ball is loose and the whistle sounds following a backward pass, a fumble, an illegal forward pass or an illegal kick, the team last in possession may take the results of the play where possession was lost or replay the down. In (3), if the penalty is accepted, the whistle is ignored.

 

V.     Sounding Whistle in the NFHS OFFICIALS MANUAL

 

Basic Philosophy and Principles - Sounding Whistle

 

I.  OFFICIAL COVERING RUNNER

A.  Find ball before sounding whistle.

B.   When ball becomes dead, sound whistle quickly and loudly.

C.  Move in quickly to be certain all action stops on whistle.

 

II.  ALL OFFICIALS

A.  Player safety is first responsibility.

B.   Find ball before sounding whistle.

C.  Actually see ball in possession of runner who is down or forward progress stopped - this prevents early whistle.

D.  When sounding whistle, do it quickly and loudly.

E.   Ball can be kept in view when officials are in position and alert.

F.   Be ready to assist covering official after whistle has sounded.

G.  Use bean bag to mark spot of ball if whistle is sounded inadvertently.

 

III.  INADVERTENT WHISTLE

1. Ball becomes dead immediately.
2. Location at which ball will be put in play and number of next down determined by location and status of ball when whistle was sounded.