Ok- All you Football gurus... answer me this...

...facemask or not?

Well he's not actually pulling it so no not in my book. Although he might have done after this shot though

Not in that shot.

He didn't grab it, only stiff-armed. No problem at this point in the action.

NO.
Fingertips do not exceed the face mask frame. This is a good block!

You have a point there. I did snap another after this it was bad quality so I tossed it. There was no finger curling or pulling there either. He was close to our sidelines and we never physically seen it... this is what we saw... he was trying to stiff arm. Ref called it a facemask ... whether he curled the fingers or pulled, because he touched the mask.
I might add... this is my son, he got an interception and ran it for a TD... called it back because of this.

caroleigh wrote in post #6121513
You have a point there. I did snap another after this it was bad quality so I tossed it. There was no finger curling or pulling there either. He was close to our sidelines and we never physically seen it... this is what we saw... he was trying to stiff arm. Ref called it a facemask ... whether he curled the fingers or pulled, because he touched the mask.
I might add... this is my son, he got an interception and ran it for a TD... called it back because of this.

I guess the ref didn't have 400mm eyes and the ability to freeze the action You should've given him an Instant Replay on your LCD

Anke wrote in post #6121523
I guess the ref didn't have 400mm eyes and the ability to freeze the action You should've given him an Instant Replay on your LCD

ROTFL I have tried that before, they never want to see when they are wrong!

Ps. wish it was 400mm... only 200. What sucks is another ref was right next to him (he was actually in the shot I tossed). He never said a word. Later he agreed he didn't believe it was a facemask. Hey at least we won.

Definitely a 'no' from me. But I guess it wasn't a serious question, more an excuse to post a cracking shot!

So long as he doesn't pull he can push and hit all he wants.

no call.

good stiff arm though.
ahhhh i smell football season x]

Having been a football official for many years, I'll chime in here. According to National Federation Rules (NFHS), Rule 9-4-3h states, "No player or non player shall grasp an opponent's face mask or any edge of a helmet opening." In NFHS, there are actually 2 penalties this can be. A 5 yard penalty for "incidental" or 15 yards for "grasping and twisting, turning or pulling the face mask or helmet opening."

In this picture, there is no penalty and it's a legal play. However, we can't see the action before or after the photo. If the official nearest the play threw the penalty flag, then he saw something that you didn't. Either that, or he just plain blew the call. Yes, we get it wrong sometimes. If the offical clear across the field threw the flag, then he needs to be kicked in his brain. It's not his call. Keep in mind that in youth league football and even up into Middle School, there are usually 3 or 4 officials who do the game. That's 3 or 4 officials to keep an eye on 22 kids. We're going to miss things. Keep that in mind before you put the call out to hunt down the zebras.

any ref with common sence would have NEVER called that!!! When running with the ball,,, WHY would anyone grab a facemask???? TOUCHDOWN!!!!

Excellent stiff arm. I ran the ball in middle and high school and that was the easiest way to get defenders off of ya. Really good stiff arm

What age group is this? This kid has great form with running the ball. Covering the point of the ball, eyes up field and a great stiff-arm. Most high school kids can't even do those right.

He's 13, plays 10-12 OBL. If I might add that's my boy (but I may have already said that)

asysin2leads wrote in post #6130094
What age group is this? This kid has great form with running the ball. Covering the point of the ball, eyes up field and a great stiff-arm. Most high school kids can't even do those right.