Passing sticks..... you make the call

[RavennaAl]

I've been using passing sticks for my solitaire season and they have been working out so well, that I've decided to let my passing dice system fade into the sunset. Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks??

Anyways, for those who have been using the sticks for awhile, I was wondering how you would handle these situations...

A) The receiver and a defender hit the stick at the same time. Do you:
a) say it's a complete pass
b) say it's an interception
c) say it's an incomplete pass
d) flip a coin, or roll a die to determine which it is

B) A receiver or defender falls over before reaching the stick. His momentum makes him roll over and he hits the stick with his body, but not his base. Do you call it a complete pass or an incomplete pass?

C) In my league, if the player carrying the ball falls over or gets knocked over during a tackle, then it is ruled a fumble. Keeping that in mind, how would you rule this play. The passing stick is in the endzone. The receiver hits the stick and falls over ( Think Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In with the guy on the tricycle ) Would you rule it incomplete, complete with a fumble (posession to be determined) or touchdown? Keep in mind that this is in the endzone, where if a person has posession it is a touchdown, but if that is so, how can he fumble it?

Let me hear your thoughts on the matter...

[Orleanian In Exile]

You could determine that the player in front of the combination would be the legitimate receiver: if the offensive player, it's a completed pass. If the defender, it's an interception (since, theoretically, he would have gotten in front of the receiver and put himself in the ball's path). If neither can be said to be in front, and there is therefore some doubt as to who might be the actual receiver, then it's an incomplete pass.

[Silverhorse 228]

Okay I will play...

A) Tie always goes to the receiver...NFL rules...if both players come down with the ball, then it is considered a catch.

B)Complete pass...come on...he sacrificed his body!

C)Touchdown...as soon as he hits the stick it is a touchdown and the play is over...

[Joeram57]

Al,

To keep it short, I agree with Mr. Culp. That's how I would do it.

Joe Ram

[RavennaAl]

Thanks for the inputs so far. I had been ruling in A, to roll a die to determine whether it's complete, interception or incomplete. In B, I also let the receiver catch it, due to his extra effort. In C, I'm not so sure. Yes, the receiver hit the stick, but did he have posession long enough before he fumbles? Just because the receiver has both hands on the ball doesn't mean he catches it. If it happened in the regular field of play, I would have ruled it a completed pass and a fumble, but because it happened in the endzone, I was thinking of ruling it as an incomplete pass. ???????

[detroitchild]

...on all 3.

Originally Posted by RavennaAl

Anyways, for those who have been using the sticks for awhile, I was wondering how you would handle these situations...

A) The receiver and a defender hit the stick at the same time. Do you:
a) say it's a complete pass
b) say it's an interception
c) say it's an incomplete pass
d) flip a coin, or roll a die to determine which it is

B) A receiver or defender falls over before reaching the stick. His momentum makes him roll over and he hits the stick with his body, but not his base. Do you call it a complete pass or an incomplete pass?

C) In my league, if the player carrying the ball falls over or gets knocked over during a tackle, then it is ruled a fumble. Keeping that in mind, how would you rule this play. The passing stick is in the endzone. The receiver hits the stick and falls over ( Think Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In with the guy on the tricycle ) Would you rule it incomplete, complete with a fumble (posession to be determined) or touchdown? Keep in mind that this is in the endzone, where if a person has posession it is a touchdown, but if that is so, how can he fumble it?

Let me hear your thoughts on the matter...

Classic scenarios. These play out fairly frequently. I almost completely agree with the previous posts... Maybe one slight difference of opinion.... My take...

A) Tie goes to the O. Pass complete and down at the spot of the reception.

B) Since you have provisions for ball carriers falling as a fumble, I would not award a fallen player a catch if he fell before making base contact with the ball, even if he touched it with a body part. Since base contact seems to be protocol for all (other) catches, no "if this, then that" apply. I.E., no legit cause or case made for an exception to the rule. If he can't hold onto it while previously standing (fell over = fumble) then it would be inconsistent to allow a catch after a fall. He "dove" but came up short, maybe?

C) If the catch is made after crossing the goal line it is a TD, play over. Consider the fall after the catch a celebration!

Very cool post!
-Mike Pratt