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Three-in-One Principle
(3-1) understanding.
1. Must understand the concept of the BASIC SPOT
Basic Spot (B.S.)
This is not an additional spot on the field; rather, it serves as a benchmark reference for 3-and-1 penalty enforcement. Note that the spot of the foul is never a basic spot, even though it is often the spot from where the penalty is enforced
Except for post-scrimmage kick ( PSK) enforcement, the basic spot is always either the end of the run or the previous spot (2-25-10, 102-2).
FOR KICK PLAYS
The end of the kick is the basic spot in post scrimmage kick enforcement (10-2-2-e Exc 3).
RUNNING PLAYS (NZ = neutral zone)
Run can end:
Behind the NZ
In Advance of ( Beyond) the NZ
The end of the run is the basic spot on running plays when:
(1) the run ends beyond the neutral zone (2-25-10-a, 10-2-2-c-1), and,
(2) there is no neutral zone (i.e., kick returns, interception returns, etc.) (2-25-10-c, 10-2-2-c-3).
NO NEUTRAL ZONE TYPE PLAYS
PREVIOUS SPOT
The previous spot is the basic spot on:
(1) Running plays when the run ends behind the neutral zone (2-25-10-b, 10-2-2-c-2),
(2) Legal forward pass plays (2-25-10-d, 10-2-2-d),
(3) Free kicks (2-25-10-e, 10-2-2-e), and
(4) Scrimmage kicks other than for post-scrimmage kick fouls (225-10-e, 10-2-2-e).
WHY DO WE HAVE THE “3-1”
Sort of Traditional in nature.
Not so stated anywhere in the rule book
Evolved over time as a “concept”
The Concept in General
1. Every team foul can be classified as follows:
a. The foul is by the team in possession of the ball or,
b. The foul is by the team not is possession of the ball.
2. Every play has a BASIC Spot defined for that play given the outcome of the play.
a. Foul is behind the BASIC SPOT or…
b. The Foul is beyond the BASIC SPOT for that play
Summarize as Follows:
1. We have two teams involved
a. In possession of the ball
b. Not is possession of the ball
c. We do not identify them as Team A or Team B
2. Two types of foul locations
3. Equals 4 types or kinds of fouls
Three kinds of fouls from the BAIC SPOT (end of the run or the previous spot)
Team in Possession or Not in possession
One type of foul:
By the team in possession
Behind the basic spot
Equates to a spot foul unless the rule specifies another spot
Offensive Holding – Previous spot foul
Therefore:
Three penalties from the BS
One from the previous spot
3 in 1 or 3 and 1 or All but 1 terminology
Some Play Examples
EXAMPLE 1
Team A's quarterback throws a legal forward pass that B29 intercepts and returns to his 45-yard line where he runs out of bounds. During the return, B68 clips at the B-38. B has clean hands until the foul is committed.
1.What type of play do we have here?
2. What is the basic spot?
3. Penalize from where?
4. What’s the ruling and why?
EXAMPLE 2 Runner A33 is downed behind his scrimmage line on a play during which B49 commits a personal foul downfield.
Where did the run end?
Where is the Basic Spot?
Which Team fouled? (don’t say A or B!)
What is the Ruling?
EXAMPLE 3
Runner A46 is tackled behind his scrimmage line by B79 who pulls him down by the face mask. Where is the basic spot and what is the enforcement?
EXAMPLE 4
Team A punts on 4th down with the ball snapped at its own 40-yard line. The punt rolls out of bounds at the B-37. While the ball is alive A79 clips at the B-30. What do you do? Who fouled and who was in possession on this play? Enforcement?
EXAMPLE 5
On 4th down from his own 22-yard line, punter A43 muffs the snap and, at his own six-yard line, then kicks the rolling ball through the end zone. What are the options here?
Previous Spot Enforcement
For a number of fouls committed by the offense, the rules call for previous-spot penalty enforcement rather than by the 3-and-1 Principle.
When personal fouls, face-mask fouls, illegal use of hands, holding and illegal blocks are committed by the offense behind the neutral zone, the penalties are enforced from the previous spot. However, if the foul is committed in the end zone, the penalty (if accepted) results in a safety.
The effect is that for fouls behind the neutral zone by an offensive player against an opponent, the penalty will be enforced from the previous spot. However, the penalty still results in a safety if the foul is committed in the end zone. What kind of play (run, pass, kick) does not matter, nor does the spot where the run ends.
This does not apply to other fouls, such as illegally kicking or batting the ball and illegal forward passes. We will look at some examples.
EXAMPLE 6
Third and seven at the A-35. During a legal forward pass play, A79:
(a) holds,
(b) clips,
(c) grasps an opponent's face mask,
at the A-30.
RULING?
EXAMPLE 7
The ball is snapped at the B-25 yard line. Ball carrier A40 is tackled
(a) for a five-yard loss,
(b) for a five-yard gain.
A23 clips at the B-30 (in advance of the NZ) during the play.
RULING?
EXAMPLE 8
Second and 12 at the A2. A12:
(a) hands off to A38 who gains 5 yards,
(b) completes a pass to A89 for a first down.
A54 holds in Team A's end zone.
RULING?
The distinction, then, is between fouls committed against an opposing player and those committed "against" the ball. Here is an example that helps focus on this distinction.
EXAMPLE 9
Third and 12 at the A-40. Ball carrier A29 fumbles the ball. As the ball rolls along the ground, A12 kicks it at the A-38 and it goes out of bounds at the A-36.
During the play A74 holds at Team A's 38-yard line.
We have multiple fouls by Team A – both behind the NZ. What is the penalty for illegal kicking and anything else goes with it?
Summary comments
Rogers Redding (Page 90, 2003 edition)
When the 3-and-1 principle first became a part of the rules, it was sometimes interpreted that the penalty was to be enforced from the "place where it hurts them the most." This mindless notion has persisted for many years. Unfortunately, this bromide--powerful in its simplicity--is wrong as often as it is right, if not more, and certainly does not hold frequently enough to take on the status of a dictum. Nevertheless, many officials still cling to it as a security blanket. My advice is to forget it.
Look at Example 2 again.
Runner A33 is downed behind his scrimmage line on a play during which B49 commits a personal foul 20 yards downfield.
The runner loses yardage and the defense fouls somewhere beyond the neutral zone. If the penalty were to be enforced from where it hurts Team B the most, it would be stepped off from the spot of the foul. But it isn't--it is enforced from the previous spot, which is the basic spot on this play. So do not hang your hat on the “hurts them the most” approach.