ARTICLE 1. Instant Replay is a system utilizing electronic means to review and assist game officials with certain on-field decisions as listed in Section 3.
ARTICLE 1. a. Any member institution may use Instant Replay. This rule is permissive, not a requirement. If instant replay is used, it must be used in full compliance with this rule.
b. For any non-conference game, if the home team is using Instant Replay, the visiting team does not have the option of declining its use for that game. If the home team is not using Instant Replay, the visiting team does not have the option of requesting that it be used in that game.
ARTICLE 1. Reviewable plays governed by a side line, goal line or an end line include:
a. Scoring plays, including a runner in possession of a live ball breaking the plane of a goal line.
b. A pass ruled complete, incomplete or intercepted at a side line, goal line an end line.
c. A runner or pass receiver ruled in or out of bounds. If a runner is ruled out of bounds, the play is not reviewable.
d. Recovery of a loose ball in or out of bounds in the field of play or an end zone.
e. A loose ball touching a side line, goal line or an end line.
ARTICLE 2. Reviewable plays involving passes include:
a. A pass ruled complete, incomplete or intercepted anywhere in the field of play or an end zone.
b. A forward pass touched by an ineligible receiver.
c. A forward pass touched by a defensive player.
d. A fumble ruled on the part of a potential passer. (Note: If the on-field ruling is forward pass and the pass is incomplete, the play is not reviewable).
e. A forward pass or forward handing ruled when a runner is beyond the line of scrimmage.
f. A forward pass or forward handing ruled after a change of possession.
g. A pass ruled forward or backward when thrown from behind the line of scrimmage. (Exception: If the pass is ruled forward and is incomplete, the play is not reviewable).
ARTICLE 3. Miscellaneous reviewable plays include:
a. A runner ruled to have fumbled. (Note: If a runner is ruled down, the play is not reviewable).
b. A runner's forward progress with respect to a first down.
c. Touching of any type kick by any player.
d. The number of players participating by either team during a live ball.
e. A scrimmage kicker beyond the line of scrimmage when the ball is kicked.
f. Clock adjustment when a ruling on the field is reversed.
g. A fumble recovery by a Team A player during fourth down or a try and before any change of possession.
ARTICLE 4. No other plays or officiating decisions are reviewable.
ARTICLE 1. Instant Replay personnel shall consist of the number of persons needed to operate the replay equipment within the necessary time constraints. A minimum of three persons shall be utilized to insure that all plays are reviewed in an efficient and a timely manner. Such persons are normally referred to as Replay Official, Communicator and Technician. Additional persons may be used as needed.
ARTICLE 2. The type of equipment used to carry out necessary instant replay duties shall be determined by each conference or member institution utilizing instant replay.
ARTICLE 3. a. All equipment used in making a decision during the replay process and the personnel using that equipment shall be located in a separate, secure location in the press box. This room shall not be available or accessible to any person not directly involved in instant replay.
b. Additional telephonic equipment needed to allow instant reply personnel to communicate with the game referee when a game has been stopped for a play review shall be located on a side line near the field of play and preferably outside a team area. Such equipment shall provide the game referee and the Replay Official a secure and private means of communication.
ARTICLE 1. There are two methods to stop a game to review a ruling on the field.
a. The Replay Official and his crew shall review every play of a game. He may stop a game at any time before the ball is next put in play whenever he believes that:
1. There is reasonable evidence to believe an error was made in the initial on-field ruling.
3. Any reversal of an on-field ruling, which would result from indisputable video evidence, would have a direct, competitive impact on the game.
b. The Head Coach of either team may request that the game be stopped and a play be reviewed by challenging the on-field ruling.
1. A coach initiates this challenge by taking a team time out before the ball is next put in play and informing the referee that he is challenging the ruling of the previous play. The head coach who has challenged the original ruling is not permitted any other challenge during the game.
2. After a review has been completed, if the on-field ruling is reversed, that team's time out will not be charged.
3. After a review has been completed, the on-field ruling is not reversed, the charged team time out counts as one of the three permitted that team for that half.
4. A Head Coach may not challenge a ruling in which the game was stopped and a decision has already been made by the Replay Official.
5. If a Head Coach requests a team time out to challenge an on-field ruling and the play being challenged is not reviewable, the time out shall count as one of the three permitted his team during that half of the game. If all team timeouts have been used, a delay penalty will be assessed.
6. A Head Coach may not challenge an on-field ruling if all the team's timeouts have been used for that half.
ARTICLE 2. a. A game may be stopped, either by the Instant Replay official or by a Head Coach's challenge at any time before the ball is next put in play.
b. No game official may request that a game be stopped and a play be reviewed.
ARTICLE 1. a. When a game is to be stopped either by the Replay Official or by a Head Coach's challenge, the designated officials on the field will be notified by a buzzer system or other appropriate means.
b. The referee shall announce that the ruling on the field is being reviewed. If the game has been stopped due to a Head Coach's challenge, the referee will so indicate in his announcement.
c. All reviews shall be based upon video evidence provided by and coming directly from the televised production of the game or from other video means available to the instant replay official. If there is no television available, all video pictures will come from the in-stadium video board production.
d. After the referee has conferred with the Replay Official and the review process has been completed, he shall make one of the following announcements:
1. If the video evidence confirms the on-field ruling: "After review, video confirms the call on the field."
2. If there is no indisputable (conclusive) evidence to reverse the onfield ruling: "After review, the play stands as called on the field."
3. If the on-field ruling is reversed: "After review, there is indisputable video evidence that [description of the video evidence]. Therefore, [description of result]."
e. If a ruling is reversed, the Replay Official shall supply the referee with all pertinent data as needed (next down, distance, yard line, position of the ball, clock status/adjustment) in order to resume play under the correct game conditions.
ARTICLE 2. a. Although each Head Coach is limited to one challenge per game, there is no restriction on the number of times the Replay Official may stop a game to review an on-field ruling.
b. Once a game has been stopped to review a play, regardless of how it was stopped, there is no time limit for the review process.
ARTICLE 1. In order to reverse an on-field ruling, the Replay Official must see indisputable video evidence through one or more video replays provided to the monitor.
Editor: Jim Briggs, BAFA/BAFRA Rules Committee
rules@britishamericanfootball.org