The field goal last night

[dolphins4life]

What is the rule?

If the ball passes over the uprights, is it good or no good?

[Fins4ever]

Great question. Here is some info, but probably nothing you don't know. If I had to guess, it would be left up to the judgement of the official on that side of the post. Either way, somebody is not going to be happy.


l)#Successful_field_goals" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_goal_(American_and_Canadian_footbal l)#Successful_field_goals

[Brian Fein]

It was stated last night that it is good if it goes over the uprights, but up to the official's judgment, and not reviewable.

[Cathal]

So then the FG last night was actually good? It looked like it went on top the uprights, but I don't remember seeing the perfect camera angle. The ref under the goal post sure called it good immediately while the other one waited.

[Brian Fein]

It was confusing to me because they said that the goal posts theoretically extend infinitely tall.  However, if that was the case, that ball would have doinked off the post and missed.  So, makes me think that if it goes OVER the post, it should be no good.

But that's not the rule.

I'm not fully convinced.

[fyo]

It was confusing to me because they said that the goal posts theoretically extend infinitely tall.  However, if that was the case, that ball would have doinked off the post and missed.  So, makes me think that if it goes OVER the post, it should be no good.

But that's not the rule.

I'm not fully convinced.

The rule is that the ball must be completely inside the OUTSIDE edge of the post (as extended upwards) right at the moment the ball passes the plane of the field goal. The ONLY place you have even a prayer of seeing that is from beneath the goal post (where the ref is placed). And since there's no camera shot that could possibly provide a definitive answer, excluding it from review is obvious.

As for the call, it looked right to me, but just like everyone except for the one ref beneath the post, it's IMPOSSIBLE to tell exactly when it passes the plane.

[Brian Fein]

not impossible, but you'd need two synchronized perpendicular camera angles running concurrently.

[fyo]

not impossible, but you'd need two synchronized perpendicular camera angles running concurrently.

So impossible with the current setup, which was my point. I'm not saying you couldn't introduce technology to accomplish it -- there are many ways -- but nothing like that has been introduced and people (fans) are second guessing the call based on the flimsiest video. Looked good to me, but like I said, it's IMPOSSIBLE to tell (except for the ref who actually called it).

[Brian Fein]

Gotcha.  I agree it is not possible to determine when the ball crosses "the plane" of the goal post from the available angles.

Thought you were discussing hypothetical future situations.  They could entertain putting a camera inside the post tube...

[Dave Gray]

As I understood it last night:

The goalpost is a solid object (obviously)and is subject to deflections.  But above the goalpost, it becomes a plane, exactly like the endzone, where if ANY PART OF THE BALL is across the plane, the kick is good.

[MikeO]

What is the rule?

If the ball passes over the uprights, is it good or no good?

It was Good. It can go over the top of the upright. And it can't be reviewed either from what I understand.