A quick look at the NFL’s snow-removal rules

[T-post Tom]

Under the heading "I did not know that"...

With multiple Week 14 games featuring frozen precipitation and an open-air New Jersey Super Bowl looming, it makes sense to make sense of the NFL’s rules regarding in-game snow removal.

The official rulebook never mentions the term snow. The league’s game operations manual addresses what is and isn’t permitted when it comes to snow removal.

For starters, and to clear up some lingering confusion regarding the situation in Philly during Sunday’s game between the Lions and Eagles, the field can be plowed at halftime. As explained by ESPN.com, that didn’t happen on Sunday because there wasn’t enough space to put the multiple inches of snow that had fallen during the first half of the game, and not enough time to clear the playing surface.

During a game, the following rules apply, as quoted to PFT by the league office:

1. Where possible, brushes or other appropriate clearing devices should be used to keep sidelines, goal lines, and end lines as clear as possible.

2. Under no circumstances will a Referee permit clearing by the grounds crew of a spot for a PAT or field goal attempt. It is permissible for players to clear such spots by hand or foot.

3. It is permissible to clear the 10-yard intervals, sidelines, goal lines, and end lines away from the direction of an offensive team during play.

3. If an offensive team is inside its opponent’s 20-yard line, it is not permissible to clear any 10-yard intervals behind such team that would give it a potential open spot for placement of a field goal or PAT attempt.

4. If an offensive team is going in for a possible score, the goal line can be cleared only if there is doubt on the part of the game Referee as to the location of the goal line. If it is visible, no clearing will be permitted.

The harder it snows, the more important these rules become. Clearing of snow can happen during a game by the grounds crew, especially when the action is occurring at the other end of the field.

Presumably, the NFL will have extra help available in early February, if/when (when) it snows at MetLife Stadium for the first open-air, cold-weather Super Bowl.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...removal-rules/

[Kylo Ren]

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Last weeks snow games were fun to watch! It looked like the Chiefs are a good snow team.

[Dante84]

2. Under no circumstances will a Referee permit clearing by the grounds crew of a spot for a PAT or field goal attempt. It is permissible for players to clear such spots by hand or foot.

Hypothetical situation here:

A team has just driven down the field at the end of the game, and is preparing to kick a game-winning field goal. They call a timeout.

During the timeout, every able body (players) runs on the field, and begins clearing a lane from the center's snap position to the holder, and the space the kicker would be using for the approach. With 30 players participating, they are able to hand-scoop all of the snow out of the way during the timeout.

The kicker drills the field goal because he has a clean area to kick.

Fair? Not fair? Legal?

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Dante84

Hypothetical situation here:

A team has just driven down the field at the end of the game, and is preparing to kick a game-winning field goal. They call a timeout.

During the timeout, every able body (players) runs on the field, and begins clearing a lane from the center's snap position to the holder, and the space the kick would be using for the approach. With 30 players participating, they are able to hand-scoop all of the snow out of the way during the timeout.

The kicker drills the field goal because he has a clean area to kick.

Fair? Not fair? Legal?

I don't see how it's unfair based on the rules. However, I'm not sure how clearing that entire thing would help. It would seem like you'd really just need to clear the kicker's arc toward the spot and the spotting point. Maybe a place for the ball prior to the snap, too.

[Dante84]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I don't see how it's unfair based on the rules. However, I'm not sure how clearing that entire thing would help. It would seem like you'd really just need to clear the kicker's arc toward the spot and the spotting point. Maybe a place for the ball prior to the snap, too.

I was just thinking if it was like the Lions/Eagles game, where there's a foot of snow blocking the snap-zone, and potentially blocking the the snap lane itself.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Dante84

Hypothetical situation here:

A team has just driven down the field at the end of the game, and is preparing to kick a game-winning field goal. They call a timeout.

During the timeout, every able body (players) runs on the field, and begins clearing a lane from the center's snap position to the holder, and the space the kicker would be using for the approach. With 30 players participating, they are able to hand-scoop all of the snow out of the way during the timeout.

The kicker drills the field goal because he has a clean area to kick.

Fair? Not fair? Legal?

Guessing that only the 11 guys participating in the play would be allowed to do this.

Happened in the Philly game, and the only guys that were clearing a spot were those on the field. I'm guessing if it were legal, more guys would have come off the sideline to help.

[Dante84]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Guessing that only the 11 guys participating in the play would be allowed to do this.

Happened in the Philly game, and the only guys that were clearing a spot were those on the field. I'm guessing if it were legal, more guys would have come off the sideline to help.

Technically, anyone can be on the field and play, regardless of position. We see it all the time when a 12th guy has to run off the field.

Now, there are rules about 12 being in the huddle, or 11+ being on the field during a play, but if its during a timeout, anyone "could" be playing on the next snap.

In this situation, it would be 30 anyones one the field. And they are players. And players can use their hands and feet, according to this set of guidelines.

If this were the superbowl, and people knew all week it was going to snow heavy, I'd absolutely have my team ready for this scenario.

[Rain Man]

I notice no rule about fans throwing snowballs.

[BlackHelicopters]

The Philly game was hardcore.

[Dante84]

*Also, the players could have scoop-like gloves on their hands. Technically they are using their hands.

[notorious]

I hope it snows 10 feet in NY before and during the Superbowl just to show the NFL how stupid they are.

[Bewbies]

I hope the Super Bowl looks like Philly did this weekend. That would be amazing.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Bewbies

I hope the Super Bowl looks like Philly did this weekend. That would be amazing.

It would be the greatest football thing that has happened since 1970.

[OrtonsPiercedTaint]

Irvin can snort/blow clean the 10 yard lines
All day long