About NFL Instant Replay Rules

Throughout the years, the NFL instant replays have become a very important part in today's game. The replay used to be just for viewers at home to get a chance to experience a great play or witness an uncalled penalty, but now it is used to correct mistaken calls on the field. Here is a list of the rules for NFL instant replay.

Amount of Challenges

The head coaches will be given two challenges per half. A challenge gives the coach an opportunity to have the referee look at the play again. If the ref calls a fumble--and the opposing coach doesn't feel it was a fumble--then he throws a red flag onto to the field, letting the ref know he is challenging the call. The refs will then go to a large monitor on the sideline and study various angles of the play in question. If he sees conclusive evidence that he made an incorrect call, he will go to the middle of the field and explain why he is overturning the call. If he finds no conclusive evidence, he will state that the play stands. If a coach loses a challenge, he is charged with a timeout. If he wins, there is no consequence.

When a play can be challenged?

Even though the head coaches are given two challenges per half, they do have times when they are not allowed to use them. At the end of the second and fourth quarters--with less than two minutes--coaches are not allowed to challenge a play, no matter how obvious the mistake seems to be. There are, however, officials in the booth surrounding the stadium that can challenge if they really feel a bad play call occurred. Even if the coaches are out of challenges, the booth can still review a play at any time.

Plays that can be challenged?

There are a number of circumstances when plays can be challenged: Fumbles can be challenged. Referees can look to see if a player was down or touched down before the ball came out. If the ref blows the whistle after the fumble is called, the play is done. After the whistle blows, no challenge can be issued for anything occurring after the whistle. That is why, even if referees know there weren't fumbles, they will not blow their whistles so they can get a better look at it if a coach challenges the play. Along with fumble calls, coaches can challenge a quarterback fumble. If the quarterback loses the ball, a coach can challenge the play. The quarterback's arm often goes forward so it's called a forward pass, therefore an incomplete pass.

Ball spots can be challenged as well. If the referee puts the ball down after the play and the coach firmly believes his runner advanced the ball further, then he may throw the red challenge flag.

Most live plays on the field can be challenged.

Plays that cannot be challenged?

Penalties cannot be challenged, this includes holding, passing interference, personal fouls, false starts or off sides, and intentional grounding.

Significance

Critics constantly argue about the logic and success of NFL instant replay. Some agree and feel it helps referees correct and learn from their mistakes, while others argue that it kills the flow of the game. They feel that a lot of calls still do not reach the correct decision.