Spike (gridiron football)

In gridiron football, a spike of the ball is a play in which the quarterback intentionally throws the ball at the ground immediately after the snap. A spike is technically an incomplete pass, and therefore, it has the effect of stopping the clock and exhausting a down. A spike is performed when the offensive team is conducting a hurried drive near the end of the first half or of the game, and the game clock is still running in the aftermath of the previous play; as an incomplete pass the spike causes the referee to stop the game clock, and the offensive team will have a chance to huddle and plan the next play without losing scarce game-clock time.

A spike is not considered intentional grounding if it is done with the quarterback under center and immediately after the snap. No penalty is assessed. The only loss is that one down is sacrificed.

Running a spike play presumes there will be at least one play by the same team immediately afterward, so it would not be done on fourth down; instead, a regular play would have to be run without a huddle.

In the 1998 Rose Bowl, Ryan Leaf spiked the ball and inadvertently ran the clock out on that play. In the 2012 Rose Bowl, Russell Wilson also ran the clock out on a spike ball play. In both cases, just before such spike, the clock was stopped with just 2 seconds left (while the sideline chains were being moved for 1st down, the usual procedure when playing under college football rules).

On October 18, 2014, Nick Montana, son of Joe Montana, spiked the ball on 4th down at almost the end of the 1st half of a game between his Tulane University and UCF, forcing a turnover; he erroneously believed his team had gained a 1st down.^[1]

Spiking after scoring

After scoring a touchdown, players often celebrate by spiking the football, though this action is not legal in NCAA football, as the scoring player is immediately obligated to either leave the ball or return the ball to an official.^[2] Spiking the ball remains legal in the NFL, where it is not interpreted as excessive celebration unless the ball is spiked towards another player on the opposing team. The maneuver is attributed to Homer Jones of the New York Giants in 1965.

Such action is not considered a "spike play." It has no official status.

References

^ "Tulane Green Wave vs. UCF Knights - October 18, 2014 - ESPN". ESPN. Associated Press. October 18, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
^ 2008 NCAA FOOTBALL RULES AND INTERPRETATIONS, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Page 112, Accessed August 4, 2008.

Offense	Quarterback Running backs (Halfback, Fullback) Receivers (Wide receiver, Tight end, H-back, Slotback) Linemen (Center, Guard, Tackle)

Defense	Linemen (Defensive tackle, Defensive end, Nose tackle) Linebacker Defensive back (Cornerback, Safety, Nickelback, Dimeback, Halfback)

Special teams	Placekicker Punter Kickoff specialist Long snapper Holder Punt returner Kickoff returner Return specialist Gunner Jammer Upback

Other	Utility player Triple-threat man Skill position Game manager

Play types

Offense	Rush Pass Incomplete pass Lateral Bootleg play Draw play End-around Flea flicker Flexbone formation Fourth down conversion Hail Mary pass Halfback option play Hook and lateral Kneel Motion Hurry-up offense Option run Option offense Play-action pass Quarterback keeper Quarterback sneak Quick kick Reverse Scramble Screen pass Spike Statue of Liberty Sweep Tackle-eligible Trick play Wildcat formation

Defense	Tackle Blitz Rush Sack Shooting the gap Stunt Zone blitz

Special teams	Kickoff Kickoff return Punt Punt return Drop kick Fair catch Fair catch kick Icing the kicker Onside kick Squib kick Conversion

Scoring

Penalties

Turnovers

Downs

Play clock

Statistics

Celebrations

Officiating

Miscellaneous

Categories

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Spike (gridiron football)