fumble

Question
Can you push an opposing player off to prevent him from getting down on a fumbled ball, or must you give them a "fair chance" to recover the ball?

We had a 15 yard un-sportsman like conduct called on us today when our DE shoved the QB just as he was going down to recover a snap that went over his head.  The ref said we had to give him a "fair chance" to recover.  I've been either playing or coaching for over 20 years and this is the first time I've ever heard this one.

Answer
Roy
Thank you for your question. The short answer is Yes, you can push a player to prevent him from getting to the ball.

Pushing a player as you describe is a Block. You may legally block an opponent to get to a loose ball in a legal manor that does not violate other rules or that is an a way that rises to a personal foul.

I would need to see the play you are discussing and get some more information to try to explain it.  It sounds as though it may have been a judgment type call and in the judgment of the official rose to the level of a foul but I need to know what specific foul was called and its subcategory.  I suspect the official may not have fully articulated or explained the foul well.  The explanation of giving a fair chance to recover does not sound like grounds for a foul. Thus I need to know more about the play for a better understanding and to explain what occurred and why and whether a mistake was made. In your play the ball is a loose ball, a backward pass (snap).  Both teams are entitled to gain possession of this loose ball.  You state your team was called for unsportsmanlike conduct (UNS). I question whether this was unsportsmanlike or a personal foul.  There is a big difference.  If it was a UNS foul there seems to be other facts that I would need to know; if it was a personal foul .

But the basic answer to your question is yes it is legal to block an opponent to try to recover a loose ball.