Quote:
Originally posted by dtaughin
Situation: Punter receives ball on a perfect snap. He punts the ball immediately. He is hit by someone on the receiving team while his kicking leg is still in the air. Punter is injured and down. No flag. What should the official have done?
He told the coaches he didn't think the punter got hit. What did he me he didn't think he got hit. Isn't that just his one and only job at the time, to watch the punter? How hard is that? Then he said. Don't worry about it you recovered the fumble on the punt. Why would recovering the fumble negate a penalty against the receiving team?
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No one here can offer a comment on the play you mentioned because we were not there. And, even if we were, we cannot offer the same perspective as the game referee. I don't know if the referee for your game does film review but that is one of the best methods for evaluating your performance. No, it will not cause the call on the field to be changed because the review occurs after the game.
As a referee for the last six seasons I can tell you a lot happens that the fans don't see. If, and I only say if because I was not there, the referee had a poor position it is possible to miss contact especially if there is a lot of blocking around the kicker.
Another possibility, is the contact with the kicker's leg occurred before the kicker had actually kicked the ball. If the kicker was in the process attempting the kick and before the ball is physically kicked, he is not protected by rule.
I hope we have answered your inquiry because it appears you posted only as a gripe and not to gain some level of knowledge.
Quote:
Isn't there a rule that protects the kicker? Isn't there a penalty to insure that?
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There is a rule that protects the kicker after he kicks the ball and until he is no longer vulnerable. That rule depends upon when the player who kicks the ball, actually makes contact with the ball.
[Edited by Ed Hickland on Sep 30th, 2003 at 09:13 AM]