Thread: Onside Kick
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Old Wed Mar 03, 2004, 07:41am
mikesears mikesears is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by simpson
Quote:
Originally posted by Bob M.
One other note...through last season, the only time you "ignored" touching of a free or scrimmage kick by R was if K blocked him into it. Beginning this season, you will also ignore R's touching if K bats or muffs a kick (scrimmage or free) into R. Last year you wouldn't have. Makes for some interesting diffrences in how such plays will be ruled in 2004.
Am I missing something here? If K bats or muffs a kick into R, K would have to first touch the ball so R's touching is irrelevant.

Sorry, I just don't understand the need for this rule change.
Bob M. did an outstanding job addressing this issue in an earlier post but I will try to re-enter what he wrote.

R loses the right to take the ball at the spot of first touching if they foul after touching the ball.

Example: K1 punts. K2 muffs the ball into R1. R2 then blocks K3 in the back. K4 recovers the ball.
2003 Ruling: K's ball 1/10 at spot of recovery. R cannot take the ball at spot of first touching because they fouled.
2004 Ruling: Touching by R1 is ignored--meaning they never "touched" the ball. Therefore, R can take the ball at the spot of first touching.

Another issue is about who caused a free-kick to go out of bounds. If we ignore touching if K muffs the ball into R, it makes a big difference.

Anyone else think of other scenerios?


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