[MJT]

Originally posted by Dale Smith

ljudge I have enjoyed this thread and the discussion all day. I have several points to ponder.

NFHS 2-11-1 During a free kick it is first touching if the ball is touched in the field of play by a kicker before it crosses R’s free-kick line and before it is touched there by any R player.

NFHS 2-11-2 During a scrimmage kick it is first touching if the ball is touched by any kicker in the field of play and beyond the expanded neutral zone before it is touched there by R and before the ball has come to rest.

NFHS 2-16-1 A foul is a rule infraction for which a penalty is prescribed.

NHFS 6-1-6 When any kicker touches a scrimmage kick beyond the expanded neutral zone to R’s goal line before it is touched beyond the neutral zone by R and before the ball has come to rest it is referred to as “first touching of the kick.” And the place is the “spot of first touching.” If any kicker touches a scrimmage kick in this manner, R may take the ball at the spot of first touching, or any spot if there is more than one spot of first touching, or they may choose to have the ball put in play as determined by the action which follows first touching.

NFHS 6-3-5 If any kicker touches a free kick before it crosses R’s free kick line and before it is touched there by any R player it is referred to as “first touching of the kick.” R may take the ball at the spot of first touching. Or any spot if there is more than one spot of first touching, or they may choose to have the ball put in play as determined by the action which follows first touching.

NCAA 2-9-1 A foul is a rule infraction for which a penalty is prescribed. A violation is a rule infraction for which no penalty is prescribed and does not offset the penalty for a foul.

NCAA 6-1-3 A team A player may touch a free-kicked ball:
a. After it touches a team B player
b. After it breaks the plane of and remains beyond team B’s restraining line
c. After it touches any player, the ground, an official or anything beyond team B’s restraining line.
Thereafter all players of team A become eligible to touch, recover or catch the kick. Illegal touching of free kick is a violation that, when the ball becomes dead, gives the receiving team the privilege if tacking the ball at the spot of the violation.

NCAA 6-3-2 No inbounds player of the kicking team shall touch a scrimmage kick that has crossed the neutral zone before it touches an opponent. Such illegal touching is a violation that, when the ball becomes dead, gives the receiving team the privilege if taking the ball at the spot of the violation.

First touching is a legal act because the rules do not prohibit it. The rules support it. The rules also do not prescribe a penalty for first touching. No penalty equals no illegal act. The rules do how ever tell you what to do if you have first touching. This prevents K from putting R at a disadvantage. In your play without the first touching (illegal touching) rules K would be able to touch the scrimmage kick at R’s 30 and then down it at R’s 20 forcing R to put the ball in play at the 20, instead of the 30.
Dale Smith

Dale, I may just be overwelmed by the bulk of your post, but I am correct that you are saying FT is legal, but there are ramifications? If so, they need to clarify in the rulebook or casebook to give more support to this play situation. I think the BIB should be enforced, but that is if you agree that B cannot legally touch the ball yet. This is where the problem is as I see it.