NFHS Rules - When does the ball become dead on a kick try?
This seems like a fairly straightforward question.
Rule 8-3-2b states:
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...The try begins when the ball is marked ready for play. It ends when: [...] b. It is apparent a drop kick or place kick will not score.
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The reason I ask this question is because in a game last week, during the try, the kick was blocked at the line and went straight up in the air. While the ball was in the air, I blew my whistle to kill the play. After the try, my R stated that I shouldn't have killed the play because team A/K could've still caught the kick and ran it in for a 2-point conversion.
IMO, since the kick was blocked and went straight up in the air, it was apparent that the kick would not score. I could even recite the text of rule 8-3-2b from memory. But I decided to look in the Case Book to see if there was anything to support my interpretation. Case 8.3.2 SITUATION B mentions a very similar play:
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8.3.2 SITUATION B:During a try by place-kick, the kick by K1 is blocked by R1 and recovered by K2, who advances across R's goal line.
RULING: The try is unsuccessful. The try and down ended when the attempted place kick was blocked and it was obvious the kick would not score. The covering official should sound his whistle immediately when it is apparent the kick will not score. (4-2-2i)
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This Case Book situation is so close to the situation that happened in my game with the exception of one single word: "recovered". "Recovered" is different than "caught". To paraphrase, a "recovery" is gaining possession of the ball after it has touched the ground, while a "catch" is gaining possession of the ball while it is in the air. Both words are defined in Rule 2.
- Recovery: 2-36-1
- Catch: 2-4-1
I wasn't able to find any other references that mentioned a player from team K
catching the kick and converting it into a run for 2 points.
So can a blocked kick be
caught by K during a try and ran in for 2 points? Should I have given K a chance to catch the kick? Or was I correct to blow it dead?
I'm interested to hear your opinions.