NFHS Punt question

[zebra14]

K1 punts the ball that crosses over the line of scrimmage in the air but a gust of wind blows it back and it lands on the ground behind the line of scrimmage. Can the K pick up the ball and run with it? Any help with the ruling article in the rule book would be helpful. Thank you.

[Welpe]

Yes they can. They can even recover and advance it if the ball lands beyond the neutral zone and then bounces back behind it.

6-2-3

"Any K player may catch or recover a scrimmage kick while it is in or behind the neutral zone and advance, unless it is during a try."

[jTheUmp]

Welpe provided the rule citation.

In FED, the ONLY thing that matters with respect to if K can advance upon recovery is where the kick ends. The ball touching the ground (or not) beyond the NZ, being in flight (or not) beyond the NZ, being touched (or not) beyond the NZ... all of those things do not matter.

If K recovers a scrimmage kick in or behind the NZ, they may run, pass, or even kick the ball again if they choose.

[MTUMP]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

Welpe provided the rule citation.

In FED, the ONLY thing that matters with respect to if K can advance upon recovery is where the kick ends. The ball touching the ground (or not) beyond the NZ, being in flight (or not) beyond the NZ, being touched (or not) beyond the NZ... all of those things do not matter.

If K recovers a scrimmage kick in or behind the NZ, they may run, pass, or even kick the ball again if they choose.

One other thing may matter...If K touched/muffed the ball beyond the NZ. In this case, K still has a right to run, pass, or kick the ball that was recovered behind NZ, but R will have the right to apply first touching, if they do not foul on the play.