Onside Kick

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Just to clarify some points made by Double-D...If you are certain that R touched the ball after being blocked into it, you still do not start the clock since you are "ignoring" the touch by R (NF 6-1-5). On the other hand, if the free kick is beyond the 10 yard neutral zone, and K muffs it, the clock is started at that point since such touching by K is "legal" touching, i.e. not "first touching." (NF 3-4-2 & 3-4-3). Double-D may have been saying as much, but I may have been too dense to see it!

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.