PSK in English

[The Roamin' Umpire]

PSK restrictions can pretty much be remembered with this two-word phrase: "R downfield"

Expanded:
(1) R must foul downfield.
(2) The kick must go downfield.
(3) R must end up in possession.
(4) Enforcement spot is furthest downfield (worst for R).

Some plays (assume in all cases the foul occurs during the kick, which is a normal punt unless otherwise stated):
(I) K 4/20 @ K35. R clips at midfield. Ball received at R25, returned to R40. RULING: PSK foul, penalized from R25. R 1/10 @ R12.5.

(II) K 4/20 @ K35. Two R players signal for fair catch. One of them blocks a K player at the R20, the other makes the catch at the R25. RULING: PSK foul, penalized from the spot of the foul. R 1/10 @ R10.

(III) K 4/10 @ R30. K attempts a field goal and misses wide left. R is flagged for 5-yard facemask at the R25. RULING: PSK foul, since R will have the ball after the touchback. Penalize from the R20, R 1/10 @ R15. If the foul were at, say, the R15, we would penalize from there since that would be worse for R.

(IV) K 4/10 @ midfield. R clips at R20. K (with no receiver nearby) catches the punt at the R1. RULING: PSK foul, since R will be getting the ball. R 1/10 @ R half-yard line.

(V) K 4/20 @ K35. K clips at midfield. Ball received at R25, returned to R40. RULING: No PSK, because the foul is on K. The penalty, if accepted by R, is enforced from the previous spot. K 4/35 @ K20 or R 1/10 @ R40.

(VI) K 4/20 @ K35. R clips an offensive lineman at K36. Ball received at R25, returned to R40. RULING: No PSK, as the foul is not downfield. (It's in the expanded NZ.) Penalize from previous spot (loose ball play), K 4/5 @ 50.

(VII) K 4/20 @ K35. R clips at midfield. Kick is blocked at the line of scrimmage, picked up by R and run back for a TD. RULING: No PSK, as the kick did not go downfield (cross the ENZ). Previous spot foul, K 4/5 @ 50.

(VIII) K 4/5 @ R35. R holds at R30, K kicks a successful field goal. RULING: No PSK, as R would NOT immediately have the ball on the next play. K may keep the points and penalize on kickoff, or take the points off and penalize from previous spot, K 1/10 @ R25.

(IX) K 4/20 @ K35. K holds behind the line, and R clips at midfield. Ball received at R25, returned for TD. RULING: R's foul is PSK. R may keep the ball by declining the penalty on K; their penalty will be enforced from the R25, resulting in no TD and R 1/10 @ R 12.5. If R accepts the foul on K, double foul - replay the down.

(X) K 4/20 @ K35. K holds behind the line, and R roughs the kicker. Ball fair caught at R25. RULING: No PSK, as the R foul is not downfield. Double foul - replay the down.


This isn't quite a comprehensive list of possible plays, but it certainly should be good enough to see you through most situations.