I have been looking furviously for a rule/ if any/ that pertain to an IMD on punts. I'm pretty sure I know the rule, but I cant find it and I've seen it called many different ways. Help!

No such thing in high school. Ineligible downfield is on passes only.

That's an NFL rule.

Any and everybody can go downfield in NFHS.

That's what I was thinking, thanks!

I had one of these this weekend. The center released immediately on a scrimmage kick and the punter didn't get it off. He ended up throwing a complete pass that was beyond the NZ by about 2 yards. I looked down field at the center and dropped my flag. The kicking team's coach could understand what was wrong!

To understand this correctly, even if the ball is passed and crosses the NZ no IMD would apply BECAUSE it is a punt correct?

You can't have an IMD call on a punt, but if they pass from a punt formation then it's a pass and restrictions apply.

WyMike: No.

If it is a punt, there is no ineligible downfield.

If the punt play falls apart and becomes a pass play, though, then you can have ineligible downfield.

It's not a punt unless he punts it. If he passes it, it ineligible downfield.

Thanks for the clarification. I thought I was misunderstanding something.

btw... Had my first and hopefully last broken leg incident this past Friday.

Working LJ and QB scrambled out of the EZ to my side. I released downfield a little ways to assist the BJ with the pass play. QB gets chased out so I drift back upfield to mark the OOB spot. LB is coming straight across the field on a line to take him OOB's. A simple push would have done it but NOOOOoooo... This guy needs to lay it to the QB and as they go out I hear a SNAP like a one inch branch snapping in two.

Then the long drawn out howling begins. My first thought was the QB busted a collar bone. But then I saw the LB's lower leg... A 45 minute delay.