Illegal Man Downfield Scrimmage kick/punt

BigGref · #1 (**permalink**) Sat Sep 25, 2004, 09:13am

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!

Forksref · #2 (**permalink**) Sat Sep 25, 2004, 09:20am

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

BktBallRef · #3 (**permalink**) Sat Sep 25, 2004, 10:30am

That's an NFL rule.

Any and everybody can go downfield in NFHS.

BigGref · #4 (**permalink**) Sat Sep 25, 2004, 06:43pm

That's what I was thinking, thanks!

JamesBond · #5 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 27, 2004, 09:43am

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!

WyMike · #6 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 27, 2004, 02:51pm

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

Patton · #7 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 27, 2004, 02:58pm

Quote:

Originally posted by WyMike
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.

glyphrunner · #8 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 27, 2004, 02:59pm

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.

BktBallRef · #9 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 27, 2004, 03:16pm

Quote:

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

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

WyMike · #10 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 27, 2004, 04:34pm

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.