Blocking with kickoff < 10 yards

whaddayouknow · #1 (**permalink**) Wed Oct 05, 2005, 09:36pm

NFHS: On a kick-off, the kick was bouncing on the ground. After the ball bounced about 9 yards, K blocked R to keep them away from the ball. After the ball bounced 11 yards, it was untouched and K recovered.

We ruled K's ball with no foul. I haven't research it yet to find if we were correct or not, but it just doesn't "seem" right that K blocked R from the ball.

Thoughts?

Snake~eyes · #2 (**permalink**) Wed Oct 05, 2005, 10:41pm

I got nuttin!

cmathews · #3 (**permalink**) Wed Oct 05, 2005, 10:42pm

Yeah you have nothing....however the NCAA requires that K not "block" until they may legally touch the ball...

ref18 · #4 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 06, 2005, 09:37am

K would be assessed a penalty for illegal interference while the ball is loose. 1/10 to R at the point of the foul.

Forksref · #5 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 06, 2005, 10:13am

I got plenty o' nuttin and nuttin's plenty for me.

jfurdell · #6 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 06, 2005, 10:16am

NFHS made this a foul as an experimental rule a couple years ago in my state, but it's not currently in the rulebook.

ScottV · #7 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 06, 2005, 11:33am

I wonder how long it will take for coaches to learn about this loophole in the rules and start doing this on every onside kick. I bet you'll see the rule changed to be more like NCAA in a rush.

ljudge · #8 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 06, 2005, 11:56am

K can not block R in the back to recover the ball within the 10 yard area (like with a fumble) because they can't legally touch the ball until it has gone 10 yards.

Jaysef · #9 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 06, 2005, 01:53pm

Why would this not be interference on K?

J

Patton · #10 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 06, 2005, 02:03pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Jaysef
Why would this not be interference on K?

It is a GROUNDED kick. KCI only applies to a ball in flight.