Free Kick Question

[parepat]

Originally posted by l3will
parepat - the original play was concerning a free kick. So if the kick has gone ten yards and been grounded, then K has just as much right to possess the ball as R. How long are you going to protect R?

I also agree that on a scrimmage kick, you are not going to let K blast the person who signalled a microsecond after it touches the ground.

Does R's protection end after R muffs the ball on a scrimmage kick?

I agree with you that it is a much tougher sell on a free kick. However, my point is, and has been, that there is nothing in the rules that tells us when the protection ends. Also, there is certainly nothing in the rules that differentiates protection between a free and scrimmage kick.

I wonder if the NCAA more clearly defines the duration of the protection on a fair catch.