On field crew communication

[masonjarfarm]

A's ball 4th and six from B's 12 yd line. A is going to attempt a field goal. Holder A14 muffs the snap and the ball is rolling behind him when kicker A44 kicks the rolling ball. The kicked ball is partically blocked by B76 at B's 13 yd line and rolls into B's end zone where the backjudge blows the play dead while signaling touchback.
What is the correct ruling on this play? Once you have the answer, my real question is how can a crew prevent this error from occurring.

[Rick KY]

First you have an illegal kick by A44. A field goal can only be scored in this situation by place kick or drop kick, and this was neither. Following an illegal kick the loose ball is treated as a fumble, so you have an IW by the back judge. Rule 4-2-3b would give the choice to K of replying the down or taking the ball at the spot where possession was lost. Possession was lost on the snap at the line of scrimmage. To avoid the 15 yard penalty for the illegal kick, A should choose to replay the down.

[mikesears]

Originally posted by Rick KY
First you have an illegal kick by A44. A field goal can only be scored in this situation by place kick or drop kick, and this was neither. Following an illegal kick the loose ball is treated as a fumble, so you have an IW by the back judge. Rule 4-2-3b would give the choice to K of replying the down or taking the ball at the spot where possession was lost. Possession was lost on the snap at the line of scrimmage. To avoid the 15 yard penalty for the illegal kick, A should choose to replay the down.

Agree with Rick as far as ruling.

I think masonjarfarm (unusual name ) is asking if the muffed snap can somehow be signaled to the official(s) behind the goal post so that they don't think a legal kick was made and blow the play dead.

A crew might device a word to yell if the snap is loose on a FG attempt. That way the officials covering the goalposts can sprint to get back into position for any run or pass that may occur. Not much else to suggest. GOOD QUESTION!

[Rick KY]

I am not sure that any communications would work very well at the time the play is happening. There are too many sounds and sights to make signals or words effective while the play is live. I do think that covering these things that go wrong in your pre-game is necessary. Perhaps someone can devise a signal such as the one used to signal a tipped kick or pass to alert officials. Although, if no player attempts to recover the loose ball the whistle is not really inadvertant. In that case you simply kill the play and enforce the foul as B chooses.

[masonjarfarm]

I agree the down will be replayed because the IW occurred while the ball was loose {illegal kick}treated as a fumble. B's Captain has the option(not A's captain)of accepting the illegal kicking penalty. Casebook 4.2.3B ruling:if a captain accepts the penalty for a foul WHICH occurred prior to the IW, the whistle is disregarded.The enforcement for the penalty is from the spot of the foul(rule 10.6 all but one principle.Let's say the foul occurred @ B's 20 yd line.Following enforcement it is A's ball 4th and 29 from B's 35 yd line.
This play was shared w/ me last season by an official w/ 43 years experience. Thank you for your suggestions.

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by Rick KY
To avoid the 15 yard penalty for the illegal kick, A should choose to replay the down.

Rick, Team B (R) has the first option. They have the option of accepting or declining the penalty. Don't forget the first statement of the IW rule, "During a down, or during a down in which the penalty for a foul is declined, if an inadvertent whistle occurs while..." Since the foul occurred during the down, if Team B (R) accepts the penalty, it's as if the IW never occurred.

TH