After further review - snap muffed by holder

[MJT]

Originally Posted by wisref2

Sorry for restarting a threat - but I think we have to reopen our discussion about a snap muffed by the holder. After actually studying the rule, rather than just reading the change - it is clear that many of us had it wrong.

The rule in question is 4-2-a-2. The rule states the ball remains live if the holder "rises and catches or recovers an errant snap...." The words "or recovers" are this year's addition.

The NOTE has not changed - it still says the ball is dead if the holder "muffs the snap or fumbles and recovers after his knees have been off the ground, and he then touches the ground...."

In the explanation of the rules on page 83, it states the holder is "now allowed to recover a short snap that bounces high in the same way a high snap is handled."

I hope our rule interpretation meetings make it clear, but it appears to me that if the ball bounces before it reaches the holder, he may lift his knee to get the ball and then go back down. However, if the snap reaches the holder and he simply fails to catch it, he is not allowed to do that.

Comments, please?

You are correct in your last statement. It is supported by a Redding SG example which says "With K13 in position to kick, K24 (a) fumbles the ball as he places it and recovers with his knee still on the ground and then rises and runs, or (b) muffs the snap; the ball rolls away and K24 rises to recover and then returns to his knees to place the ball. ((Ruling)) In (a) legal play. In (b), the ball becomes dead when K24 touches his knee to the ground after rising.

I think that if he can rise to recover a bad snap, grounded or not, he should be able to immediately return to his knee if he muffs the snap, but that is not how it is.