NCAA Fair Catch

[DJ_NV]

From a practical standpoint, I can only find two things that differentiate a kick play that involves a fair catch and one that doesn't:

1. The player signalling for a FC and that doesn't touch the ball is restricted from blocking during that down, and

2. The receiver that signalled for FC still has protection if he muffs the kick and still has an opportunity to complete the catch.

Anything else that I'm forgetting?

thanks

[bigwhistle]

If R1 calls for a fair catch and R2 catches the ball R2 can't advance the ball. The fair catch signal restricts the entire team from advancing the ball.

[ljudge]

Ironically, I was reading the kicking game rules on the train this morning.

I believe another key differentiator from federation ball is if R signals for a FC and ultimately catches the ball behind the NZ the ball does not become dead and he may advance.

Someone, anyone, please correct me if I'm interpretating that incorrectly.

[TXMike]

Does not matter where the receivers get the ball, if they get it after one of them has made a FC signal, ball is dead. Kickers can catch or recover a ball that has not crossed the NZ and they can advance.

[ljudge]

Originally Posted by TXMike

Does not matter where the receivers get the ball, if they get it after one of them has made a FC signal, ball is dead. Kickers can catch or recover a ball that has not crossed the NZ and they can advance.

Mike, the only mention of a dead ball after a valid or an invalid FC signal is 4.1.3.g.

When a free kick or scrimmage kick (beyond the neutral zone) is caught or recovered by any player after a valid or invalid fair-catch signal; or when an invalid FC signal is made after a catch or recovery by team B.

Can you elaborate a little on what rule reference or AR you were going by?

[TXMike]

You are probably right. I will have to get a rulebook out to check. But since FC rules supposedly only apply when a scrimmage kick crosses the NZ, it may be legal for B to advance if they catch it behind the NZ. That is one I have never seen, even out in windy West Texas. Gonna have to ponder on this. Knowing how the kickers will likely react if they see B signal for FC and then catch it , even if behind the NZ, it sure seems wrong to let them advance.

What's that I hear??? By golly someone on the crew has blown the whistle, so I guess it is dead.