Roughing The Kicker

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Husker John

During our youth football game covered by High School Rules, we had our placekicker hit by a defender during the try. No roughing the kicker penalty was called. From my view, the defender did not touch the ball and was not blocked into the kicker.

The white hat said that under high school rules the defenders can hit the kicker without a roughing penalty being called. Is this correct, or there certain circumstances that allows this?

CANADIAN RULING:

We also have two flvaours of infractions: Contacting the Kicker is 10 yards applied from PLS. Roughing the Kicker is a UR foul: 15 yards + AFD from PLS, OR 15 from PP or PBD.

I also agree that it is a had to be there situation. However, if a player is blocked into the kicker, that player is not responsible for the contact. If a player does touch the ball, their restriction of not hitting the kicker is lifted.

[Husker John]

Thanks for the responses.

Our kicker was drilled just as he was kicking. The leg was just making contact with the ball. Either way, running or roughing would have resulted in the same penalty half the distance and retry.

I have not seen the film yet, but will look at it and see if there was some other potential reason for the lack of flag. However, the only explanation I was given was the one provided by the white hat that the defense was allowed to do this under high school rules. I have sent a similar question to the head of our officials and asked him to communicate to the white hat.

[Warrenkicker]

Now we get some more information that would have been helpful earlier. Now we hear that the kicker was contacted right at the kick. If this contact started before his foot hit the ball then there is not any foul for roughing or running into the kicker.

We don't call the player a kicker until he is kicking the ball. Before that he is just a back. If the contact is before the kick then the player being hit is not a kicker.

[Husker John]

Exactly! He was kicking the ball, therefore, he was a kicker. Just like I explained. I understand what you are saying. The contact was made in front of the tee and was close but after the kick.

[Warrenkicker]

I don't doubt your description of the play. I just wanted to make sure of the timing of the contact.

Barring a mistake by the white hat the only thing left in question is the severity of the contact.