Kill the Holder!

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

Yeah but not in the rule book and we don't play by your book.

What determines when a holder has been tackled? Does the second knee have to touch the ground? His elbow? Another body part?

[ljudge]

You all bring up good points on what the rule should and shouldn't say and they are all logical. I'm going with my common sense and football sense here (right or wrong) of what I believe they really mean. And, I don't mean to imply you all don't have these "senses" I'm just saying what I believe is common sense and football sense in my mind.

That is, if the holder is touched while holding the ball for a kick the ball would remain live. I suppose if a player walked up and and touched a holder (as they do in the NFL when a player falls on his own) then I may be inclined to blow the whistle. If he is tackled while in possession of the ball it becomes dead.

I realize not everyone may agree but if the fed starts writing what they MEAN instead of leaving us GUESSING what they mean, then we'll get more consistent in calling (and enforcing) these types of situations.

[Warrenkicker]

I agree with your statement of common sense as I wouldn't have been sure how to rule on it prior to thinking about this a little. However common sense also tells the defense to go after the ball and not the holder. If a defender goes after the ball and hits it and the holder before the ball is kicked during a field goal then is the ball dead or now is it a fumble?

The exception for the holder allows him to have a knee or knees on the ground while in possession of the ball. A defender touching the holder does not change the status of this exception. I say that the defender needs to do more than just touch the holder. He needs to think about what he is doing and go get the ball. Again we aren't playing tag here, or NFL rules, there is no provision for a player to be touched down.

By the way, any contact against the holder while he is holding the ball is extremely likely to cause a fumble.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by golfnref

I want to be the agent for the kid who can get to the holder, who is holding the ball for a place kick, with out encroaching.

Given variations in execution of the snap & hold, it frequently would be possible to do that, were it not for the impulse of holders getting control of the ball that late to either get up & run with the ball, or to fall on it to avoid a fumble, and also if not for the fact that the defender would probably go for the ball rather than its holder.

Robert