LSU - Florida Punt Return

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Patton

This year's mechanics have the BJ check that the other 3 officials in the box (U, SJ and FJ) are ready prior to handing the ball to the kicker. After he gives the ball to the kicker, the BJ runs off to the sideline. The referee blows the ready as soon as the BJ is in position.

What official is to be stationed closest to the center of K's restraining line? If the answer is a sideline official, then I understand the problem.

Does nobody have a view from behind the ball as it's kicked? I'm sure you've discussed free kick coverage, but if I had 5 officials I'd probably place one on the sideline at K's restraining line, 2 at R's, one in the middle of the field behind K, and one deep. If I had 6 I'd put the most athletic at middle depth in the middle.

Robert

[Patton]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

What official is to be stationed closest to the center of K's restraining line? If the answer is a sideline official, then I understand the problem.

Does nobody have a view from behind the ball as it's kicked? I'm sure you've discussed free kick coverage, but if I had 5 officials I'd probably place one on the sideline at K's restraining line, 2 at R's, one in the middle of the field behind K, and one deep. If I had 6 I'd put the most athletic at middle depth in the middle.

Robert

They took the U out of the center of the field this year. So you have the BJ and U on the sideline on K's restraining line. The FJ and SJ are on the sideline on R's restraining line. The LJ and HL are at the pylons and the referee is on the goal line in the center of the field.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Patton

They took the U out of the center of the field this year. So you have the BJ and U on the sideline on K's restraining line. The FJ and SJ are on the sideline on R's restraining line. The LJ and HL are at the pylons and the referee is on the goal line in the center of the field.

Thanks. Doesn't seem to me you'd need 2 sideline views of K's line.

[Patton]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Thanks. Doesn't seem to me you'd need 2 sideline views of K's line.

I believe this all stems from the Oklahoma/Oregon game a couple years back. The onside mechanics are very interesting as well. Everyone keeps their same postion except the LJ and HL who move up to the K35 between K and R's restraining lines (6 in the box).

[grantsrc]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Thanks. Doesn't seem to me you'd need 2 sideline views of K's line.

Originally Posted by Patton

I believe this all stems from the Oklahoma/Oregon game a couple years back. The onside mechanics are very interesting as well. Everyone keeps their same postion except the LJ and HL who move up to the K35 between K and R's restraining lines (6 in the box).

Some NCAA conferences have gone the way of the NFL and have 6 guys up on onside kicks. The off guy on K's line watches the number of players on each side of the kicker while the other guy watches the other K players. The 2 guys in the middle watch for early blocks and illegal touching, and the guys on R's line watches for illegal touching, blocks, and recovery.

The NCAA recently changed their rules on free kick plays. In the past, the location of the ball didn't matter. If the player was stradling the sideline or touching the sideline, it was ruled that the kick went OOB. The rule changed last year or the year before although I do not know how it is handled now.

In NFHS, the location of the ball matters. If the ball is airborne over OOB and the player touches it is OOB, the kick is what caused the ball to be OOB. I am not sure I like this case play but 6.1.8c covers this scenario. If the player is on the sideline and the ball was still in the field of play, the R player cause the kick OOB so no foul.

[TXMike]

The NCAA rule on KO OOB has not changed All that changed was an Approved Ruling and even that AR is very limited However, there are many, who are much wiser than I who are confounded by the AR change as it creates a new status of player, i.e. neither inbounds nor out of bounds, that never existed before.

As far as catching a kick while straddling a sideline, 1 foot in and 1 foot out, that has been, and still is, a kick OOB.