NCAA rule on invalid fair catch signal?
 

Is it a foul to give a fair catch signal after the ball has hit the ground on a free kick under NCAA rules?

Play: Free kick / onside kick attempt, K1 kicks the ball into the ground which then travels 13 yards in the air while R1 gives a fair catch signal. K2 crashes the pile of players and catches the kick in the air and lands with the ball while R1 has been knocked over in the pile of players going for the ball in the air.

Under NFHS I believe this would be an invalid fair catch signal since the kick has hit the ground and K would get to keep the ball with an extra 5 yards for the penalty.

What is the ruling under NCAA rules?

Thanks

There is no foul under NCAA rules. The ball will, however become dead once B gains possession.

Correct. That is one rule that most HS officials forget about since it is not a foul in NCAA.

Actually K would need to decline the penalty for the invalid signal in order to keep the ball. Otherwise, they would rekick after a 5 yard penalty.

Followup on the NCAA ruling (free vs scrimmage kick)
 

So is it correct then that under NCAA rules, R can signal for a fair catch without a penalty on a free kick after it has hit the ground, but can NOT do this for a scrimmage kick after it has hit the ground?

Reason I ask, I've read a case play in the 2008 Football Rule Differences book p123:

Play: 4th and 12 on K's 30. After K1's punt lands on team R's 35 and bounds high into the air, R2 gives a fair-catch signal, grabs the ball at his 30 and is tackled there by K7.

Book has, NFHS: Invalid Signal, 5yards PSK, 1st and 10 for R at own 25.
NCAA: Invalid signal, ball is dead where it is recovered. 1st and 10 for R at own 30.

So it would seem (assuming that ruling is correct) that R can signal for a fair catch after the ball hits the ground on a free kick but not a scrimmage kick, is that right?

Under NCAA it is an invalid fair catch signal for both a free kick and a scrimmage kick, but no foul in either case. The ball just becomes dead when it is possessed.

As JasonTX points out ... no foul under NCAA rules.. This was changed a number of years ago because those who make the rules felt the crime did not fit the punishment. It's just a signal, the play will be killed as soon as the ball is possessed. great change imho.