Onside kick

[mikesears]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

In NCAA it might not be KCI. If team R considered the ball "poison" in the NZ they might've backed away from it and not been in position (or making any attempt) to catch it. In that case it'd only be illegal touching by K, a violation, and R would be awarded 1D at the spot, but IIRC they'd also have the choice (which they probably wouldn't take) of a penalty for "short free kick" as below.

In NFL last I checked the KCI rule was the same as NCAA's (not as Fed's), but in the NZ it'd be considered a "short free kick", and R would not be allowed possession but K would be penalized 5 yards from the previous spot and the down repeated.

Robert

NCAA currently does not have anything defined as a "short free kick" like the NFL. In the OP, it would be illegal touching by K and R would take the ball at the spot of the illegal touching.