Question About Declining A Penalty

[Fan10]

Watching the Vandy/Tennessee game. Tennessee blocked a Vandy extra point, but Tennessee was offsides on the play. Vandy declined the penalty and re-kicked from the 3 (not sure why they didn't want to kick from the 1.5, but that's another discussion for another day). My question is this: If they declined the penalty, why were they allowed to re-kick?

[dumbref]

You may accept the penalty but decline the yardage associated with the penalty. I’m certain that’s what occurred. The theory is that the angle of the kick is worse from the 1.5 than the 3.

[TXMike]

And NCAA rules permit the team on offense the option of having the ball placed anywhere behind the 3 yard line if they choose it before the ready for play whistle. So if they wanted to adjust the angel even more or give their receivers more room to work, they could snap from any yard line behind the 3

[dumbref]

Fed also allows adjustment between the inbound marks prior to the ready but not the yardline. Interesting difference I did not know about.

[SethPDX]

But if they wanted to kick on the try, wouldn't they place the ball on the mark in the middle of the field? That would eliminate kicking from an angle.

[TXMike]

Most kickers are head cases anyway so who knows what they are thinking?

[dumbref]

Originally Posted by SethPDX

But if they wanted to kick on the try, wouldn't they place the ball on the mark in the middle of the field? That would eliminate kicking from an angle.

I hope AB will jump into this part of it. He's our resident kicking coach!

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by SethPDX

But if they wanted to kick on the try, wouldn't they place the ball on the mark in the middle of the field? That would eliminate kicking from an angle.

What Mike said plus...I've had teams request the ball be placed on the hash to run a normal scrimmage play instead of kicking.

[GPC2]

Originally Posted by TXMike

And NCAA rules permit the team on offense the option of having the ball placed anywhere behind the 3 yard line if they choose it before the ready for play whistle. So if they wanted to adjust the angel even more or give their receivers more room to work, they could snap from any yard line behind the 3

Are you saying that A could choose to play the Try from the 10-yard line if they wanted to?

[ajmc]

Don't know about NCAA, but under the NFHS code, (NF: 8.3.1) "After a TD, the scoring team shall attempt a try during which the ball is snapped from a spot designated by A anywhere between the inbounds lines on B's 3 yard line unless moved by penalty.

[jjrye22]

NCAA:
8-3-2-c The snap will be midway between the inbounds lines on the opponent’s three-yard line or from any other point on or between the inbounds lines on or behind the opponent’s three-yard line if the position of the ball is selected by the team designated to put the ball in play before the ready-for-play signal

They can put it anywhere they want (if they ask the umpire nicely!)

[Fan10]

You learn something new every day. I didn't know that you could refuse the yardage but take the penalty. I guess I've never seen that happen before. Thanks guys.

[bossman72]

is that true in NFHS as well?

[Theisey]

Originally Posted by bossman72

is that true in NFHS as well?

absolutely.

[chymechowder]

Originally Posted by dumbref

You may accept the penalty but decline the yardage associated with the penalty. I’m certain that’s what occurred. The theory is that the angle of the kick is worse from the 1.5 than the 3.

I understand how on a try Team A can have the ball put in play behind the 3.

But I can't find where in the NCAA rulebook it says you can accept a penalty but decline the accompanying yardage. Can you tell me where it is?

Thanks.