Kicking question
 

OK, I'm only a fan, but I've got a rule question I'm hoping you guys can explain (sorry I don't know all the correct abbreviations)...

Situation 1: Team A punting from their 20 yardline. Punt comes down at the 50, hits A88, and continues on to the B40. Where is the ball spotted?

Situation 2: Team A punting from the 50. Punt comes down at B2, hits A88, and continues into the EZ. Where is the ball spotted?

My untrained (aside from watching as a fan) brain says #1 is @ the 50 for B. #2 is at the B20 (touchback).

IF I am correct (absolutely no guarantee of that), why? Both involve touching the ball by the kicking team with the only difference being the location on the field. If I am incorrect (probable), please set me straight.

Thank you in advance.

In HS football, the rules permit the receiving team (usually designated R, not B) to choose where they will take the ball: either the spot of first touching by the kicking team, or the result of the play.

The answers will be different in your two situations. In (1), R will take the ball at the spot of first touching, as you say. In (2) it's more advantageous for them to take the result of the play, which is a touchback. First touching is defined in rule 2-12.

Your intuitions are correct, and now you know why!

Thanks mb... that makes sense. Is it the same in NCAA?

One other point, in Situation 1, the play is still live. R can pick the ball up at B40 and advance.

Thanks guys.

I guess the part I was missing was I wasn't accounting for the receiving team having the option of the penalty or play.

This fan thanks you.

Technically, first touching by K is not a foul (and so there's no flag and no penalty), though it functions like a penalty in some ways.

I don't do college, and so can't answer your question about whether NCAAF has the same rule.

At one time -- I'm sure that time ended before 1955, probably before 1950 -- first touching by K inside R's 20 (or maybe just inside their 10) was penalizable as a touchback. They didn't want team K to be able to prevent a touchback by killing a ball that was moving toward the end zone.

And for a time such illegal touching was a foul that could cancel an opposing penalty. So was an incomplete forward pass!

Robert

Canadian Ruling
 

CANADIAN RULING:

(50 changed to 55 to suit the Cdn field.)

1. A flag for No Yards is thrown. If A88 was onside, the flag will be waived off. This would be a 15-yard Restraining Zone (No Yards) foul, applied at the 55. Result: Team B 1D/10 @ A-40.

2. A flag for No Yards is thrown. If A88 was onside, the flag will be waived off. This would be a 15-yard Restraining Zone (No Yards) foul, applied at the B-2. Result: Team B 1D/10 @ B-17.