Kick Catch Interference

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by NorCalRef12

According to NFHS rules, K may contact R once the R player touches the kick in flight. There is no "halo" rule in high school.

There isn't a very good case book play on this, but if you're the covering official, I would be VERY sure that R had touched the ball before letting K get away with blocking R.

Although there is no "halo" rule, R is entitled to an "unmolested opportunity to catch the ball." According to our state interpreter, that implies that K may NOT hit R the moment the R player touches the ball. The "opportunity to catch the ball" extends beyond merely touching the ball.

Originally Posted by 2009 Case Book

6.5.6 SITUATION D: K1’s punt is high but short. R2, from well down field, runs
toward the ball to get in position to attempt to catch it. K2 is also moving toward
the ball or just standing there when: (a) K2 is contacted by R2; or (b) K2 causes
R2 to veer away from the ball but there is no contact by K2. The ball strikes the
ground and is recovered by R3. RULING: K2 has committed kick-catching interference
in both (a) and (b) since K2 did not provide R2 an unmolested opportunity
to catch the ball.