Punts

[chymechowder]

Originally Posted by stegenref

What are you looking at as the ball is coming into the receiver? Are you watching the receiver or the approaching K players or both?

I watch the ball come off the foot, just long enough to know the general area its headed. then my eyes dont come off the return man until the ball gets there. yes, I could miss an illegal block in teh back, but I'm counting on my linejudge (who released after the snap) to help me with that. I can't risk missing a fair catch signal.

speaking of which, OP, that's one other thing to look for: the invalid signal. usually either a last-second wrist flick, or the "get away, Poison!" motion.

these can be tricky, especially in the case of the former, where the kid thinks he's signaling, but Team A might not realize that. so you want to "protect" that player from getting destroyed and kill the play as soon as he catches the kick. (but don't be so quick to protect him that you blow the whistle as he's muffing it!)

one other thing: remember that if anyone on Team B gives a signal--valid or invalid--and the punt is caught/recovered by anyone on Team B, it's a dead ball.

(I'm in Mass., with ncaa rules. I can't be certain if any of the above differs from Fed)

[Rich]

Originally Posted by chymechowder

so you want to "protect" that player from getting destroyed and kill the play as soon as he catches the kick. (but don't be so quick to protect him that you blow the whistle as he's muffing it!)

I think this is a recipe for an inevitable IW. Do not think you are protecting anyone. If the kid gets hit due to an invalid signal, it's not your job to "protect" him -- penalize the invalid signal and move on. If it's a valid signal, the *signal* gives him protection, not your whistle.

An IW on a muffed punt is one of the absolute worst things that can happen -- so much so that I stress this every week when we pregame. It's the signal that offers the protection, the catch that kills the play, and the whistle simply acknowledges that after the fact.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

An IW on a muffed punt is one of the absolute worst things that can happen -- so much so that I stress this every week when we pregame. It's the signal that offers the protection, the catch that kills the play, and the whistle simply acknowledges that after the fact.

Required reading for every B, IMO.

The OP lists his "most common scenarios" on a punt. But, to paraphrase Jim Evans, surprise is an official's worst enemy. Prepare for the unexpected.

[chymechowder]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I think this is a recipe for an inevitable IW. Do not think you are protecting anyone. If the kid gets hit due to an invalid signal, it's not your job to "protect" him -- penalize the invalid signal and move on. If it's a valid signal, the *signal* gives him protection, not your whistle.

An IW on a muffed punt is one of the absolute worst things that can happen -- so much so that I stress this every week when we pregame. It's the signal that offers the protection, the catch that kills the play, and the whistle simply acknowledges that after the fact.

agreed...which is why I put the word protect in quotes and cautioned against the IW.

of course we dont want too quick a whistle here. but I also don't want a slow whistle to contribute to a kid getting blown up by a gunner unnecessarily.

related rules question for the Fed guys: you said you penalize an invalid signal. what's the penalty? (we don't have a penalty for it in Mass.)

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by chymechowder

agreed...which is why I put the word protect in quotes and cautioned against the IW.

of course we dont want too quick a whistle here. but I also don't want a slow whistle to contribute to a kid getting blown up by a gunner unnecessarily.

related rules question for the Fed guys: you said you penalize an invalid signal. what's the penalty? (we don't have a penalty for it in Mass.)

I agree with Rich: a whistle isn't going to protect anybody. You're trying to avoid a slow whistle, but a better strategy is to try to avoid a quick whistle.

Invalid FC signal: 5 yards, often a PSK foul.