KO Mechanic, Ball Placement

[ppaltice]

On a Kick Off, if K brings out a tee does the ball need to be on the tee prior to the RFP? Can K be holding the ball prior to RFP? Or does the ball need to be in the final position (either on the ground, on a tee, or holder holding the ball) before the RFP?

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by ppaltice

On a Kick Off, if K brings out a tee does the ball need to be on the tee prior to the RFP? Can K be holding the ball prior to RFP? Or does the ball need to be in the final position (either on the ground, on a tee, or holder holding the ball) before the RFP?

I can't imagine a Referee giving the RFP signal, prior to the ball being in place to actually start the play, so your questions seems mute. Normally (if not always) a Referee will make sure each of his fellow officials is set and ready to go and the kicker is set, and ready to kick, BEFORE giving the RFP signal.

Should the ball blow off the tee, or something else interrupt the sequence, the usual procedure is to stop everything, correct the problem, recheck that everyone is again ready to start, THEN gice another RFP signal and off we go.

[BktBallRef]

To my knowledge, the rules do not address this situation.

[jemiller]

Many times...like every week. We have teams that huddle up before getting ready for the KO. Some times they will try to do an onside formation from the huddle and catch the receivers sleeping. We give the ball to the kicker and instruct him to wait for the WH's whistle. They put it on the tee sometimes right away and sometimes with a delay. Regardless they do their thing, and we do ours. The kicker always appears to have the ball on the tee when I blow the whistle, but not always. If the wing officials signal that they are ready the RFP will be sounded. Jim

[ajmc]

Why would a wing official EVER signal he was ready if the ball is not on the Tee?

[w_sohl]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Why would a wing official EVER signal he was ready if the ball is not on the Tee?

Who says they need to kick from a tee? Had a game this last Friday and the home team liked to set the ball NEXT to the tee and run up to it like they were going to kick it onside, only to stop and reset for a deep kick. As soon as I am in position I am signalling that "I" am ready. Then the kicking team has 25 seconds to kick the ball. I don't care what they do with that 25 seconds.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Why would a wing official EVER signal he was ready if the ball is not on the Tee?

There's a 1 minute break between the try and the kickoff. At the 45 second mark, we are getting the teams out of their huddle and back on the field. At 1 minute, the R chops everyone in and blows the RFP. It makes no difference whether the ball is on the tee or not.

Last year, we had two delay of game penalties on a JV team in the same game. First time i've ever seen it but we're not waiting all night.

If this is wrong, please provide rule reference, case play or NFHS interpretation. I'm not interested in you opinion. Give us proof.

[jaybird]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Why would a wing official EVER signal he was ready if the ball is not on the Tee?

Because the ball does not have to be on a tee and has nothing to do with the official being ready.

[ppaltice]

Did some checking. According to Redding's guide (pg 58) which is citing 2001 NFHS interpretations: 'Adjusting the ball on the tee or moving it from the ground to an adjacent tee is not considered changing the designated spot (2001 interp, Sit 15).' So it appears you can blow the ball RFP when the ball is on the ground by the tee and the kicking team can move the ball from the ground to the tee.

Originally Posted by ajmc

I can't imagine a Referee giving the RFP signal, prior to the ball being in place to actually start the play, so your questions seems mute.

Pet peeve: the correct word is 'moot' not 'mute.'

[mikesears]

Originally Posted by ajmc

so your questions seems mute.

Sorry but not spelling this word correctly is a pet peeve of mine. The word is MOOT, as in "has no relevance".