Illegal Touching -- Punts

[BAlaxer]

When I coached I always told my players to pick up the punt and hand it to the offical when the downed it. This way a R player can not come along and pick up the ball after first touching. Even if the ball is not rolling anymore it only becomes truly dead when the ball is not moving and not player is making an attempt to gain possesion

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by BAlaxer

When I coached I always told my players to pick up the punt and hand it to the offical when the downed it. This way a R player can not come along and pick up the ball after first touching. Even if the ball is not rolling anymore it only becomes truly dead when the ball is not moving and not player is making an attempt to gain possesion

That is not entirely true. The ball is dead if the kicking team is first to touch a scrimmage kick at rest beyond the neutral zone.

4-2-2 The ball is dead and the down is ended:

f. When the kickers catch or recover any free kick anywhere, and when the
kickers catch or recover a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone and
when the kickers are first (i.e., before any touching by the receivers) to
touch a scrimmage kick after it has come to rest beyond the neutral zone
and between the goal lines.

[BAlaxer]

Okay I see your point but:


ART. 2 . . . The ball becomes dead and the down is ended:

e. When any loose ball:
1. Is simultaneously caught or recovered by opposing players.
2. Is on the ground motionless and no player attempts to secure possession.

if they just touch it and do not secure posession then it is still a loose ball

interesting topic

[Welpe]

Section e does not negate section f, they complement each other.

Section e applies to all loose balls, section f applies ONLY to free kicks and scrimmage kicks.

Think of it this way:

Any loose ball (pass, fumble, kick, etc) - apply section e criteria

A scrimmage or free kick (which is a type of loose ball) - apply section e criteria AND section f criteria.

[BAlaxer]

Gotchya