Illegal kicking tee.

[Mike Simonds]

There was an interesting post on the NFHS discussion board that goes something like this:

4th and 10 from the B/R 25 yard line. A/K kicks a successful field goal but after the kick the referee notices the tee is more than 2" tall that is allowed by rule. What is the correct ruling?

There appears to be no specific penalty for this foul. On the NFHS site we agreed that it is best to catch this before the play. Then you can prevent K from using the tee and being penalized. The worst thing that can happen at that point is that K may have to use a timeout or take a delay of game penalty.

But assume instead that the kick is good and the tee is not discovered until after the play is over. How do you handle this? How do you penalize K? Some say take the points off the board, penalize coach K 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, and give the ball to B 1st and 10 on their 35 yard line. Some say penalize K either 5 or 15 yards, live ball loose ball foul and have them rekick or replay the down with a legal tee.

I know this is one of those once in a lifetime fouls but lets say some kicker tapes two of those black tees together to form a higher platform for the ball. It could happen.

[Edited by Mike Simonds on Aug 1st, 2002 at 02:32 PM]