Punt penaltiy question
 

Watching the Alamo Bowl and a question came up from a penalty on punt. How much space does the coverage team need to give the return man in order to avoid a penalty?

No longer a question of space. You need to give him the unimpeded opportunity to complete the catch. Judgment call all the way

Thanks.

I saw that play. The receiver must have had enough room to catch the ball... he did.:p Dumb move by the receiver not calling for a fair catch. Or maybe it was smart... they got 15 yards out of it.