Punt behind NZ

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by BroKen62

This happened to us the other night - K's ball 4th and 10 at their 40. Punt is straight up, hit the ground beyond the NZ, bounced back behind the NZ, comes to rest @37. K comes up, touches the ball, R comes in, picks it up and scores. We never blew it dead. Was that right?

In all current major USAn and Canadian codes, yes. In NCAA, because the ball touched ground on R's side of the neutral zone, R would have a theoretic choice of the touchdown or 1st down at the spot of touching by K.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

In all current major USAn and Canadian codes, yes. In NCAA, because the ball touched ground on R's side of the neutral zone, R would have a theoretic choice of the touchdown or 1st down at the spot of touching by K.

Under NFHS rules, there is no first touching on this play as the ball was touched by K BEHIND the NZ.

K could actually have picked the ball up and advanced it.

[asdf]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Under NFHS rules, there is no first touching on this play as the ball was touched by K BEHIND the NZ.

K could actually have picked the ball up and advanced it.

He could also have kicked it again.

[parepat]

The question I have is how long do we wait after the ball comes to rest before we kill it?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by parepat

The question I have is how long do we wait after the ball comes to rest before we kill it?

Until we judge that no player is attempting to secure possession. 4-2-2(e)(2)

[BroKen62]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Until we judge that no player is attempting to secure possession. 4-2-2(e)(2)

Yeah, I agree with that - it wasn't like we stood there looking at and then finally K touched it -it was like it stopped rolling and immediately k touched it, then R scooped it up.

[whitehat]

We had a similar one last wekend as well. Punt was partially blocked, rebounded in the air about 5 yards beyond the NZ where K caught it. Our very alert HL blew it dead as soon as he caught it then had a look of momentary terror wondering if he should have blown it dead. As R , I wandered over to my HL to be sure what we had.

2 questions came to mind that we answered quickly and I believe correctly:

1. Did the partially blocked kick by R allow K to advance the kick. answer is "no" becasue touching of low scrimmage kick by R in or behind the nuetrual zone is ignored. So K still cannot advance since he caught it beyond the NZ.

2. did this play have the possiblitlity for kick catching interference if any R was in postion to catch this partially blocked kick? We said "yes" and decided quickly that there were no Rs in the area.

So, we had a partially blocked punt and "a lot of nothin" quickly afterward.

comments or quibles?

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by asdf

He could also have kicked it again.

I doub he knew he could run with it or that he could have kicked it again.

[asdf]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

I doub he knew he could run with it or that he could have kicked it again.

Agreed.

Have had K grab the ball, get the deer in the headlights look, then put the ball on the ground.....

....followed by R picking the ball up and running........


Each situation is a cluster because not many players know what to do with a kick recovered by K behind the NZ.

[cdoug]

Originally Posted by asdf

He could also have kicked it again.

Okay, I probably missed it when looking for it but could someone please give me a reference for this.

[Rich]

The scenario we passed around at our association meeting last night was:

K punts.

R muffs the punt beyond the neutral zone.

Ball goes back behind the NZ and K recovers and ...

Doubtful R is going to be happy, regardless what K does at that point (unless they kick it again).

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by cdoug

Okay, I probably missed it when looking for it but could someone please give me a reference for this.

Sure, 6-2-1.

[cdoug]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Sure, 6-2-1.

Thanks. I missed that little part that said "before team possession has changed" and was thinking that it was like a forward pass, I guess.