kickoff oob enforcement

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Then let's try this one in NCAA & Fed. K's free or scrimmage kick is in the air and leaves the field of play just inside the pylon. R1 jumps from the playing area (please let's not get into the case where R1 touches out of bounds first) and reaches to try to catch the ball, touching it out of bounds behind R's goal line. Touchback or dead ball spot where the ball crossed the sideline?

For NFHS, based on the principles stated in 6.3.1A, I have a TB here. Recovery is not complete until the player touches the ground. Since the ball is not out of bounds until R1 touches the ground out of bounds, it's still a live ball and a kick when it crosses R's goal line. Touchback.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by mbyron

For NFHS, based on the principles stated in 6.3.1A, I have a TB here. Recovery is not complete until the player touches the ground. Since the ball is not out of bounds until R1 touches the ground out of bounds, it's still a live ball and a kick when it crosses R's goal line. Touchback.

But that ruliing is inconsistent. If R1 was not involved in this play, you'd have a KOOoB - but with the goalline killing the play in FED, why would R's catch beyond that line be anything but R touching a dead ball.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

But that ruliing is inconsistent. If R1 was not involved in this play, you'd have a KOOoB - but with the goalline killing the play in FED, why would R's catch beyond that line be anything but R touching a dead ball.

I disagree. By 2-29-3, a loose ball is not out of bounds until it touches something out of bounds. If a kick bounces inbounds, then crosses the OOB line in the air, and crosses the plane of the GL before touching anything OOB, that too would be a touchback.

Both 6-1-8 and 6-2-7, which concern kicks out of bounds, refer to a "kick out of bounds between the goal lines." That's not this case.