Illegal motion question (FED)

[jaybird]

Appears that the kicker stopped and reset therefore eliminating the illegal motion possibility.

[TXMike]

Yep, and the false start should have shut it down

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by TXMike

Yep, and the false start should have shut it down

I agree.

[Robert Goodman]

I don't see it as a false start (ball remains dead) but as an illegal shift. But that's an ongoing argument here -- the concept of unintentionally simulating the start of play.

[Canned Heat]

I would've blown this dead as a FS....in my FED world, of course.

[TXMike]

Speaking to the video and NCAA rules, it IS a false start as the kicker's actions simulate the start of the play.

[JasonTX]

Continuing with NCAA, this would not be an illegal shift. A shift requires 2 players to be moving. If it's only 1 player moving forward (without false starting) he just has to come to a stop, with no requirement for a 1 second delay before the snap, just coming to a stop is all that is required. In the video, I have a false start.

[john_faz]

I saw this a few times this year in my high school (sub-varsity) games, especially when the QB was in shotgun formation. Both the QBs and Punters have what I'll call happy feet, that is they shuffle their feet back and forth before the shotgun or long snap. Sometimes it is a half step forward. I've always let it go as it does not seem to get them an advantage and does not cause movement on the defensive side. Maybe I should reevaluate this. Any thoughts about this particular moving?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by jaybird

Appears that the kicker stopped and reset therefore eliminating the illegal motion possibility.

He was not set for a second, except in slow motion.

At any rate, that was the ruling on the field (not reviewable). Looked right to me in real time: remember that the snap began well before the ball got to the holder.

[voiceoflg]

Excellent. Thank you all very much for educating me.