Scrimmage Kick Ruling

[Larry Gonski]

Aj.....It is an illgal kick if the ball is on the ground. It is he same foul as an illegal batting, a fifteen yarder. However in that case, it will be B's option to replay or take the ball at the nineteen. We had the same thing happened in a varsity game with two ranked teams except it happened in the end zone and the kicker kicked it backwards for an apparent safety. At the time of the kick, there were three defenders diving for the ball. The referee ruled it unfair for the kicker to do this and awarded B a touchdown.He used rule 1-art 5. He also caught hell at the next meeting.......Larry Gonski

[ajkottke]

This play happened in a game in a JV game.

4th and 15 at A's two yard line. A is lined up in scrimmage kick (punt) formation. The snap is low and A2 muffs the snap. The ball is on the ground when A2 kicks the ball from the A's endzone out of bounds at A's 19 yard line.


Using the Federation rule book, what do we have? A penalty or is it just B's ball at the 19 yard line.

I am curious so I can get this one right.

AJ

[dsmith]

>4th and 15 at A's two yard line. A is lined up in scrimmage kick (punt) formation. The snap is low and A2 muffs the snap. The ball is on the ground when A2 kicks the ball from the A's endzone out of bounds at A's 19 yard line.
Using the Federation rulebook, what do we have? A penalty or is it just B's ball at the 19 yard line.

I am curious so I can get this one right.

AJ<

It is an illegal kick if the ball is on the ground when it is kicked.
The foul is a loose ball foul.
The basic spot is the previous spot.
B has the choice of declining the foul and excepting the results of the play (B's ball at the 19).
Or excepting the foul. The spot of the foul is in A's End Zone. If B excepts the penalty it is a SAFETY. This is a spot foul (foul behind the basic spot). 2 points for B. Team A free kicks from their 20-yard line.


DA Smith

[Larry Gonski]

D.A.........Correct if in the end zone as in AJ's case. Common sense would have B take it at the nineteen.......What if the kicker goes past the line of scrimmage and then kicks the ball?.........Larry Gonski

[ajkottke]

Mr. Gonski

I think in that case the basic spot is the previous spot. If B accepts the penalty, it is a 1/2 the distance from the previous spot and A would get to re-play the down.

AJ

[Larry Gonski]

Aj.....Remember this is a running play and the basic spot is the end of the run. In this case it is enforced from the spot of the kick. Right?

[ajkottke]

Mr. Gonski,

Right. The end of the run would be the enforcement spot. Referee's always need to ask the question , "If this situation happened, instead, then what would the call be?"

You are the best, Mr. Gonski.

AJ