High school ruling

[InsideTheStripe]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

But it seems to me that generally if you block the kick and then contact the kicker after the block, it's not roughing. Perhaps someone can clarify with an example - I'm having trouble with this one.

In order there to be RTK after a scrimmage kick is blocked/touched near the point of the kick, the defender(s) would pretty much have to renew their direct charge or change direction to initiate contact.


The note from 9.4.5 SIT A covers it pretty well:

The defense is responsible to avoid the kicker holder whenever possible. In any situation, if the defense is to be excused for contacting the kicker/ holder as a result of touching the kick, the ball must be touched near the spot of the kick. A defensive player may not, even after the kick has been touched, stop and then renew his charge into the kicker/holder, nor may he change his direction and charge into the kicker/holder after the ball is touched. Touching the kicked ball is, in itself, not license to charge the kicker/holder. The defensive player will not be penalized if he has made an honest endeavor to block the kick and has either succeeded, or so nearly succeeded that he touched the ball and in so doing finds himself in a position where he cannot avoid contacting the kicker/holder as a result of his effort. The rule does not specify that only the player who touches the kick is excused from contacting the kicker/holder, rather it states, “when the defense touches...”

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by InsideTheStripe

In order there to be RTK after a scrimmage kick is blocked/touched near the point of the kick, the defender(s) would pretty much have to renew their direct charge or change direction to initiate contact.

The note from 9.4.5 SIT A covers it pretty well:

There is one other case that I've seen. When there are 2 rushers, and one of them is way off track, we've flagged them for RTK. For example, B51 makes a great dive and blocks the kick immediately off the foot. B52 makes a beeline for the kicker, hitting him immediately after the kick. We'd flag B52 for RTK everytime.

Originally Posted by InsideTheStripe

The rule does not specify that only the player who touches the kick is excused from contacting the kicker/holder, rather it states, “when the defense touches...”

Well, in some cases, it is hard (impossible?) to excuse any contact on the kicker that isn't in the vicinity of the ball.