Rules questions

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

1. High school game. Defense recovers a fumble, and is returning for a TD. I didn't see what happened, but the offense was flagged for 3 personel fouls on the return. I don't exactly recall what the white hat said, but I believe he used the term, targeting a defenseless player. I think the fouls were about 35 or 40 yards from the goal line behind the player running with the football.

Only one live ball foul penalty could be accepted. Additional unsportsmanlike conduct could be penalized those are non-contact fouls. Dead ball fouls could also be assessed.

Yes, it's illegal to hit a player that far behind the ball who is obviously out of the play.

The fouls were enforced on the kickoff, and the kickoff was from the returning teams 15 yard line. Since there has to be a 10 yard "buffer zone", the returning team was behind their 5 yard line.

My real question is what would happen if there and been 4 personel fouls, and the ball would have spotted athe 7 1/2 yard line (?), and there wouldn't be an actual 10 yard "buffer zone".

They would have to be 2 1/2 yards deep in the end zone.