Muffed Kick

[Juxone]

In (HFHS) Free kick or scrimmage kick and the ball goes past the LOS:

If K catches or touches the ball before R- what is the call?

If R muffs the kick under what condition can either side advance the ball? can K recover the ball? If the spot at first touching?

If R muffs the ball at the 35 and the ball bounces to the 12 can R still recover the ball or is it dead at the first touch

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Juxone

In (HFHS) Free kick or scrimmage kick and the ball goes past the LOS:

If K catches or touches the ball before R- what is the call?

Free Kick: If K catches or touches the ball before it hits the ground, it's Kick Catching Interference. If they touch a grounded ball before it's gone 10 yards, it's First Touching. If they touch a grounded ball after it's gone 10 yards, it's nothing.

Scrimmage Kick: K can catch the ball only if no R player is in position to make a catch. If they touch it, it's First Touching.

If R muffs the kick under what condition can either side advance the ball? can K recover the ball? If the spot at first touching?

R can advance it. K can recover but not advance. (NOTE: If K recovers behind the LOS, they can advance it.)

If R muffs the ball at the 35 and the ball bounces to the 12 can R still recover the ball or is it dead at the first touch

R can advance. First Touching only applies to K.

[Juxone]

So as I understand the rule if R does not touch the ball --once the kick is possessed by the kicking team the ball is dead at the spot of possession by rule?

And if R muffs the ball K can recover it but it is dead at the point of recovery?

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Juxone

So as I understand the rule if R does not touch the ball --once the kick is possessed by the kicking team the ball is dead at the spot of possession by rule?

Correct.

And if R muffs the ball K can recover it but it is dead at the point of recovery?

Also correct.

[Juxone]

Great--- thanks

[Reffing Rev.]

Two things to add to the discussion:

If any R player makes a valid or invalid fair catch signal then whenever any player recovers the muffed kick it is dead and cannot be advanced.

If a muffed kick bounces into R's end zone, it is a touchback immediately upon breaking the plane of the goal line. K (or R) may not recover a muffed kick in R's end zone.