Fair Catch

[MTUMP]

B20 Signals for fair catch on scrimmage kick, then....
A) let's kick bounce and recovers.
B) muff's kick, then recovers.

In both cases does covering official blow dead after recovery? Are there free kick options in these cases for B?

[Jimmie24]

Rule 4-2-2g will help you.

Casebook 6.5.1a will also.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by MTUMP

B20 Signals for fair catch on scrimmage kick, then....
A) let's kick bounce and recovers.
B) muff's kick, then recovers.

In both cases does covering official blow dead after recovery? Are there free kick options in these cases for B?

By signalling for a Fair Catch, A gives up all rights to advance the ball after possessing it. The play is blown dead as soon as A secures possession. B has no options in either case.

[Welpe]

Assuming that in b) when the kick was muffed, it did not touch the ground, then Team B (known as Team R in Fed rules) will have the option to kick a free kick.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Assuming that in b) when the kick was muffed, it did not touch the ground, then Team B (known as Team R in Fed rules) will have the option to kick a free kick.

But since he used the word "recovers" and Fed defines that in relation to a ball that's touched the ground....

[Welpe]

All I'm doing is accounting for the use of common language instead of precise rulebook language.

[MTUMP]

Welpe, I'm aware of the Rule 2 definitions and did mean to describe the play as the ball hitting the ground. In the case of a muff, I would assume B20 (R20) is a defenseless player until he attempts to recover the ball. Any other guidance on a hit to R20 after a muffed kick?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

But since he used the word "recovers" and Fed defines that in relation to a ball that's touched the ground....

Pedantic does not equal helpful...or even necessarily clear.