Onside kick rule question

[APG]

Originally Posted by Mingram

Team A attempts an onside kick. The ball bounces off the ground, high in the air. Team B player, 8 yards downfield, camps under the ball to catch it. Before he can catch it, Team A player blocks him. The ball hits the ground and bounces beyond the 10-yard limit where it is recovered by Team A. I say no foul because once the ball hits the ground (right off the tee), no fair catch or opportunity to catch is involved. Free ball.

What rule set are you looking for answers for? Cause under NCAA rules, a ball that is driven directly into the ground in a effort to get that big bounce (like you see in most onside kicks) is treated as though it's been kicked directly in the air...and all subsequent rules as such are in effect (KCI).

[hbk314]

Originally Posted by APG

What rule set are you looking for answers for? Cause under NCAA rules, a ball that is driven directly into the ground in a effort to get that big bounce (like you see in most onside kicks) is treated as though it's been kicked directly in the air...and all subsequent rules as such are in effect (KCI).

Is NCAA the only ruleset among NFHS, NCAA and NFL to view it that way? Because that doesn't make much sense to me.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by hbk314

Is NCAA the only ruleset among NFHS, NCAA and NFL to view it that way? Because that doesn't make much sense to me.

NFHS: K may not touch a free kick in flight unless blocked into the kick, even if no receiver is in position to catch the kick (KCI). Once the ball has touched the ground and gone 10 yards, K may recover it.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by SC Official

NFHS: K may not touch a free kick in flight unless blocked into the kick, even if no receiver is in position to catch the kick (KCI). Once the ball has touched the ground and gone 10 yards, K may recover it.

Under the NFHS code, the governing rules are "Catch" (NF: 2-4) and "Recovery" (NF: 2-36) which apply to kicks.

The practice of immediately driving the ball into the ground (hopefully) creating the "big bounce" over the receiving team's front line, is designed to eliminate many of the benefits afforded to "catching" the kick.

The practice can cause confusion with deep officials, who may not see the initial contact with the ground, underscoring the importance of ASSIGNING the responsibility of OBSERVING the path of the ball to one of the "Up" (depending on configuration) officials, who may have the necessity of communicating with "deep" officials regarding flags thrown, that may need to be reconsidered because of the immediate ball grounding.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by ajmc

The practice can cause confusion with deep officials, who may not see the initial contact with the ground, underscoring the importance of ASSIGNING the responsibility of OBSERVING the path of the ball to one of the "Up" (depending on configuration) officials, who may have the necessity of communicating with "deep" officials regarding flags thrown, that may need to be reconsidered because of the immediate ball grounding.

This is another reason Rogers gave for treating the immediate high bouncer and an airborne kick the same. It's not always easy to tell the difference since it happens so quickly.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

This is another reason Rogers gave for treating the immediate high bouncer and an airborne kick the same. It's not always easy to tell the difference since it happens so quickly.

Which is EXACTLY whay it is important that a specific "Up" official should be DESIGNATED to observe EACH/EVERY kick.

When there may be confusion on the deeper end resulting in an inaccurate assessment, that "Up" official is responsible to add the proper information to the discussion and final assessment.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Which is EXACTLY whay it is important that a specific "Up" official should be DESIGNATED to observe EACH/EVERY kick.

When there may be confusion on the deeper end resulting in an inaccurate assessment, that "Up" official is responsible to add the proper information to the discussion and final assessment.

But even the experienced D1 "up" official can't always tell if the ball went straight up or straight into the ground. It happens so fast. This took away the need to worry about that.

[Mingram]

Thanks, wasn't aware of the bounce rule. Does receiver need space to make a catch like a punt or can he be blocked? (NCAA)