Onside kick rule question

[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.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

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.

The skill required to properly execute a free kick immediately into the ground, so that it subsequently bounces over the R restraining line players (which under NFHS Rules satisfies both requirements for making recovery and possession of the kick by either team legal), is a relatively NEW SKILL that is progressing and spreading, quickly.

To eliminate the confusion you seem concerned about, either of the "up" officials (usually the HL) is ASSIGNED the RESPONSIBILITY of DETERMINING whether EACH kick is first DRIVEN into the ground, or not and is subsequently shared with any "down field" officials who may have observed perceived violations, that would properly be DISCOUNTED due to the initial GROUNDING of the kick.

This Mechanics adjustment, thus far, seems to have effectively eliminated enforcement confusions in NFHS contests.