rule interpretation

[hawaii]

The Green team is punting. The snap is low and the punter scoops the ball off the ground and then steps to punt.

 

He gets the punt away and then is knocked down by a linebacker who went for the block.

 

Is it:

 

Penalty for running into kicker

 

or No penalty because ball hit the ground?

[billyjobob]

penalty unless the ball is tipped as it is being punted

[UncleTed]

I think unless the punter is holding the ball while he's hit it's roughing/running into the kicker. period. (or if it's tipped of course)

 

The real question is, at what point can you "block" the punter? I mean, you're allowed to block the punter if the return guy starts to run a kick back. Do you have to wait until the punt is fielded before you're allowed to block the punter?

Edited October 4, 2005 by UncleTed

[gcpioneer05]

I think unless the punter is holding the ball while he's hit it's roughing/running into the kicker. period. (or if it's tipped of course)

 

The real question is, at what point can you "block" the punter? I mean, you're allowed to block the punter if the return guy starts to run a kick back. Do you have to wait until the punt is fielded before you're allowed to block the punter?

 

This probably isn't written in any rule book, but the referee (the one in the white hat that is positioned behind the offense) is the one to make that call. If the kick is away and the punter has ended the punting motion, has both feet on the ground, has his balance, is attempting to pursue the ballcarrier, and isn't vulnerable to injury (as he would be with his kicking leg way up in the air and the other leg planted) then the referee is going to know that its a block. I'm pretty sure that the running into / roughing the kicker is meant to avoid injury when the kicker is vulnerable. The kicker should know that it's a contact sport and when the kick is gone, he's gonna get nailed. The officials should realize the difference and let them play.

 

There is also the case when a player is blocked into the punter by the punting team. If a defensive player is blocked, pushed, or thrown into the kicker by the punting team, there is no penalty.

[flagthrower]

The Green team is punting. The snap is low and the punter scoops the ball off the ground and then steps to punt.

 

He gets the punt away and then is knocked down by a linebacker who went for the block.

 

Is it:

 

Penalty for running into kicker

 

or No penalty because ball hit the ground?

 

Look at it the same way as a QB dropping a snap, picking it up , throwing the ball and then gets hit by a LB. He is still protected as a passer. Same for the punter.

 

Flag it.

[fieldgoal1]

The Green team is punting. The snap is low and the punter scoops the ball off the ground and then steps to punt.

He gets the punt away and then is knocked down by a linebacker who went for the block.

Is it:

Penalty for running into kicker

or No penalty because ball hit the ground?

 

Personal Foul, Roughing the Kicker, 15 yard penalty, Automatic First Down.

[fan360]

Ball's got to be tiped after when he kicks it to be able to hit 'em

[etsuperstud]

idiots, the ball hit the ground, anything goes. no roughing if the ball hits the ground. good work.

 

and i really hope that flagthrower is not an official.

Edited October 5, 2005 by etsuperstud

[firstbasetn]

The NFHS rule for roughing the kick is as follows....

 

Rule 9, Section 4, article 5

 

Running into or roughing the kicker or holder. A defensive player shall neither run into the kicker nor holder, which is contact that displaces the kicker or holder without roughing; nor block, tackle or charge into the kicker of a scrimmage kick, or the place-kick holder, other than when:

 

a. Contact is unavoidable because it is not reasonably certain that a kick will be made.

b. The defense touches the kick near the kicker and contact is unavoidable [ex: the kick is blocked]

c. Contact is slight and is partially caused by the movement of the kicker.

d. Contact is caused by defender being blocked into the kicker or holder.

 

So, whether or not it touches the ground is irrelevent. It depends on whether the kick was tipped or blocked, or if by judgement of the referee, contact did not warrant a penalty or a blocker blocked the defender into the kicker. As long as the kicker is attempting to kick the ball, the only way you can tag him legally is if you get a piece of the ball.

[o21putt]

Just because the ball hits the ground does not mean that the kicker does not have protection. He is a kicker until it becomes reasonably certain in the officials mind that he is not going to kick the ball. It is always roughing the kicker if the contact could have been avoided regardless of whether or not it was apparent a kick would be made. Only unaviodable contact is ignored if it is reasonably certain a kick will be made. This is straight from the Natioinal Federation Case Book and refers to Rule 9.4.5.

[UncleTed]

What about if a QB does a quick kick and his leg is undercut in the action? My understanding of the "quick kick" is that the kicking team must inform one of the officials prior to the kick. The QB is much closer to the line of scrimmage after he boots the ball and MUCH more likely to incur some kind of contact by a defensive player. Is that considered unsportsmanlike conduct or perhaps only a 5 yard penalty? Or no penalty at all? This hypothetical situation assumes the QB's leg is still in the air w/out having the ball tipped.

[peeblee]

The Green team is punting. The snap is low and the punter scoops the ball off the ground and then steps to punt.

 

He gets the punt away and then is knocked down by a linebacker who went for the block.

 

Is it:

 

Penalty for running into kicker

 

or No penalty because ball hit the ground?

if the ball hits teh ground prior to the kick there is no such thing as roughing teh kicker...whether it be a low snap or if teh punter drops teh ball makes no difference...no penalty!!!