Anyone who has attended Mason County's home games this year knows that there have been some, shall we say, interesting officiating calls.

 

In last Friday's game, Mason County kicked off from the 40. MC uses one kicker for long kickoffs; another for squibs and on-sides kicks. The squib kicker was in, so virtually everyone knew what was coming. The ball was pooch kicked, touched by a Mason County player after traveling 12 yards, the ball bounced forward another 8 or 10 yards, and was recovered by a MC player.

 

After MUCH discussion, the ball was placed at about the Fleming County 38 yard line, and awarded to Fleming County. After much MORE discussion with both head coaches, the ball was placed at the Fleming County 48, and again awarded to Fleming County. The PA announcer said that the ball was moved "to the spot where it was originally touched by Mason County".

 

Again, we're talking about the ball being touched on, and placed on, the Fleming County side of the 50-yard line. The ball traveled 12 yards before being touched. Am I missing something? What should the ruling have been?

the ball should be dead where the mason county player first touched the ball, if mason county was kicking off.

the ball should be dead where the mason county player first touched the ball' date=' if mason county was kicking off.[/quote']

 

Why? Isnt a kickoff a free ball as long as it travels 10 yards. If it was recovered by a Mason Co. player, shouldn't it be Mason's posession at the spot in which they finally recovered it.

I'm no official but I would ASSUME its MCs ball where it was recovered. I've seen many OS kicks and I've never seen the ball moved to where it was first touched.

The ball is dead where Mason County touched it. You can't advance a recovered kickoff. That is only in the NFL.

I wasn't there, so I'm guessing. Did the kick touch the ground before it was first touched by the kicking team? If not, Kick Catch Interference and an awarded Fair Catch at the spot of touching is an option for the receiving team. Again, just a guess based on your description of the play.

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I wasn't there, so I'm guessing. Did the kick touch the ground before it was first touched by the kicking team? If not, Kick Catch Interference and an awarded Fair Catch at the spot of touching is an option for the receiving team. Again, just a guess based on your description of the play.

 

 

I understand this and I have no idea on the rule, but based on this analysis: Would a Fleming player would have signaled for a fair catch? If not then why on a punt can the kicking team catch the ball on the fly and not have a "catch/fair catch" interference penalty? I am just wondering as I really don't know.

I understand this and I have no idea on the rule, but based on this analysis: Would a Fleming player would have signaled for a fair catch? If not then why on a punt can the kicking team catch the ball on the fly and not have a "catch/fair catch" interference penalty? I am just wondering as I really don't know.

 

In the case of a Free Kick which is first touched by a kicking team player, which has not touched the ground, an "awarded fair catch" is a penalty option, it is not a result of anybody signaling. A Scrimmage Kick (punt or field goal attempt) has an exception for the kicking team to catch it in flight if there's no receiving team member in postion to catch the kick.

 

Complicated, I agree.

I wasn't there, so I'm guessing. Did the kick touch the ground before it was first touched by the kicking team? If not, Kick Catch Interference and an awarded Fair Catch at the spot of touching is an option for the receiving team. Again, just a guess based on your description of the play.

 

You hit the nail on the head and you are correct on your guess. The kickoff was touched prior to hitting the ground.

In the case of a Free Kick which is first touched by a kicking team player, which has not touched the ground, an "awarded fair catch" is a penalty option, it is not a result of anybody signaling. A Scrimmage Kick (punt or field goal attempt) has an exception for the kicking team to catch it in flight if there's no receiving team member in postion to catch the kick.

 

Complicated, I agree.

 

Thanks! :thumb: I figured the rule differentiated the types of kicks but wasn't sure.

I believe the ball must travel 10 yards AND touch the ground or receiving team player........that is why teams normally kick the ball into the ground 1st instead of popping it up......I saw this happen at a HS game and not 1 official knew the rule.

I believe the ball must travel 10 yards AND touch the ground or receiving team player........that is why teams normally kick the ball into the ground 1st instead of popping it up......I saw this happen at a HS game and not 1 official knew the rule.

 

Okay, so this whole thread has been about somebody in the stands who either misinterpreted what happened on the field or simply didn't see all aspects of a play transpire or just missed the official ruling. That doesn't mean that the fan in question didn't have a clue, he obviously does and just missed something. And it seems that we've clarified it for him because he asked.

The ball is dead where Mason County touched it. You can't advance a recovered kickoff. That is only in the NFL.

 

The kicking team can't advance a onside's kick in the NFL either, however if the receiving team gains possession first then loses it via fumble (not a muff but actual possession) then it can be returned.

In the case of a Free Kick which is first touched by a kicking team player, which has not touched the ground, an "awarded fair catch" is a penalty option, it is not a result of anybody signaling. A Scrimmage Kick (punt or field goal attempt) has an exception for the kicking team to catch it in flight if there's no receiving team member in postion to catch the kick.

 

Complicated, I agree.

Is this also the rule in NCAA and NFL? It really seems to put the kicking team at an unfair disadvantage.