Kickoff spotted at the 4 yd line

rsmith88

rsmith88

circular worm
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Mar 5, 2011
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After GA’s 1st touchdown in the 2nd half, why was the ensuing kickoff spotted at the 4 yd line? Our player was never tackled but the refs blew the play dead. He did not catch the ball. It bounced once or twice before he picked it up and started running.
 
He called fair catch, but didn’t catch the ball. It’s a live ball. He picked it up, and since he called fair catch the ball is down there, cannot advance. I didn’t look this up and may be wrong, but that’s my understanding. If he would have caught it at the 4, then the ball advances to whoever then fair catch spot is. Maybe I’m wrong.
 
LagrangeJacket said:
It’s no longer a fair catch when the ball hits the ground. The ball is dead where you possess it.
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I think you just no longer have fair catch protection. If it’s not longer a fair catch why is there specific rules against advancing the ball?

I guess “fair catch protection” is the fair catch aspect. I dunno seems weird. Also was a weird bounce. Ended up helping us as we took a ton of time off. Or hurting us if you wanted us to have more time to score on the last drive.
 
GTCrew4b said:
I think you just no longer have fair catch protection. If it’s not longer a fair catch why is there specific rules against advancing the ball?

I guess “fair catch protection” is the fair catch aspect. I dunno seems weird. Also was a weird bounce. Ended up helping us as we took a ton of time off. Or hurting us if you wanted us to have more time to score on the last drive.
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Our special teams coach has no clue about the rules either, so none of us should be ashamed.
 
GTCrew4b said:
I think you just no longer have fair catch protection. If it’s not longer a fair catch why is there specific rules against advancing the ball?

I guess “fair catch protection” is the fair catch aspect. I dunno seems weird. Also was a weird bounce. Ended up helping us as we took a ton of time off. Or hurting us if you wanted us to have more time to score on the last drive.
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My answer was a little brief. I used to officiate HS ball, so this may be a bit off, but the rules are pretty close.

After any receiving team member makes a valid or invalid fair catch signal, the receiver cannot advance the ball regardless of what happens, unless the ball touches a kicking team member first.

If the receiver makes a catch after a valid fair catch signal, the receiving team is awarded a fair catch and has protection against the kicking team. After a fair catch, the receiving team can attempt a free kick for 3 points.

If the ball hits the ground first after a fair catch signal and is then possessed by the receiving team, there is also no fair catch awarded (no catch was made, after all), and there are is no protection. The ball is dead at the spot.

If the receiver makes a catch after an invalid fair catch signal, he has no protection, cannot advance the ball and will not be awarded a fair catch. The ball is dead at the spot.
 
LagrangeJacket said:
My answer was a little brief. I used to officiate HS ball, so this may be a bit off, but the rules are pretty close.

After any receiving team member makes a valid or invalid fair catch signal, the receiver cannot advance the ball regardless of what happens, unless the ball touches a kicking team member first.

If the receiver makes a catch after a valid fair catch signal, the receiving team is awarded a fair catch and has protection against the kicking team. After a fair catch, the receiving team can attempt a free kick for 3 points.

If the ball hits the ground first after a fair catch signal and is then possessed by the receiving team, there is also no fair catch awarded (no catch was made, after all), and there are is no protection. The ball is dead at the spot.

If the receiver makes a catch after an invalid fair catch signal, he has no protection, cannot advance the ball and will not be awarded a fair catch. The ball is dead at the spot.
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I thought the fair catch rule for kickoffs was that if you signal a fair catch you get the ball at the 25?
 
rsmith88 said:
After GA’s 1st touchdown in the 2nd half, why was the ensuing kickoff spotted at the 4 yd line? Our player was never tackled but the refs blew the play dead. He did not catch the ball. It bounced once or twice before he picked it up and started running.
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He apparently signaled for a fair catch, which results in a dead ball when it hits the ground.
 
BuzzCzar said:
He apparently signaled for a fair catch - but not correctly, which results in a dead ball when it hits the ground.
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Not according to this post below. If ball hits the ground it is live.


LagrangeJacket said:
If you are awarded a fair catch, you get the ball at the 25. You’re not awarded a fair catch with an invalid signal or if the ball hits the ground first.
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coit said:
Not according to this post below. If ball hits the ground it is live.
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How does that post contradict mine? It says no fair catch if the ball hits the ground, which I also say

Edit: I edited away the "incorrect fair catch signal" part bc I don't think that occurred and is not required for a dead ball
 
BuzzCzar said:
How does that post contradict mine? It says no fair catch if the ball hits the ground, which I also say
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You said the ball was dead when it hits the ground. That is the part that is incorrect. If the kicking team squibbs it, then there would not be a fair catch. If they did an onside kick there would not be a fair catch. For kickoff, you have to actually catch the ball or it has to go into the end zone to get it at the 25.
 
You can’t return the ball after you signal a fair catch - whether it bounces or not. It actually could have been a procedure penalty for Singleton for attempting to do so.

Why we are signaling fair catch on kickoffs is beyond me. We do this even when the ball is in the endzone, there is literally no value in it.

Why we let kickoffs hit the ground also makes no sense. Should never happen.

Poor coaching in these scenarios; players aren’t prepped to make the best possible decisions.
 
BuzzCzar said:
Dead ball is probably the wrong word.

But, if you signal for a fair catch, and the ball hits the ground. Then the ball cannot be advanced
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The point is that you have to field the ball if you make a fair catch signal. It isn't like a punt that is a dead ball. So that's why we got it at the 4 versus the 25 yard line, which was the original question in the thread I believe.
 
coit said:
The point is that you have to field the ball if you make a fair catch signal. It isn't like a punt that is a dead ball. So that's why we got it at the 4 versus the 25 yard line, which was the original question in the thread I believe.
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I see, I thought we were debating the other side if the rule. Yeah, I agree with you 100%.
 
The Champ said:
You can’t return the ball after you signal a fair catch - whether it bounces or not. It actually could have been a procedure penalty for Singleton for attempting to do so.

Why we are signaling fair catch on kickoffs is beyond me. We do this even when the ball is in the endzone, there is literally no value in it.

Why we let kickoffs hit the ground also makes no sense. Should never happen.

Poor coaching in these scenarios; players aren’t prepped to make the best possible decisions.
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You have to signal for a fair catch to get the ball at the 25 if you catch it outside the endzone. Otherwise, you get the ball where you caught it and advanced it to.
I think we should be fair catching every kickoff and just take the 25.
 
Seems like guys should be taught to not signal fair catch until they know they can field the ball in the air.
 
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