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511 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

On a kickoff, the ball flys into the endzone and the receiving player muffs the ball but the ball never leaves the endzone and another player from the receiving team recovers the ball in the endzone but his feet are outside the endzone. Safety or T.B

Asked by Nathan ward almost 8 years ago

Touchback. It is still a kick since possession wasn't gained until/as the receiver was out of bounds.

RE: "Onside Punt". After a safety, the "punting" team kicks from the 20. However, if they want to "onside" punt, what rules apply? Is it like a normal punt, that the receiving team does not necessarily have to field?

Asked by Rollie over 8 years ago

A kick after a safety - whether a punt or placed on ground - is a free kick. Any free kick can be recovered by either team. So, it isn't like any punt, it's like a "kickoff". An "onside" punt would probably not be a good idea.

522 Votes

I've been a certified high school football referee for about 14 years. Please explain to me, as it relates to college football, who can leave and go down field when a snap for a punt is made. I always thought that only one gunner on each side and t

Asked by Rando over 8 years ago

No restrictions in NCAA rules. If the coach doesn't like his punter, he can have all ten other players take off.

520 Votes

Polson punted the ball. A Polson Player ran down the field - touched the ball in mid air on a bounce but never possessed it. The returner picked up ball and ran wrong way in Polson endzone, was tackled, fumbled and Polson recovered. No whistle.

Asked by Polson High School FBall Fan over 8 years ago

If I'm understanding correctly what you're saying, you have an illegal touch by the kicking team ('touched the ball in mid air on a bounce but never possessed it."). The receiving team has the right to take the ball at that spot. Which they did. I think they got that right.

520 Votes

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WRT the ball Polson punted. No whistle was blown at any time. Officials huddled for 5 minutes and then gave the ball to Columbia Falls at point where Columbia Falls fielded the ball before he ran wrong way into endzone. This seems way wrong to me.

Asked by Polson High School FBall Fan over 8 years ago

see above

520 Votes

Is there a different set of rules for the Superbowl game? It looked to me like defensive holding and illegal contact was allowed all game long for the Denver DB's? I'm happy that Denver won but was there a decision by the refs to swallow theirwhistle

Asked by Kevin Kerrigan almost 8 years ago

The rules are the rules. There are philosophies that should carry throughout the season. There are, however, times when supervisors may alter or redefine expectations. It is possible, and I have no specific knowledge, that there was a directive to loosen up calls and let things go. But the rules don't change.

518 Votes

If a receiver catches a pass (let's say for 40 yards) and then fumbles the ball. The opposing team recovers the fumble and returns it for a touchdown. Does the receiver still get the 40 yards added to his stats?

Asked by austivino over 8 years ago

That's not really an official's issue, it's stats. But my guess is that he does receive credit. He caught it and gained the yards. That's hoe the ball got to where it was.

517 Votes

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Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

On a kickoff, the ball flys into the endzone and the receiving player muffs the ball but the ball never leaves the endzone and another player from the receiving team recovers the ball in the endzone but his feet are outside the endzone. Safety or T.B

RE: "Onside Punt". After a safety, the "punting" team kicks from the 20. However, if they want to "onside" punt, what rules apply? Is it like a normal punt, that the receiving team does not necessarily have to field?

I've been a certified high school football referee for about 14 years. Please explain to me, as it relates to college football, who can leave and go down field when a snap for a punt is made. I always thought that only one gunner on each side and t

Polson punted the ball. A Polson Player ran down the field - touched the ball in mid air on a bounce but never possessed it. The returner picked up ball and ran wrong way in Polson endzone, was tackled, fumbled and Polson recovered. No whistle.

Also on Jobstr...

WRT the ball Polson punted. No whistle was blown at any time. Officials huddled for 5 minutes and then gave the ball to Columbia Falls at point where Columbia Falls fielded the ball before he ran wrong way into endzone. This seems way wrong to me.

Is there a different set of rules for the Superbowl game? It looked to me like defensive holding and illegal contact was allowed all game long for the Denver DB's? I'm happy that Denver won but was there a decision by the refs to swallow theirwhistle

If a receiver catches a pass (let's say for 40 yards) and then fumbles the ball. The opposing team recovers the fumble and returns it for a touchdown. Does the receiver still get the 40 yards added to his stats?

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

On a kickoff, the ball flys into the endzone and the receiving player muffs the ball but the ball never leaves the endzone and another player from the receiving team recovers the ball in the endzone but his feet are outside the endzone. Safety or T.B

RE: "Onside Punt". After a safety, the "punting" team kicks from the 20. However, if they want to "onside" punt, what rules apply? Is it like a normal punt, that the receiving team does not necessarily have to field?

I've been a certified high school football referee for about 14 years. Please explain to me, as it relates to college football, who can leave and go down field when a snap for a punt is made. I always thought that only one gunner on each side and t

Polson punted the ball. A Polson Player ran down the field - touched the ball in mid air on a bounce but never possessed it. The returner picked up ball and ran wrong way in Polson endzone, was tackled, fumbled and Polson recovered. No whistle.

Also on Jobstr...

WRT the ball Polson punted. No whistle was blown at any time. Officials huddled for 5 minutes and then gave the ball to Columbia Falls at point where Columbia Falls fielded the ball before he ran wrong way into endzone. This seems way wrong to me.

Is there a different set of rules for the Superbowl game? It looked to me like defensive holding and illegal contact was allowed all game long for the Denver DB's? I'm happy that Denver won but was there a decision by the refs to swallow theirwhistle

If a receiver catches a pass (let's say for 40 yards) and then fumbles the ball. The opposing team recovers the fumble and returns it for a touchdown. Does the receiver still get the 40 yards added to his stats?

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