Saw this happen Friday night. It was obviously coached to be executed this way, and that just goes to show you it pays to know the rules.
On a kickoff, the kicker popped the ball over the heads of the first wave of the receiving team, and a member of the kicking team ran to a pre-designated spot and caught the airborne kick on the dead run, with no member of the receiving team in the vicinity, and headed for the end zone. Of course, the officials blew the ball dead immediately.
This play, while a spectacular example of flawless special teams execution, did not stand. When the kickers touch an airborne free kick not touched first by the receivers, it is a foul for kick catching interference, even though the receivers were not in a position to field the kick. It’s different on a punt. But on a kickoff, this is a foul. If accepted, the receivers have their choice of a 15 yd. penalty from the previous spot and a re-kick, or an awarded fair catch after a 15 yd. penalty from the spot of the interference.
Question
Bobref
Saw this happen Friday night. It was obviously coached to be executed this way, and that just goes to show you it pays to know the rules.
On a kickoff, the kicker popped the ball over the heads of the first wave of the receiving team, and a member of the kicking team ran to a pre-designated spot and caught the airborne kick on the dead run, with no member of the receiving team in the vicinity, and headed for the end zone. Of course, the officials blew the ball dead immediately.
This play, while a spectacular example of flawless special teams execution, did not stand. When the kickers touch an airborne free kick not touched first by the receivers, it is a foul for kick catching interference, even though the receivers were not in a position to field the kick. It’s different on a punt. But on a kickoff, this is a foul. If accepted, the receivers have their choice of a 15 yd. penalty from the previous spot and a re-kick, or an awarded fair catch after a 15 yd. penalty from the spot of the interference.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
24 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.