Roughing the Punter

[Hagenjohn12]

Team A is punting, The Snap is High and the punter tips it to himself and turns is back to the line of scrimmage (the ball never hits the ground). He turns back around takes 2 steps and kicks the ball. Team B hits the punter. Is that roughing the Punter?

[Rich]

It very well could be, yes.  He's a punter, he fielded the snap, and kicked the ball.  Why wouldn't he have protection against roughing?

If those steps were rugby-style (not likely if there were only 2) or faking a run, then I would likely give the defense some latitude.  This is not clear in your play description.

[CalhounLJ]

Team A is punting, The Snap is High and the punter tips it to himself and turns is back to the line of scrimmage (the ball never hits the ground). He turns back around takes 2 steps and kicks the ball. Team B hits the punter. Is that roughing the Punter?

A player is not a kicker until he kicks the ball. A kicker is afforded protection from roughing if the defender had ample reason to believe he was going to kick the ball. Timing is critical here. If there is no doubt he's kicking the ball, then the kicker gets the benefit of the doubt. If there is doubt as to whether he's going to kick it or run, we give benefit of the doubt to the defender. If the defender commits to the tackle and it's not clear at that point that the player is trying to kick the ball, more than likely, there's no flag.

[NVFOA_Ump]

It very well could be, yes.  He's a punter, he fielded the snap, and kicked the ball.  Why wouldn't he have protection against roughing?

If those steps were rugby-style (not likely if there were only 2) or faking a run, then I would likely give the defense some latitude.  This is not clear in your play description.

Important details to remember here:
1.  He starts as a simple back in scrimmage kick formation
2.  After he secures the snap he is a runner
3.  He becomes a kicker, as noted above, after his foot strikes the ball
If the defender has already started into his attempt to make a tackle as the ball is being kicked then this may well be nothing.  On a mis-timed scrimmage kick the timing of events is critical.

[Ralph Damren]

A good rule of  : IF the scrambling kicker is about to be tackled by a defender - who feels he's a runner - it's a nothing.  If the scrambling kicker is decked by a defender - who's trying to block the punt, and doesn't touch the kick - it's a something  .

[NVFOA_Ump]

A good rule of  : IF the scrambling kicker is about to be tackled by a defender - who feels he's a runner - it's a nothing.  If the scrambling kicker is decked by a defender - who's trying to block the punt, and doesn't touch the kick - it's a something  .

I like Ralph's description!