Some of you may have been privy to this before the S-B Quiz 4, and may have already been aware of the 2020 editorial change to 6-3-12. I am not, and was not. But this is a good change, and it fixes much, but not all, of the problem with 6-3-12.
The purpose of this rule to prevent Team A players from disappearing into team areas during punts (in particular), then re-appearing at the area where the ball is returning the ground, where they can play the ball, or disrupt a receiver, or make a quick tackle after a catch, because they were “unchecked” while out of bounds. This rule solves that problem.
Before this editorial change, the rule applied during the entire down. Even during a 50-yard return, if a Team A player was OB voluntarily, then returned inbounds, that was a foul. This change fixes that.
Maybe someone else is aware as to whether or not this same editorial change will be made to Free Kicks. It certainly should.
However, I wish they would have taken the last step to completely fixing this rule. As unusual as it may be, it is not only possible for a Team A player to be OB voluntarily from B’s end zone and return inbounds, I have seen it happen, with huge implications.
Here is the problem:
FBS game, around 2010. This was a free kick, but it illustrates the same possibility as it could with a scrimmage kick (which is why it should apply to free kicks, also).
F/K , A-35. A11 legally kicks the ball, which returns to the ground at the B-15. B90 muffs the bouncing ball, which “shoots” toward B’s end zone, with players of both teams in pursuit. Several players muff the ball further into the end zone. With the ball about 1 yard from the end line, A88 overruns the ball, and steps beyond the end line, then turns and returns into the end zone, where he falls on the ball.
The crew rules touchdown. No one in the stadium knew any difference.
However, when the coordinator reviewed the game video, and saw this down, he immediately recognized that (morally or not), this should have been ruled as an illegal return to the field by A88, and penalized at the previous spot, and the F/K repeated.
Had this rule been enforced correctly, a great play by A88 would have been taken away. In truth, there is no advantage whatsoever for a Team A player in going OB from the end zone. He dang sure can’t hide from anyone out there.
The fix for this is simple. Make the rule apply only to Team A players that leave the field of play BETWEEN THE GOAL LINES. That, combined with the 2020 editorial change, would completely fix this rule.
Oh, and if they don't make this apply to free kicks, then we'll have two different rules. No Bueno.