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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: Patrick E. on October 04, 2017, 07:48:28 PM
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6-2-4 … Any K player may catch or recover a scrimmage kick while it is beyond the neutral zone or expanded neutral zone, provided such kick has been touched by a receiver who was clearly beyond the neutral zone at the time of touching. Such touching is ignored if it is caused by K pushing or blocking R into contact with the ball or it is caused by K legally batting or muffing the ball into R. Such catch or recovery by K beyond the neutral zone causes the ball to become dead. (6-5-6 EXCEPTION)
I am in a spot of grief trying to understand the need for the language "or expanded neutral zone" in the first sentence.
Any enlightenment is appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
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The ENZ is relevant if there is a low scrimmage kick that is partially blocked / touched by a lineman within the ENZ -- this touching is ignored. Once the ball is clear of the ENZ, if it crosses the ENZ then bounces back into the ENZ and is touched by an R player, then this touching "counts" and the ball can be recovered by K since it is beyond the regular neutral zone.
The ENZ "dissolves" once the kick crosses it, similar to how the FBZ dissolves once the ball leaves the zone.
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Wingman nailed it. We don't want to penalize R for partially blocking a low-liner.