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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: ck4597 on September 13, 2012, 11:45:37 AM

Title: Momentum on Free Kick
Post by: ck4597 on September 13, 2012, 11:45:37 AM
Here is the play...KO is squibbed hard down middle of field...R1 is running/chasing to get the ball and picks it up at the R3 and him momentum carries him into the end zone.  He returns the ball to the R10 and is tackled...

Should the play have been ruled a touchback?  HL thought so (but did not kill play) and R said no since kick ended when R recovered and the ball was not declared dead in R's end zone.

Thoughts?
Title: Re: Momentum on Free Kick
Post by: bama_stripes on September 13, 2012, 11:54:30 AM
Here is the play...KO is squibbed hard down middle of field...R1 is running/chasing to get the ball and picks it up at the R3 and him momentum carries him into the end zone.  He returns the ball to the R10 and is tackled...

Should the play have been ruled a touchback?  HL thought so (but did not kill play) and R said no since kick ended when R recovered and the ball was not declared dead in R's end zone.

Thoughts?

Not surprisingly, the R was correct!  A kick ends when it is possessed, or becomes dead by rule.
Title: Re: Momentum on Free Kick
Post by: Atlanta Blue on September 13, 2012, 01:55:49 PM
Not surprisingly, the R was correct!  A kick ends when it is possessed, or becomes dead by rule.

Momentum applies only to the interception or recovery of an opponent's forward pass, fumble or backward pass.  Has nothing to do with kicks, free or scrimmage.
Title: Re: Momentum on Free Kick
Post by: maven on September 13, 2012, 02:04:08 PM
Momentum applies only to the interception or recovery of an opponent's forward pass, fumble or backward pass.  Has nothing to do with kicks, free or scrimmage.

Hm. That's not what my book says, AB.

8-5-2a: It is a safety when...

A runner carries the ball from the field of play to or across his own goal
line, and it becomes dead there in his team’s possession.
EXCEPTION: When a defensive player intercepts an opponent’s forward pass; intercepts
or recovers an opponent’s fumble or backward pass; or an R player catches or
recovers a scrimmage kick or free kick between his 5-yard line and the goal line, and
his original momentum carries him into the end zone where the ball is declared dead
in his team’s possession or it goes out of bounds in the end zone, the ball belongs
to the team in possession at the spot where the pass or fumble was inter cepted or
recovered or the kick was caught or recovered.
Title: Re: Momentum on Free Kick
Post by: maven on September 13, 2012, 02:14:04 PM
Not surprisingly, the R was correct!  A kick ends when it is possessed, or becomes dead by rule.

Right, and to finish the thought: since the kick ended when R recovered, the ball but not the kick crossed the goal line and was thus NOT a touchback.

The part in the OP about "not being declared dead in R's end zone" is a red herring: even if it had been so declared, it STILL would not have been a TB (or safety either), since momentum was in effect.
Title: Re: Momentum on Free Kick
Post by: Curious on September 13, 2012, 02:31:14 PM
Momentum applies only to the interception or recovery of an opponent's forward pass, fumble or backward pass.  Has nothing to do with kicks, free or scrimmage.

AB, you okay?  Bad night?  This isn't like you.....
Title: Re: Momentum on Free Kick
Post by: maven on September 13, 2012, 03:23:46 PM
AB, you okay?  Bad night?  This isn't like you.....

My first thought was a hacked account!
Title: Re: Momentum on Free Kick
Post by: SanDiegoStryker on September 26, 2012, 06:08:52 PM
So many officials do not really understand the momentum rule. I hear a lot guys talking about momentum and then bringing up touch backs. Momentum rule has nothing to do with touch backs. Momentum rule prevents a safety and puts the ball in play inside the 5 yard line. If you ever think to yourself, "we have momentum exception so therefore touchback," then something isn't right. If momentum is in play you should always have a first down inside the 5 yard line.
Title: Re: Momentum on Free Kick
Post by: maven on September 26, 2012, 06:35:24 PM
... Unless the runner brings it out. ;)
Title: Re: Momentum on Free Kick
Post by: FBUmp on September 26, 2012, 10:20:56 PM
Momentum applies only to the interception or recovery of an opponent's forward pass, fumble or backward pass.  Has nothing to do with kicks, free or scrimmage.

Ouch. (http://www.runemasterstudios.com/graemlins/images/embarrassed.gif)