Invalid fair catch signal situation

[kentholm]

Looking for others' thoughts on this scenario:

R12 gives an invalid fair catch signal, catches the punt and then gets tackled by K35.  R12 made no attempt to run after making the catch (and judging by his action thought he had made a valid fair catch signal).  Assuming K35's tackle is just a good clean tackle what do you have?

Again, just looking for perspectives on this.
Thanks,

[SWilliams]

What makes the fair catch signal illegal in your scenario?

[zebraken]

5yd penaly on R enforced as psk.....dead ball personal foul. 15 yards against K

[kentholm]

What makes the fair catch signal illegal in your scenario?

Receiver doesn't wave a fully extended arm back and forth.

[HLinNC]

No foul

*6.5.3 SITUATION: R1 signals for a fair catch of a scrimmage kick by K1.
Teammate R2 catches the kick and is tackled immediately by K1 who did or did
not have a chance to see the signal. The contact which was not a personal foul
occurred before the covering official sounded his whistle. R2 fumbles when tackled
and the ball is recovered by K2. RULING: The ball became dead when it was
caught by R2. The contact by K1 was not a foul because R2 did not signal for a
fair catch. R2 fumbled a dead ball and there could be no recovery by K2. COMMENT:
Contacting a receiver who did not give a fair-catch signal or contacting a
receiver who has given a signal but is contacted where he cannot make a fair
catch, is not a foul unless the contact is judged to be a personal foul. The receiver
is not afforded special protection in such situations. Members of the kicking
team have the responsibility for knowing when the ball is dead. If a kicker could
not have seen a fair-catch signal made by the teammate of the receiver, there is
no foul. However, if he could have seen the signal, he does not have license to
contact the receiver. (4-2-2g)

Reddings: "Contacting..........., a receiver who has given and invalid signal, .............is not a foul unless the contact is judged to be unnecessary roughness or some other type of personal foul."

[zebraken]

wouldnt there be a foul for the invalid fair catch signal?

[AlUpstateNY]

A secondary consideration is "when" was either an invalid, or even valid signal, given.  The onus is on the receiver to give a signal that allows a charging member of K a "reasonable" opportunity to react properly to it.  "Reasonable" is decided (totally) by the covering official.

In the sample play, there should clearly be a flag and a foul.  The covering officials decides whether it's Invalid FC Signal or Kick Catching Interference, but it shouldn't be both.

[ECILLJ]

It seems if there is enough time for R to make a decision not to run, there would be time for the BJ to blow his whistle and give time for K to pull up. This play could easily happen in HS. 

[mbyron]

No foul on K. An invalid fair catch signal makes the ball dead once caught by R (so R cannot advance), but does not protect R from contact. Since the OP said the contact by K was not otherwise a foul, there is no foul on K.

Flag R for the invalid fair catch signal.

[Ump33]

No foul on K. An invalid fair catch signal makes the ball dead once caught by R (so R cannot advance), but does not protect R from contact. Since the OP said the contact by K was not otherwise a foul, there is no foul on K.

Flag R for the invalid fair catch signal.

Agree with mbyron ... Also, this would be PSK Enforcement

[Tom.OH]

I have only worked back judge a few times but I always tell the receiver to make sure he gives me a good signal, then I watch for it.

[VALJ]

I have only worked back judge a few times but I always tell the receiver to make sure he gives me a good signal, then I watch for it.

What he said.  I've only done B as a 5 man crew, but I've waited until after I tell the deep man/men that before heading over towards the sideline.

[HLinNC]

wouldnt there be a foul for the invalid fair catch signal?

Given that the OP already stated there was an invalid fair catch, I was commenting on his "what do we have" regarding the K player's "clean tackle".