Wild things can happen in the kicking game.......

[Ralph Damren]

This occurred a few years ago in a D III NCAA game where I was the clock operator. Their rule for this is the same as NFHS. 4th & 10 K @ K's 30, when : (1) Snap to Hans, the punter, sails over his head and into endzone; (2) Hans recovers the ball and , while on the run in his EZ , kicks a "grounder" ; (3) K's lineman, big ole' Bubba, fields the kick @ K's 25 ; (4) Bubba looks at the ball & grunts while both teams' punt & return units head for the sidelines; (5) Bubba flips the ball to the startled umpire who is standing at K's 30 ; (6) umpire quickly puts ball down ; (7) Team Zebra quickly huddle . YOU MAKE THE CALL.....

[HLinNC]

Seems like Redding's NFHS guide indicates this should be treated as an inadvertent whistle when an official gains custody of a live ball, IIRC.

[Ralph Damren]

The crew working the game came out of conference and the white hat gave signal #10 followed by signaling first down for R and placing the ball @ K's 30. The PA announcer said : "Penalty declined, ball is turned over to _____ . "  Many wondered what the penalty was. I was one of them. At the half, I went to the zebra lockerroom and asked. They responded : Bubba had possession of a live ball and could have lumbered 75 yards - with both teams leaving the field - and became the homecoming hero; (2) Bubba instead decided to throw a forward pass - in the direction of the umpire - who quickly placed the ball down; ; (3) ruling : incomplete pass, turning the ball over to R at the LOS - signal #10 was for incomplete pass. I then inquired :" Were there any ineligibles downfield???" They responded : "Git the %#@*& out of here ! Bubba's indiscretion took him from the homecoming hero to a mere lineman with a 0-1 completion record A football story with a sad ending.

[Rulesman]

(2) Bubba instead decided to throw a forward pass - in the direction of the umpire - who quickly placed the ball down; ; (3) ruling : incomplete pass...

U is an ineligible receiver. 

[Ump33]

U is an ineligible receiver. 

Since it was the U, wouldn't he be "Un"-eligible?

[Kalle]

Ralph, you were correct in asking. But, this is NOT an illegal forward pass, as there is no intent to conserve either time or yardage. It is an incomplete legal forward pass, 1st and 10 for R at K-30.

A scrimmage kick that does not cross the neutral zone can be caught/recovered by K and the ball will remain live. The ball may be (legally) kicked or passed forward.

[mardunn]

Any touching of the ball by an official inbounds is ignored by rule, so like Kalle said, I think you have a legal, incomplete, forward pass by Bubba.  Since the touching by the umpire (should be) ignored, the ball becomes dead once it's motionless on the ground an no player makes an attempt to recover it.

Now if the umpire actually *caught* the ball instead of dodging it or just letting it hit him...I dunno.  I would probably deliberately blow an inadvertent whistle just to get back in well-documented waters...

[Kalle]

Now if the umpire actually *caught* the ball instead of dodging it or just letting it hit him...I dunno.  I would probably deliberately blow an inadvertent whistle just to get back in well-documented waters...

In NCAA the ball becomes dead when in possession of an official. No need for an "inadvertent" whistle.

[Ralph Damren]

Ralph, you were correct in asking. But, this is NOT an illegal forward pass, as there is no intent to conserve either time or yardage. It is an incomplete legal forward pass, 1st and 10 for R at K-30.

A scrimmage kick that does not cross the neutral zone can be caught/recovered by K and the ball will remain live. The ball may be (legally) kicked or passed forward.

I knew that Bubba could throw a pass - ibid it wasn't a tight spiral of a Tom Brady or Payton Manning , more of an underhand lob to a surprised umpire. Was there an eligible receiver in the area? -NO, did Bubba think he was throwing a forward pass?? - NO , was Bubba outside of the "tackle box" (remember this was NCAA)?? - Bubba was the tackle!

[Kalle]

I knew that Bubba could throw a pass - ibid it wasn't a tight spiral of a Tom Brady or Payton Manning , more of an underhand lob to a surprised umpire. Was there an eligible receiver in the area? -NO, did Bubba think he was throwing a forward pass?? - NO , was Bubba outside of the "tackle box" (remember this was NCAA)?? - Bubba was the tackle!

It does not matter that Bubba threw the ball where there was no eligible receiver. As his intention was not to conserve either time or yardage, he threw a legal forward pass. The NCAA rule says: "The passer to conserve time [yardage] throws the ball forward into an area where there is no eligible team A receiver."

[Ralph Damren]

The only thing Bubba was guilty of  was not running - well maybe waddling - for a touchdown!!