Roughing the kicker after errant snap. Is the kicker always protected?

[higham85]

Watched a high school game last night. Punt snap sails way over the head of the kicker and stops about 35 yards back. Punter gets to the ball first. Starts running one direction like a running back, makes a tackler miss. Changes direction runs the other way and and all of a sudden punts the ball. Split second after kick is gone he gets tackled by a defender. Roughing call and first down. Is the kicker always protected no matter what happens previously on the play? Thanks.

[CalhounLJ]

Watched a high school game last night. Punt snap sails way over the head of the kicker and stops about 35 yards back. Punter gets to the ball first. Starts running one direction like a running back, makes a tackler miss. Changes direction runs the other way and and all of a sudden punts the ball. Split second after kick is gone he gets tackled by a defender. Roughing call and first down. Is the kicker always protected no matter what happens previously on the play? Thanks.

The technical answer to your question is yes. The kicker is protected. That does not mean the play you described was or should have been roughing the kicker. Consideration has to be made about whether he was gonna kick it or not.


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[bama_stripes]

As described, this is probably not RTK, since it wasn’t certain that a kick would be made.

Understand, though, that the onus on avoiding contact rests with the defense, and a scramble doesn’t give the defense a “free shot” at the kicker.  If the defender could have pulled up but chose not to, you may well have a foul.

[AlUpstateNY]

Watched a high school game last night. Punt snap sails way over the head of the kicker and stops about 35 yards back. Punter gets to the ball first. Starts running one direction like a running back, makes a tackler miss. Changes direction runs the other way and and all of a sudden punts the ball. Split second after kick is gone he gets tackled by a defender. Roughing call and first down. Is the kicker always protected no matter what happens previously on the play? Thanks.

In the situation you described, judgment is much more of a factor, involving additional considerations.   NFHS: 2-32-8 defines a kicker, and advises he doesn't become a kicker UNTIL "his lower leg, knee or foot makes contact with the ball" and continues to be a kicker, " until he has had reasonable opportunity to retain his balance...".  Prior to the moment he "becomes a kicker" he is a "runner".

NFHS: 9-4-5 describes "roughing ( and running into a kicker)" and 9-4-5-a lists 4 specific situations that are NOT "roughing the kicker" several of which are commonly related to the type (scrambling situation) you describe. The correct call requires a complete focus on the action leading up, and including, to the actual contact, and whether in that unique and specific situation whether the contact was judged to be unavoidable ("because it is not reasonably certain that a kick will be made")

Each "Roughing/Running into the kicker" situation is truly unique and judged accordingly.   

[Ralph Damren]

IMHO, a good rule of  is :

If R was trying to block the kick = RTK

If R was trying to tackle the runner turned kicker = nothing.

[PABJNR]

I had a mentor advise me a a play like this where the player is scrambling and R doesn’t know if he is going to run or try and kick the best thing to do on a tackle if the player does become a kicker is judge a roughing the kicker penalty like you would roughing the passer. 


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[bossman72]

I had a mentor advise me a a play like this where the player is scrambling and R doesn’t know if he is going to run or try and kick the best thing to do on a tackle if the player does become a kicker is judge a roughing the kicker penalty like you would roughing the passer. 


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This is how I've always done it.

[NVFOA_Ump]

This is how I've always done it.

I agree that's a good guideline for a running kicker.