Placekick holder Exception to 4-1-3-b linked to scrimmage kick formation?

[marco.chomon]

Hi everyone!

Just hoping to get some of your insight on a peculiar interpretation of the NCAA 4-1-3-b rule exception that keeps a ball live when a at the snap a player is behind in position to kick the football.

During this season some officiating crews have been linking this exception to a legal scrimmage kick formation, i.e. holder and kicker more than 7 yards behind the neutral zone. Under their interpretation, this means it's a dead ball as soon as the holder catches the snap with a knee on the ground if he is lined up less than 7 yards from the neutral zone, even with a kicker right behind him.

Any views on this? Thanks!

Thanks

[Legacy Zebra]

There is no connection. All that 4-1-3-b requires is a potential holder with a teammate in position to make a kick. There is no mention of where that potential holder has to be in 4-1-3-b or in 2-27-3-b, the definition of a holder. If he is at 5 yards, he is still a potential holder. The only things that change are that the offense does not get the numbering exception and the snapper is not protected.

[NVFOA_Ump]

There is no connection. All that 4-1-3-b requires is a potential holder with a teammate in position to make a kick. There is no mention of where that potential holder has to be in 4-1-3-b or in 2-27-3-b, the definition of a holder. If he is at 5 yards, he is still a potential holder. The only things that change are that the offense does not get the numbering exception and the snapper is not protected.

Agree, and trying to connect the multiple rules together so as to call the holder with a knee down "down by rule" would be incorrect.  All that is required by the exception is for a player to be in position for a possible kick at the snap, nothing more.

[marco.chomon]

Thanks so much for your opinion. Creative reading leads us to strange places on occasion.