A couple more Fun ones

[ElvisLives]

Based upon all known and understood rule changes for 2026. Include all options that may be available to either team.

4/10, A-20, 0:20 (4), running (3/40), A=7, B=9.
A11 legally punts the ball. During the flight of the ball, all 11 Team B players make valid fair catch signals, and then stand in place while the Team A players run past them toward B99, who is in position to catch the ball at the A-45. All Team A players remain at least 1-yard in front of B99, or remain to either side of B99. B99 completes the catch at the A-45, at 0:13 (4).

RULING:
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4/10, A-35, 6:00 (4), running (5/40), A=7, B=7.
A11 possesses the snapped ball at the A-28, and throws a pass which is caught by A88 at the A-31. After advancing to the A-33, A88 is contacted by B99, causing A88 to fumble the ball, which deflects off of player’s bodies and lands on the ground at the A-30. Players from both teams attempt to recover the ball, but A88 is able to recover it “on the run” at the A-30, and moves laterally. Unable to get away from opponents to advance the ball, A88 suddenly punts it at the A-31. The ball flies to the B-40, where it lands on the ground near the sideline and bounces out of bounds, at 5:48 (4). Immediately after he punted the ball, A11 was contacted forcibly by B99 on his plant leg, causing A11 to fall to the ground.

RULING:

[Morningrise]

I made one little edit

Based upon all known and understood rule changes for 2026. Include all options that may be available to either team.

4/10, A-20, 0:20 (4), running (3/40), A=7, B=9.
A11 legally punts the ball. During the flight of the ball, all 11 Team B players make valid fair catch signals, and then stand in place while the Team A players run past them toward B99, who is in position to catch the ball at the A-45. All Team A players remain at least 1-yard in front of B99, or remain to either side of B99. B99 completes the catch at the A-45, at 0:13 (4).

RULING: Legal. Fair catch. B's 1/10 @ A-45, PC 25, snap; or B's fair catch kick @ A-45, PC 25, clock starts when kicked.
—————————————————————————-

4/10, A-35, 6:00 (4), running (5/40), A=7, B=7.
A11 possesses the snapped ball at the A-28, and throws a pass which is caught by A88 at the A-31. After advancing to the A-33, A88 is contacted by B99, causing A88 to fumble the ball, which deflects off of player’s bodies and lands on the ground at the A-30. Players from both teams attempt to recover the ball, but A88 is able to recover it “on the run” at the A-30, and moves laterally. Unable to get away from opponents to advance the ball, A88 suddenly punts it at the A-31. The ball flies to the B-40, where it lands on the ground near the sideline and bounces out of bounds, at 5:48 (4). Immediately after he punted the ball, A11A88 was contacted forcibly by B99 on his plant leg, causing A11A88 to fall to the ground.

RULING: A88 may legally advance after recovering his own fourth down fumble. Legal kick. No foul for roughing the kicker as it is not obvious that a kick will be attempted. B's @ B-40, PC 25, snap.

[ElvisLives]

I made one little edit

Thanks for the edit. But, these were fun - yeah? 

[Morningrise]

Thanks for the edit. But, these were fun - yeah? 

Yep, can't say I've ever seen a pass-then-punt but I know how to handle it. Here's one I *did* see in an online clip, and i wish I could find it:

4/5 @ A-40. At the snap, gunner A88 has a too-clever special teams coach. He advances to the A-42, then retreats to the A-39. Punter A11 punts the ball toward him. A88 a) catches the punt at the A-39 (as the play was drawn up) or b) jumps to catch the punt from the A-39, gains firm control of it while airborne at the A-40, and lands with both feet at the A-41 (this is what happened in the clip, I'm telling ya). He advances to the 50 where he's tackled.

side note: I gave up searching for this clip just now after sifting through one too many "Best Trick Play Ev4r!!!" where it's just another gd hideout play

[ElvisLives]

Yep, can't say I've ever seen a pass-then-punt but I know how to handle it. Here's one I *did* see in an online clip, and i wish I could find it:

4/5 @ A-40. At the snap, gunner A88 has a too-clever special teams coach. He advances to the A-42, then retreats to the A-39. Punter A11 punts the ball toward him. A88 a) catches the punt at the A-39 (as the play was drawn up) or b) jumps to catch the punt from the A-39, gains firm control of it while airborne at the A-40, and lands with both feet at the A-41 (this is what happened in the clip, I'm telling ya). He advances to the 50 where he's tackled.

side note: I gave up searching for this clip just now after sifting through one too many "Best Trick Play Ev4r!!!" where it's just another gd hideout play

A, 1/10, 50, snap (25). Even in b), the touch by A88 at the A-40 was NOT beyond the NZ, so his possession/catch/advance would be legal.
In both cases, this was a legal kick down, so the game clock is stopped at the end of the down. For the next down, the play clock is set to 25-seconds and starts on the referee’s signal, and the game clock starts on the snap.
Get video.😂

[Morningrise]

But when does the player complete the catch and gain possession, when does the status of the ball change from a punt to a ball in possession, where is the ball at that moment, is this a scrimmage kick that crossed the NZ?

[ElvisLives]

The catch is not completed, and therefore, possession is not gained, until the airborne player - firmly holding and controlling the ball - has returned to the ground inbounds. The question here is where was the ball was touched by A88. That was the A-40, which was NOT beyond the neutral zone, making his touching legal. Completion of his catch allows him to advance the live ball.