KCI?

[rickref]

Situation 1.
A KO from A-30. Ball is kicked high into the air. A89 leaps high at the A-41 and catches the kick and returns to the ground in possesion. B34 was in position to receive the kick at the A45.

Situation 2.
A KO from A-30. Ball is kicked high into the air. A89 leaps high at the A-41 and catches the kick and returns to the ground in possesion. B34 was in position to receive the kick at the A45 and called fair catch.


Just curious what you would or would not have on these?

[Mike L]

AR 6-4-1-I (per the 2008 book anyway and assuming you meant A89 not B89)

A Team A player catches a free kick, thus preventing an opponent from making the catch. RULING: Illegal Interference.

[Bkjdg]

AR 6-4-1-I (per the 2008 book anyway and assuming you meant A89 not B89)

A Team A player catches a free kick, thus preventing an opponent from making the catch. RULING: Illegal Interference.

I'll make the same assumption that you are talking about A89 (from the kicking team) catching the free kick.

Rule 6-4-1 states that "a player of the receiving team within the boundary lines attempting to catch a kick, and so located that he could have caught a free kick or a scrimmage kick that is beyond the neutral zone, must be given an unimpeded opportunity to catch the kick."

There is no stipulation that this only applies if a fair catch signal is given (that only matters if the receiver muffs the kick, they are then given the opportunity to complete the catch), so both situations are identical and should both be ruled illegal interference, B1/10 at A26.

From experience, this usually happens on an onside kick and is not easy to see for the official on that side of the field.  This is when the official on the other side (F or S) needs to step up and help!!!

[rickref]

I do mean A and I switched. Essentially in the play the A player is leaping and catching the ball at the highest point he can stretch out. One guy is clearly looking to catch it and is stationary 4 yards behind. I hate that it is possible A gets penalized for making a play at the precise yardline he is allowed to make it and B has backed up 4 yards away not ready for this ball as they are looking for the typicall down field boot. Then B stops on A45 and the A player leaps up and gets the ball at A41. I feel A has a right to play this. True the kick ought to be driven into the ground to avoid this.  Tough situation in my opinion.


 

[Osric Pureheart]

I do mean A and I switched. Essentially in the play the A player is leaping and catching the ball at the highest point he can stretch out. One guy is clearly looking to catch it and is stationary 4 yards behind. I hate that it is possible A gets penalized for making a play at the precise yardline he is allowed to make it and B has backed up 4 yards away not ready for this ball as they are looking for the typicall down field boot. Then B stops on A45 and the A player leaps up and gets the ball at A41. I feel A has a right to play this. True the kick ought to be driven into the ground to avoid this.  Tough situation in my opinion.  

IMO, if the B player's backed up 4 yards away, then he doesn't have an opportunity to catch the ball and therefore the Team A player can't be interfering with it...

edit: Incidentally, in the 2009 book, that AR got reworded and now reads: "A Team A player catches a free kick very near receiver B25, thus preventing him from making the catch. RULING: Illegal interference. Penalty -- 15 yards from the spot of the foul. "  Emphasis mine.

[RedTD]

..... and B has backed up 4 yards away not ready for this ball as they are looking for the typicall down field boot. ....

But you said in your original post that "..B34 was in position to receive the kick at the A45." In which case it is KCI. However if he is "not ready for this ball as they are looking for the typical down field boot" then you have a recovery by Team A.