Correct Ruling on a Punt Block

[Official_21]

This is a situation I had at a 8th grade game last week working R <First game working at R>:

Team A is in a punt formation. Punter receives kick and kicks. Team B blocks kick, which is then recovered by Team A.

I erroneously awarded Team A the ball and after looking up the rulebook Rule 6-3-6(a) and (b) applies.

But the one thing that got me curious is, at half time, me and my co-officials were discussing this call and said the Team A has to go past the first down marker in order to keep possession (Which I couldn't find any mention of in the rulebook or the TASO HS Rules exceptions for this year).

Could someone please tell me if I am on the right track on what the ruling is, as I am beyond miffed 

[TXMike]

If B touches the ball beyond the NZ, and then A recovers, it is a first for A regardless of whether they have ball beyond line to gain.  If B blocks kick and A recovers behind neutral zone, A can run, pass or kick it again.  They will have to make the line to gain to get a 1st if they run or pass.

[Official_21]

Is that covered in the NCAA rulebook?

If it is, I couldn't find reference to it.

[TXMike]

Take a look at 5-1-1-e-2 and 5-1-4-b

[Official_21]

Thanks TXMike.

That did the trick 

[Joe Stack]

21: unless Team A is awarded a first down by penalty, they always have to advance the ball beyond the line to gain a first down, regardless of how they do it. See Rule 5-1-4.

[TXMike]

Not correct in NCAA.  Perhaps you are talking Federation?

[CenTexTM]

21: unless Team A is awarded a first down by penalty, they always have to advance the ball beyond the line to gain a first down, regardless of how they do it. See Rule 5-1-4.

Maybe he meant to say "be in legal possession" beyond the line to gain rather than advance?  That would seem to cover both recovery behind the NZ with advance as well as recovery beyond the LTG after R has touched.

[Official_21]

If B touches the ball beyond the NZ, and then A recovers, it is a first for A regardless of whether they have ball beyond line to gain.  If B blocks kick and A recovers behind neutral zone, A can run, pass or kick it again.  They will have to make the line to gain to get a 1st if they run or pass.

So in a nutshell...if A recovers behind the NZ, and decides to run/pass, it is just like a scrimmage play and if they don't make the LTG, possession goes to B.

Otherwise, possession stays with A.

Did I get that right? 

[TxSkyBolt]

Maybe he meant to say "be in legal possession" beyond the line to gain rather than advance?  That would seem to cover both recovery behind the NZ with advance as well as recovery beyond the LTG after R has touched.

Once R touches a punt beyond the LOS and A recovers, A is awarded a new series regardless where the ball was recovered.  It needn't be beyond the line to gain.

Best regards,

Brad

[CenTexTM]

Once R touches a punt beyond the LOS and A recovers, A is awarded a new series regardless where the ball was recovered.  It needn't be beyond the line to gain.

Best regards,

Brad

That makes sense.  But the touching has to be beyond 3 yards, doesn't it?  So a kick blocked within 3 yards would have to be advanced beyond the LTG, but if for some reason the kick is touched beyond that and A recovers, the continuity of downs is broken and A gets a new series regardless of where they actually recover the ball?

[James]

Well summarised CenTexTM

[El Macman]

That makes sense.  But the touching has to be beyond 3 yards, doesn't it?  So a kick blocked within 3 yards would have to be advanced beyond the LTG, but if for some reason the kick is touched beyond that and A recovers, the continuity of downs is broken and A gets a new series regardless of where they actually recover the ball?

Don't confuse touching and blocking. Blocking of a kick must be within 3 yards of the NZ, and is ignored as 'touching.' However, once the ball has otherwise officially crossed the NZ, then 'touching' of the ball (legal or illegal) by either team can occur anywhere. If team B touches the kick (not a 'block') once the ball has officially crossed the NZ (and that touch could be what constitutes being beyond the NZ), then, correct, the continuity of downs is broken, and a new series will be awarded to either Team A or Team B, whichever will next put the ball in play by rule.