Football Officiating > National Federation Discussion

IW on a Free Kick

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FredFan7:
Team K free kicks to Team R.  It is a short pooch kick.  R88 makes a fair catch signal at his own 40 yard line.  He muffs the kick and while the ball is loose the whistle sounds.  R88 falls on the ball after the whistle blows.

How do you administer the inadvertent whistle?

Jackhammer:
Re-kick.

Curious:

--- Quote from: FredFan7 on October 24, 2010, 05:23:17 PM ---Team K free kicks to Team R.  It is a short pooch kick.  R88 makes a fair catch signal at his own 40 yard line.  He muffs the kick and while the ball is loose the whistle sounds.  R88 falls on the ball after the whistle blows.

How do you administer the inadvertent whistle?

--- End quote ---

This happened in one of the 800 college games I watched over the week-end; and they officials just ignored the whistle and gave the ball to the receiving team.  I don't think there are any IW rule differences in the NCAA; but, clearly, in HS, Jackhammer is correct. Rule 4-2-3a says replay the down if an IW sounds during a legal kick (no choice for either team).

LarryW60:
Had it happen 3 or so weeks ago.  Late in the game and the team that's trailing scores - bringing them within a touchdown.  We configure our officials for an expected on-side kick and sure enough, it happens.  When an R player falls on the ball, the official on R's restraining line closest to the ball blows his whistle, but the ball is now skittering back towards K's restraining line.  R never had possession.  K ended up with the ball but our only course of action was a re-kick.  In the ensuing re-kick, R was ready for the on-side kick and recovered it.  You hate to have that kind of situation where you might have changed the outcome (regardless of weak the odds were that K could have subsequently scored the go-ahead points in the time left).

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