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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: bossman72 on July 25, 2013, 04:27:45 PM
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Play:
Ball snapped from the A30. Punt is blocked in the vicinity of the kicker but still travels forward. Hits the ground at the A35 and rolls out of bounds at the A40.
Has the kick crossed the neutral zone by definition or did the blocking of the kick behind the neutral zone make it "behind"?
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As worded here IMO it would be better described as being partially blocked and by definition has crossed the NZ once it touches the ground or anything else in the field of play that is beyond the NZ.
Rule 2-16-7-b. A scrimmage kick has crossed the neutral zone when it touches the ground, a player, an official or anything beyond the neutral zone (Exception: Rule 6-3-1-b) (A.R. 6-3-1-I-IV).
The key wording is included in AR 6-3-1-II
II. Team A’s untouched punt or field goal attempt goes beyond the neutral zone in flight, is blown back by the wind and first touches the ground, a player or an official behind the neutral zone.
RULING: By rule, the kick is not considered to have crossed the neutral zone until it has touched the ground, a player, an official or anything beyond that zone. Any scrimmage kick may be advanced after catch or recovery by Team B, or after catch or recovery by Team A in or behind the neutral zone if the kick had not crossed the neutral zone (Rule 2-16-7).
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Once the ball touches anything beyond the NZ, anything that happened behind the NZ is ignored.
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Kicks and passes are different in this respect. A pass has crossed the neutral zone if it first touches anything beyond the NZ. A kick has crossed the neutral zone if it at any time touches anything beyond the NZ.
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I seem to recall from prior posts you may be in my same organization, bossman. Looks like you are getting mentally ready for Saturday's test. I'm sure it will be as challenging as it normally is. Good luck.
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Kicks and passes are different in this respect. A pass has crossed the neutral zone if it first touches anything beyond the NZ. A kick has crossed the neutral zone if it at any time touches anything beyond the NZ.
This clears it up. Thank you guys very much!