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Expert: - 11/10/2009


Question
What is the NCAA rule when a player on the punting team is standing with heels on goalline and ball rolls dead at the 1 foot line and then the player touches the ball?  Is it dead at the one foot line or touchback since player touching the ball has feet in the endzone?  Thanks

Answer
Mo,
Thanks for your question.  I am not sure I understand what you are asking.  Is this before the punt or after the punt.

You state the "ball rolls dead at the 1 foot line ".  If that is the case then the ball is dead at the 1 footline.  I assume when you say the  ball rolls dead at the 1 foot line you mean in the field of play [one foot from the goalline - between the goalline and the 1 yardline].  That is not a touch back.  

I assume you mean after the ball was kicked, the kicking team [Team "A"] is trying to down the ball so the Kicking team player [Team "A" player] is standing onthe goalline to prevent the ball from going into the endzone.  This is what I understand from your question.

The ball rolls to the 1 foot line.  It has not crossed or broken the plane of the goalline, therefore it remains in the field of play.  When Team "A" touches the ball it is already dean at the 1 footline.  So the answer is the ball is dead at the 1 foot line and the ball belongs to [Team "B" - the receiving team at that spot.

It is not a touchback because the ball did not cross the plane of the goalline.  For touchbacks, touchdowns, forward progress, etc. It is the position of the ball in reference to the goalline (or endline or side line, etc.) not the position of the player.  So the fact that the Team "A" player had his feet on the goalline or was in the endzone has not baring on whether it is a touchback.  It is the position of the ball that determines whether it is a touchback.

Vic Winnek
NCAA Football Official  

College Football

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Vic Winnek

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