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Expert: - 11/25/2007


Question
on a punt if the ball hits the receiving teams player and the ball bounces into the endzone and is recovered by the receiving team whose ball is it and where is the ball spotted?

Answer
Doug Glad the answer was helpful.  Thanks for the rating- you kind of killed me on the rating for timeliness. You asked the question on the 25th ov Nov. and I initially replied to it hours later on the 25th of Nov.  I note that you did not read the reply until Dec. 8th. That is when I followed up with you and got the rating.  Thank you for the rating and comments I do appreciate it.  

Sorry I was not able to answer it within minutes of your asking but that is not practical, especially given the fact I am an on field official and it was Thanksgiving weekend and I had to travel.  Please know if you have questions in the future you can expect a reply within 24 hours [usually a lot quicker than 24 hours] and if questions are asked during the season from Thursday-Sunday please know I will get to your question by the following Monday as I travel to games usually Thursday night through Sunday evening.  Sorry for any inconvenience.  I try to make sure all my replies are accurate, informative and timely. Please understand my time constraints during the football season.  Again I apoligze for any inconvenience that may have been caused.  I hope to answer your future questions.
Best of luck and Happy Holidays to you.
Victor Winnek
NCAA Football Official

Doug
Thanks for the question, Sorry for the delay in my reply, I was traveling this Thanksgiving and just getting back from my game.  If the ball is kicked (punted/scrimmage kick) and first hits/strikes a member of the Receiving team the ball remains alive.  Because the ball is not possessed it is muffed/touched by the receiving the status of the ball remains a "kick".  It is the kick that takes the ball into the end zone.  The ball may be recovered by any team.  If it is recovered by the kicking team it becomes dead in team A's possession and results in a TD.

Team B may recover the ball in the end zone and it may either advance it in to the field of play or Team B [Receiving team] may down it in the end zone and it will be a touch Back, 1st and 10 for Team B at the 20 yard line.  If the receiving team recovers the ball and runs with it in the end zone but never leaves the end zone and is subsequently downed or tackled in the EZ it will still be a Touch Back and B's ball 1st & 10 at the 20 yard line.  It will not be a safety because it is the "Kick" that but the ball in the end zone.

I hope this answers your question.

Vic Winnek
NCAA Football Official

College Football

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Vic Winnek

Expertise

Will Answer all queries RE: Rules of Football - NCAA & Federation; Officiating; Instruction on Football; Mechanics & application of rules; Setting up Instructional programs and clinics for: Officials, coaches and media; Liability Issues (Legal & Insurance questions)arising from coaching, playing, refereeing, product liability. Serve as an Consultant and Expert Witness in Football Related Matters in Tort and Contract (Standard of Care for: officials, coaches, players, assignors, BOD; Player, equipment, field & stadium Safety; Fee issues, independant contractor workers compensation. History of the College football game -its evolution. MY PURPOSE IS TO INFORM & EDUCATE FANS, MEDIA, THOSE INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL ABOUT: THE RULES, THEIR APPLICATION, PHILOSOPHIES; OFFICIATING; LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING FOOTBALL. I WILL NOT RESPOND TO BASHING OF TEAMS, COACHES OR OFFICIALS. I will not dignify rude or disparaging comments with a response, nor entertain questions that use profanity or questions that suggest Football officials are corupt, such an insinuation is ridiculous and ludicrous.

Experience

24 years officiating High School & College football, NCAA Referee, Umpire, Back Judge & Line Judge 2 years Arena Football-substitution official Instructor of NCAA & Federation Officials, Played prep and college football; coached High School football; Athletic trainer; 23 years of instruction in Officiating Football

Organizations
Past President of Calif. Football Officials Assoc; Western Collegiate Football Officials Assoc.; CFOA-Long Beach Unit Board of Directors CFOA-South Bay Unit & Long Beach Unit, Pres. Executive Council of Calif. Football Officials Assoc.; CIF Presidents' Council on Officiating; Chairman Ethics Committee

Publications
Referee Magazine; California Football Officials Assoc. Instructor's Guide; NACC Div. 1-AA football officials' clinic; CFOA instrutional materials; Articles written: Line of Scrimmage mechanics, Forward Progress, Side Line Warnings, 2006 NCAA New Timing Rules; various instructional materials, UWLA Law Review

Education/Credentials
BA USC 1987
JD UWLA School of Law 1996
3 Years Reno Football Officials Clinic
4 Years UCLA Football Officials Camp Big 12 Mini Clinic NFL Grass Roots Clinic Aloha Clinic, Honolulu, HI West Coast Alliance Clinic

Awards and Honors
NCAA Div. 1 FCS & Div. III, 9 post season Bowl Games, play-offs, CIF Div. 1,2,3,5,8,9,10,12 Final, 10 years CIF Semi-finals, 19 years of CIF play-offs, California State High School Football Div. 1 Championship, Southern California Jr. College Championship, NCAA Div. III Semi-Final

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