You are here:

College Football/downing of a punted ball near the goaline

Advertisement

Expert: - 9/30/2006


Question
on a punt, if a player on the punting team lets the ball cross the goaline and is standing in the endzone and knocks the ball back onto the field does the ball go to the twenty yard line or does it go to where he knocks the ball to? also if the player jumps up in the air and knocks the ball back onto the field without touching the endzone first does it go to where he knocks it back in?  was wanting some clarity on the rules of that.  thank you very much

Answer
Thanks foryour question.  The kicking team my gain possession of a scrimmage kick/punt As soon as the kicking team gains possession of the kick, the ball is dead at that spot.

If a kicking team player is standing in the endzone when the ball is touched it will be a touch back if the player is in the field of play and the ball is not grounded in the enzone the spot where he touched the ball is known as the illegal touching spot where the recieving team will have the option of next putting the ball into play.\

Where the ball goes after being touched in the field of play is important as it can also be placed where it becomes dead.  

College Football

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.