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College Football/kicking possession.

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Expert: - 10/19/2007


Question
if team A kicks the football(punt or f/g) and the kick is blocked, but recovered by the kicking team, is it 1st and 10 team A? or turn over on downs, since most f/gs or punts happen on 4th down?

Answer
Joey
Very good question but I need some specific additional information to answer this question, such as Down-Distance, where the ball was recovered, did Team B ever have possession,was it a field goal, was it during over time, etc.  The answer depends on these variable.

Generally, (per NCAA Rule 6)  For the kicking team on a scrimmage kick to retain possession of the ball following a 4th down play there needs to be a foul by B prior to or during the Kick, B must have touched the ball beyond the neutral zone or if blocked behind the neutral zone then B must have possessed the ball then fumbled it and A recovers.  These are the "general"  situations per rule where the Kicking team will get the ball.

Thus the only time it will be the Kicking Team's ball 1st & 10 will be if B recovered the loose kicked ball and fumbles it and A recovers that fumble or there is a penalty involved on the play.

If it is "not 4th down" (1st, 2nd or 3rd) and the Kick is blocked behind the neutral zone (NZ) and the kick never crosses the NZ and the kicking team recovers it will be the kicking team's ball and the next down.  If it is a 4th down play and this occurs then it is team B's ball where the ball becomes dead.  Again if it is 4th down and the ball is blocked and does not cross the NZ and a member of the kicking team recovers the blocked ball the Kicking team player may run with the ball to gain a 1st down.  If he does not gain the 1st down then it is B's ball (1st & 10) where the Kicking team player was downed.

If the kick (regardless of the Down) crosses the NZ and bounces back behind the NZ it remains a live ball but as soon as the Kicking team touches the ball, that spot will be the illegal touching spot (violation but not a foul) and as soon as the Kicking Team "possesses the kicked ball that has crossed the NZ" the ball will become dead and awarded to Team B 1st & 10 at that spot; unless the illegal touching spot is more advantageous for Team B.

I hope this helps explain the situation.  If you could be more specific I can give you a specific detailed reply.

Best of luck and thank you for your question regarding blocked scrimmage kicks.

Victor C. Winnek
NCAA Football Official

College Football

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