Question on kick offs..

May 29, 2001
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....after the ball travels 10yds, it (the ball) becomes a free ball recoverable by either side....a returner can field it in the end zone & can then elect to return it or kneel it down for a touchback....is there an addition to these rules that says a kickoff into the end zone that just bounces around but doesn't go out automatically becomes a touchback?....am just curious if i missed a rule tweek.....
 
Dec 17, 2007
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....after the ball travels 10yds, it (the ball) becomes a free ball recoverable by either side....a returner can field it in the end zone & can then elect to return it or kneel it down for a touchback....is there an addition to these rules that says a kickoff into the end zone that just bounces around but doesn't go out automatically becomes a touchback?....am just curious if i missed a rule tweek.....


I saw that too and was surprised that the official blew the whistle on the play. Receivers walked away from what should have been a live ball and recoverable just like an on-sides kick. Was that in our game? Watched too many games over the weekend and they all run together, but I made that comment myself.

If you'll recall, a Steelers rookie (can't remember who) did this a few years ago for a TD by the kicking team.
 
May 29, 2001
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....after the ball travels 10yds, it (the ball) becomes a free ball recoverable by either side....a returner can field it in the end zone & can tAhen elect to return it or kneel it down for a touchback....is there an addition to these rules that says a kickoff into the end zone that just bounces around but doesn't go out automatically becomes a touchback?....am just curious if i missed a rule tweek.....
Apparently as long as no one comes out of the end zone with the ball, it's a touchback. No one goes to pick it up every time. Years ago, the kickoff team could fall on it for a TD. I've seen that happen. But not any more because no one rushes to down it on the receiving team and the refs just signal touchback and take the ball to the 25.
 
May 29, 2001
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....it happened twice in our game alone....one for, one against....remarked on it both times.....we theorized it may have something to do with the ball hitting in the field of play & then in versus airborne all the way....it's weird & arbitrary how it's called...just sayin'.....
 

WVU_98_rivals

Redshirt
Mar 20, 2002
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I believe that in college, if the ball goes into the end zone, it is s touchback...unless the returned elects to run it out. In the NFL,. it's a live ball.

So, in college, if the ball is in the end zone and the kicking team recovers, it is still a touchback.
 
Dec 17, 2007
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I believe that in college, if the ball goes into the end zone, it is s touchback...unless the returned elects to run it out. In the NFL,. it's a live ball.

So, in college, if the ball is in the end zone and the kicking team recovers, it is still a touchback.

Ball Dead in End Zone
ARTICLE 7. a. When a free kick untouched by Team B touches the ground on
or behind Team B’s goal line, the ball becomes dead and belongs to Team B.
b. If the result of the free kick is a touchback (Rule 8-6) for Team B, they will
put the ball in play at their 25-yard line.
 
May 29, 2001
390
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Ball Dead in End Zone
ARTICLE 7. a. When a free kick untouched by Team B touches the ground on
or behind Team B’s goal line, the ball becomes dead and belongs to Team B.
b. If the result of the free kick is a touchback (Rule 8-6) for Team B, they will
put the ball in play at their 25-yard line.
...appreciate this....been curious about it for awhile...so I am assuming that if the ball hits in the field of play & then goes into the end zone, at that point, it's a straight up free ball....I'm assuming....& yes, I know.....
 

MikeRafone

Freshman
Oct 5, 2011
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The rule was changed back in the 80's in college. The NFL stayed with the old rule thus the continued confusion. HS, I'm not sure about, it could vary by state.

If they'd switched that blocking with hands rule for offensive linemen early enough for me to get used to it, I'd be the first 60 year old to play in an NFL game. How in the Hell do you get beat when you can shove and grapple with DL's and puny LB's with your hands? My theory is coaches switched to recruiting slow, long-armed, fat guys to get in the way after the rule change. Bring back the climb block!
 

TexasforevEER

Freshman
Nov 10, 2006
2,364
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The rule was changed back in the 80's in college. The NFL stayed with the old rule thus the continued confusion. HS, I'm not sure about, it could vary by state.

If they'd switched that blocking with hands rule for offensive linemen early enough for me to get used to it, I'd be the first 60 year old to play in an NFL game. How in the Hell do you get beat when you can shove and grapple with DL's and puny LB's with your hands? My theory is coaches switched to recruiting slow, long-armed, fat guys to get in the way after the rule change. Bring back the climb block!

Yes..................it would be nice to bring back the climb block. But, I would also like to see the juke move and the phantom move make a re-appearance. These moves cannot be taught!
 

MikeRafone

Freshman
Oct 5, 2011
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Just like the true forearm shiver. The basics can be taught, but that "snap" is something your born with. I once saw a mad pee-wee safety send a mouthy opposing coach through the goal posts with one to his overlapping gut. Not a lot of distance, but the hang time was amazing.

That kid works at the quarry now. Uses his forearms and a chunk of pipe to drill blast holes. Not many people are able to find their true calling, but he did.