FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

The ruling was that the fair catch signal overruled the red players right to recover the kick, even though after 10 yards its anybodies ball!The HI IQ player argued for a walkoff on the penalty AND the right for a free kick! This was granted. The red teamers lined up for max pressure in an attempt to block the kick.The HI IQ guy demanded that the red team back 10 yards off the line of scrimmage by rule,  to better the chances of the kicker. An argument arose from the benches whether this was proper as it offered little chance to block the kick. The kicker argued that since it was a free kick the ball could be spotted without a snap. Was he right?

I saw something similar in a game in Wisconsin on a fair catch at the end of a half.  In Wisconsin on a free kick there is no snap and the defense is required to line up ten yards off of the ball.  That's why it's called a "free" kick.  So if this was in Wisconsin the kicker would be correct.   

[section13raiderfan]

this play was a free shot at a field goal to win a game with no time on the clock. I know that if you punt the ball back to your opponent this would be proper. I also have heard of using a drop kick to try to score. But a field goal attempt with a tee and a holder, but no rush and a ten yard cushion from any block just doesnt seem right. Dont the rules for field goals require a snap and a hold to start the play? I have to believe the attempt is illegal under the rules for scoring 3 points.  For what its wort, the attempt was no good, sending the game into overtime where the blue lost. Did justice prevail?  A fair catch on a kickoff is not very sporting IMHO since the highest functioning team lost to the rules instead of the opponent. This cant be the intent of the fair catch rule.

[wally_wabash]

this play was a free shot at a field goal to win a game with no time on the clock. I know that if you punt the ball back to your opponent this would be proper. I also have heard of using a drop kick to try to score. But a field goal attempt with a tee and a holder, but no rush and a ten yard cushion from any block just doesnt seem right. Dont the rules for field goals require a snap and a hold to start the play? I have to believe the attempt is illegal under the rules for scoring 3 points.  For what its wort, the attempt was no good, sending the game into overtime where the blue lost. Did justice prevail?  A fair catch on a kickoff is not very sporting IMHO since the highest functioning team lost to the rules instead of the opponent. This cant be the intent of the fair catch rule.

Fair catch kick rule.  After a fair catch, the team doing the catching can elect to take a free kick- which means the defense has to be 10 yards away from the spot of the kick.  In the NFL, you can't use a tee.  I'm sure it's fine to use a tee in high school.  In your case study, the team electing to take the free kick was brilliant to do so because converting the FG (probably a low percentage proposition at that level) was still higher than scoring on one play from scrimmage.  No risk of a block or a return?  Take the kick to win and live with OT if you miss.  Smart call, really. 

Can you call a fair catch on a kickoff?  Totally.  But once the ball hits the ground, all fair catch protections afforded to the receiver are off.  This is why 99.4% of onside attempts get immediately smashed into the ground. 

I think the intent of the fair catch rule is to not get kick returners trampled brutally while being completely defenseless. 

[badgerwarhawk]

this play was a free shot at a field goal to win a game with no time on the clock. I know that if you punt the ball back to your opponent this would be proper. I also have heard of using a drop kick to try to score. But a field goal attempt with a tee and a holder, but no rush and a ten yard cushion from any block just doesnt seem right. Dont the rules for field goals require a snap and a hold to start the play? I have to believe the attempt is illegal under the rules for scoring 3 points.  For what its wort, the attempt was no good, sending the game into overtime where the blue lost. Did justice prevail?  A fair catch on a kickoff is not very sporting IMHO since the highest functioning team lost to the rules instead of the opponent. This cant be the intent of the fair catch rule.

I can only tell you what I saw.  It was a punt out of the end zone fair caught at the 32 with 8 seconds remaining in the first half. Kid hit the 42 yard kick and the team was awarded 3 points.  Afterward all the players ran off the field thinking the half had ended and had to be called back to play the final 3 seconds which was started with a kick off. 

It's happened twice in Packer games that I can recall. 

It's a odd rule that's for sure.  Fortunately it doesn't happen often which may be part of the reason most fans think it's weird.

[section13raiderfan]

But what of any players  right to recover a kickoff after travelling 10 yards? The fair catch rule should not usurp any rule. The offender executed magnificently. Its kinda an unfair rule in this instance.

[Craft_Beermeister]

But what of any players  right to recover a kickoff after travelling 10 yards? The fair catch rule should not usurp any rule. The offender executed magnificently. Its kinda an unfair rule in this instance.

With the ball kicked in the air the fielding player has the right to call for a fair catch and if he is well coached he would do so in the situation described. The fair catch signal must be clear and done in advance of the catch which in the situation described the signally would have to occur before the ball got to the receiver and most probably before the ball travelled 10 yards.  Upon the interference peanility the ball is advanced 15 yards and the receiving team has the option of trying a free kick for a field goal as you described, but the only difference I see with your accounting of the play is that with 4 seconds left the clock would not restart until after the ball is touched. In the case of a fair catch or interference penalty the play would be blown dead without time coming off the clock therefore the free kick would occur with 4 seconds on the clock.

[section13raiderfan]

The scoreboard clock expired but thats not the official time. After the kick the game was ruled over and the game entered overtime. The clock probably started when the red teamer touched the ball and the clock operator failed to stop it immediatly. For whatever reason nobody complained about the clock and the refs did not ask for a reset. Confusion reigned. Would a clock run on a free kick anyway? And when would it start? There is no snap.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Free Kick on Wikipedia

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Another weird rule is that a FG kicked out of bounds becomes a Dead Ball and turnover at the point it goes out of bounds.

So if you are winning a close game you can line up for a FG andKick it out of bounds (instead of aiming for the Goal Posts) and the defensive team would take possession where the ball went out.  Good if you don't want to risk a Blocked Punt and you are out of your kicker's range.

[HScoach]

Another weird rule is that a FG kicked out of bounds becomes a Dead Ball and turnover at the point it goes out of bounds.

So if you are winning a close game you can line up for a FG andKick it out of bounds (instead of aiming for the Goal Posts) and the defensive team would take possession where the ball went out.  Good if you don't want to risk a Blocked Punt and you are out of your kicker's range.

Good plan unless you're OSU playing at Penn State

[Dr. Acula]

24 consecutive posts and counting...in season...without a mention of Mount or JCU.  This has to be a record.

[BergAlum]

24 consecutive posts and counting...in season...without a mention of Mount or JCU.  This has to be a record.

A record indeed, while it might be called the OAC forum, its instead acts as the unofficial Mount Union Football forum. 

In non-mount news, as long as the Berg gets past ONU, it looks like 2017 will be a good season, 8-2 type year.  With the inevitable blowout loss to Mount and maybe a slightly closer loss to JCU.

[rscl70]

On another non-Mount Union note:

Does anyone know why Ott and Musky are playing this weekend rather than Oct 7 where the game would logically be placed based on the conference schedule? 

[JCUStreaks70]

24 consecutive posts and counting...in season...without a mention of Mount or JCU.  This has to be a record.

A record indeed, while it might be called the OAC forum, its instead acts as the unofficial Mount Union Football forum. 

In non-mount news, as long as the Berg gets past ONU, it looks like 2017 will be a good season, 8-2 type year.  With the inevitable blowout loss to Mount and maybe a slightly closer loss to JCU.

+K

haha, Nice!

[mr_mom]

Friday Night Reminder to get yer picks in.