Fourth and 10 on the Team A-40. A80 recovers the rolling punt at the B-9. The officials rule illegal touching by A80 and award the ball to Team B. The ball grazed off the fingertips of B45 at the B-13 prior to A80 recovering it. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether B45 touched the ball. Overturn to no illegal touching. The ball belongs to Team A l-G on B-9 (Rule 12-3-4a).
97. Touching of a Kick
Fourth and 10 on the Team A-40. A80 recovers the rolling punt at the B-9. The ball grazed off the fingertips of B45 at the B-13 prior to A80 recovering it and the officials award possession to Team A. Replays show that A30 touched the punt at the B-15 before it touched B45. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether A30 touched the ball. B 1/10 @ B-15, illegal touching of a kick (Rule 12-3-4a).
98. Touching of a Kick
Fourth and 10 on the Team A-40. Team A's punt is blocked by B77 at the A-42 and the ball bounces to the 50 where it is recovered by A19. The officials rule the ball was touched by the receiving team beyond the neutral zone and award possession to Team A at the 50. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether B77 touched the ball beyond the neutral zone. Overturn to B 1-10 on 50 (Rule 12-3-4a). A player who blocks a scrimmage kick within three yards of the line of scrimmage is not considered to have touched the ball beyond the neutral zone. This only applies to a player who blocks the kick. Any other first touch by the receiving team beyond the line of scrimmage will make the kickers eligible to recover the ball.
99. Roughing/Running into-Referee Announcement
Fourth and 10 at the A-40. Punter A10 takes the snap and under a heavy rush gets the punt off. B85 catches the ball after a fair catch signal at the B-20. A10 is hit by B90 and is knocked to the ground. The referee signals the ball was tipped and does not throw a flag. After the ball is dead the referee announces, “There is no foul for roughing (or running into) the kicker because the ball was tipped.” RULING: The tip signal or referee's announcement allows the replay official to stop the game for a review to see if the ball was or was not tipped. If there is clear and obvious evidence that the ball was not tipped, replay will overturn the ruling on the field. The referee may create a foul for roughing or running into the kicker. A 1/10 @ B45.
100. Touchinga kick Near a Goal Line
Fourth and 7 on the B-42. Team A's punt hits on the B-1 and bounces into the air toward Team B's end zone. A80 leaps from the field of play and bats the ball from the 1-yard line back to A22 at the 2-yard line. Officials rule a touchback. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the ball broke the plane of the goal line. Overturn to B 1-10 on B-2 (Rules 12-3-3i and 12-3-4a).
101. Ball Hitting a Sideline
Fourth and 9 on the A-25. The punted ball hits the sideline at the B-27. It bounces back into the field of play where B25 picks it up and returns it across Team A's goal line. The officials rule touchdown. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the ball hit the sideline. Overturn to B 1-10 on B-27, reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout. (Rule 12-3-3i).
102. Recovery of a Mulled Punt at Sideline
Fourth and 5 on the A-20. B45 muffs a punt at the 50. A80 recovers the ball close to the sideline at the B-45. Officials rule that A80 recovered the ball in bounds. Replays show that A80’s right foot was touching the sideline as he made the recovery. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether A80 was touching the sideline when he made the recovery. Overturn to B 1-10 on B-45 (Rule 12-3-3h).
103. Kick Hitting in an End Zone
Fourth and 10 on the 50. Team A's punt hits in Team B's end zone untouched, then bounces back into the field of play. B45 recovers and returns the ball to the A-40, where officials award the ball to Team B. RULING: Reviewable play, regarding whether the ball hit in the end zone. Overturn to touchback, B 1-10 on B-20, reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout. (Rule 12-3-3i).
104. Ball Crossing Neutral Zone
Fourth and 10 on the A-35. Team A's punt is blocked at the A-35 by B40. The ball lands at the A-38 and then bounces back to the A-34 where A2 recovers and advances to the 50-yard line. The officials spot the ball there, first down for Team A. RULING: Reviewable play. Overturn to B 1-10 on A-34, reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout. The replay official may review whether the ball crossed the neutral zone (12-3-4d).
105. Muffed Kick
Fourth and 10 on the A-35. Team A's punt is muffed by B21 at the B-30. A34 recovers the loose ball at the B-28 and advances it across B's goal line. The ruling on the field is that B21 possessed and then fumbled the ball, and then a touchdown for Team A. RULING: Reviewable play. Overturn to A 1-10 on B-28. Reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout. The replay official may review whether a kick was muffed or fumbled (12-3-4c).
106. Possession or a Kick in the Field or Play
Fourth and 5 at the A-20. B45 muffs a punted ball in the middle of the field at the 50. A80 and B45 gain simultaneous possession there, and the officials award possession to A80. RULING: Reviewable. B 1-10 on 50. Simultaneous possession of a kick is awarded to Team B.
107. Advance of Fair Catch-Ball not Declared Dead
During a kick, B33 gives a fair catch signal and catches the ball at the B-20. The ball is not declared dead. B33 carries to the 50-yard line where he is pushed out of bounds. RULING: Reviewable play under Rule 12-3-4g. Team B's ball at the B-20. Reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout.
108. Advance of Fair Catch-Ball not Declared Dead
During a kick, B33 gives a fair catch signal, catches the ball at the B-25, and starts to run. The ball is not declared dead. B33 retreats, is unable to turn the corner, and is tackled at the B-15. RULING: Reviewable play under Rule 12-3-4g. Team B's ball at the B-25. Reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout.
109. Advance of Fair Catch-Ball not Declared Dead
Fourth and 7 on the A-35. B45 signals for a fair catch while the punt is in the air. B27, unaware of the signal by B45, catches the punt at the B-25 and returns it for a touchdown. No official signals the ball dead when caught. RULING: Reviewable play under Rule 12-3-4g. Team B's ball at the B-25. Reset clock if after the Two-Minute Timeout.
110. Muffed Scrimmage Kick-Clear recovery
Team A punts on fourth and 15 at the A-30. B44 is in position to receive the kick. In attempting to catch the ball, B44 muffs it at the B-35. The back judge blows his whistle when it appears that B44 is catching the ball, but it rolls along the ground after B44 mulls it. A88 chases the ball, and in the immediate continuing football action he recovers it while grounded at the B-30. B22 is flagged for holding during the kick. RULING: Rule 12-3-3d applies when there is a clear and immediate recovery in the continuing action. A 1/10 @ B-30. Team A declines the penalty. If there is no confirmation of a clear recovery from the on-field officials, or replay is unable to determine a clear recovery on video, the ruling on the field is upheld and the penalty is enforced as normal.
111. Player Out of Bounds
During a punt, A80 steps out of bounds (no contact) as he goes downfield to cover the play and returns inbounds. B23 returns the kick to the B-25 where he fumbles. A80 recovers while grounded at the B-27. No flag is thrown, and the officials rule Team A's ball at the B-27. RULING: Reviewable. Five yards from the previous spot and rekick. If the Team A player does not touch the ball, the play is not reviewable.
Non-Reviewable Play Situations of Scrimmage Kicks
112. Spot of Untouched Out of Bounds Kick
Fourth and 5 on the A-45. The airborne punt goes out of bounds untouched at the B-12. The officials mark the ball at the B-7. RULING: The spot where an untouched airborne kick goes out of bounds is not reviewable. B 1-10 on B-7. An airborne kick is one that does not hit in the field of play before going out of bounds.
113. Kick-Catch Interference
Fourth and 18 on the A-40. A80 contacts punt receiver B45 before B45 touches the ball. The ball bounces off B45 and rolls to the B-35, where A88 recovers. Team A is awarded possession. RULING: Whether B45 touched the ball is reviewable, but kick-catch interference is not reviewable. A l-10 on B-35.
114. Forced Touching
Fourth and 7 on the A-23. During a punt, A80 blocks B45 into the loose ball at the B-35, where A88 recovers. Team A is awarded possession. RULING: Not reviewable regarding whether B45 was blocked into the ball. The replay official can only review whether the ball was touched. A 1-10 on B-35 (Rule 12-3-4a).
