During a punt if ball is partially blocked but ball advances past scrimmage line can the kicking team recover and advance the ball?

Answer 1

Yes.

1) The punting team can regain possession if the receiving team commits a penalty prior to the punt that gives the punting team enough yardage for a first down.

The punting team can also regain possession if one of the players on the receiving team attempting to block the punt hits the punter immediately after the punt without having first touched the ball after it left the punter's foot. The resulting penalty can be 5 yards or 15 yards and is a judgment call by the referee. The five yard penalty is called 'running into the punter' and the 15 yard penalty is called 'roughing the punter'. Basically, the difference in the penalties is how hard the punter is hit or whether the punter has his punting leg high in the air when he is hit (almost always results in a 15 yard penalty). If the penalty is 15 yards, the punting team retains possession and is awarded a first down. If it is a 5 yard penalty, should the added five yards not result in giving the punting team a first down, they can decline the penalty and allow the receiving team to take possession where the play was blown dead or they can accept the penalty and decide whether they want to try for a first down or to punt the ball again.

There are some times when a receiving team player may hit the punter without first touching the ball and no penalty is called. Should the punter drop the ball or the snap from center hits the ground before the punter gets possession or the punter takes a step or steps as if he is going to run the ball instead of punt, the punter then is considered a runner and not a punter. No running into/roughing the punter penalty can be called unless the contact is considered extreme and/or intentional and then the penalty is 15 yards for 'unnecessary roughness'. Punters and place kickers are given extra protection by the rules of the game because they are in a very vulnerable position when they make contact with the ball and during their follow through. As long as there is no trickery by the punter, the snap is good, and the punter does not drop the ball the receiving team may not make contact with him after a punt that they have not touched without a penalty being called. Again, there is one caveat to this. A running into/roughing penalty cannot be called if the member of the receiving team that hits the punter does so due to being blocked into the punter by a member of the punting team. If the impetus of the receiving team's player is due to a block from the punting team's player, no penalty is called.

2) The punting team can regain possession if the receiving team fumbles the ball while returning the punt and the punting team recovers or if the ball touches a member of the receiving team prior to being possessed by a member of the receiving team and the punting team recovers (this is called a 'muff'). The rules are different pertaining to fumbling a punt return and muffing a punt return. If the ball is fumbled, the punting team can gain possession and advance the ball as far as they can. If the ball is muffed, the punting team can gain possession but they cannot advance the ball. The play will be whistled dead at the time the punting team gains possession of a muffed punt and the ball will be spotted at the yard line where the punting team gained possession.

That's my take and it kinda goes off on a couple of tangents. But there is some explanation that needs to be done in an attempt to cover the bases when answering this question. Any referees out there that can add on to this?

Answer 2

I say that any part of the body of the kicking team may not be in the end zone and touch the ball in the playing field to down the ball on the playing field for the other team. If I am wrong the Old Man was right.

Answer 3

Not in American football. Kicks must be taken from behind the line of scrimmage. In Canadian football, however, this would be legal.

Answer 4

Yes, and that is where the ball would be placed.

Answer 5

No, unless the defensive team touches or recovers the ball after the initial block.

Answer 6

No...all kicks from scrimmage must be done prior to crossing the LOS, same as a forward pass.

Answer 7

Can a punter cross the LOS then return to punt the ball?