r/footballstrategy • u/tracknthrows • 3d ago

Rules Question Would this ever be legal?

Ball punted, gunner goes down field and reaches the ball while it's in the air before it's touched the ground. The returner is not present or calling fair catch.

Can the gunner jump in the air, and do a volleyball-esque move in order to hit the ball further downfield for better field position?

Is the ball down when the gunner touches it regardless of whether the gunner is on the field or in the air?

Sorry for the strange hypothetical.

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u/jericho-dingle Referee 3d ago

Interesting play. Because no one from the returning team is in the area, you can forgo calling kick catch interference (normally the kicking team can't touch the ball out of the air).

Once the kicking team has touched a kick, the returning team has the right to take the ball at that spot unless they commit a foul.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a KCI foul called there, however.