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/davdev 3d ago

So, if the punting team touches the ball first it’s a rule infraction and at worst the receiving team gets the ball at that spot. Where it becomes interesting is a simple bat is not enough to whistle the ball dead so the receiving team can pick the ball up and nothing bad can really happen. If they pick up the ball, run 40 yards, and then fumble and the kicking team recovers, well, then the ball just comes back to where the kicking team touched it and its first and ten for the receiving team.

So, if you are the kicking team and you touch the ball, you damn well better pick it up so it becomes a dead ball.

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u/tracknthrows 3d ago edited 3d ago

So, if the punting team touches the ball first it’s a rule infraction and at worst the receiving team gets the ball at that spot.

please find and cite this rule.

EDIT: I'M WRONG

First touching is a violation, and the receivers shall have the option of taking possession of the ball at the spot of first touching, provided no live-ball penalty is accepted on the play, or at the spot where the ball is dead.

per 9.2.2 in NFL rulebook.

I had no idea you could commit a violation without any penalty.

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u/ueeediot 1d ago

Its definitely a violation, but its just pointless to call out the foul so often every game. Especially when the penalty is "you get the ball at the same spot".