Punting Question

[Biggems]

1. Why is it, when the punting team touches the ball at the 10, then downs it at the 2, it goes back to the 10.....however, if they touch it at the 10, but it takes a receiving team bounce and is downed at the 19, the ball is at the 19?

2. I also dont understand if the ball it touched at the 10, but downed at the 2, how it can be placed at the 10.....but if it is touched at the 10, and rolls into the endzone, how that is a touchback.

3. I also do not understand how if the punting team touches the ball, it makes it a free play for the receiving team to touch it without being charged with a muff or fumble....I find this rule odd.

I know I am showing weakness here in the knowledge department.....but hey, I want to understand these 3 issues. Can someone like Hos, Adam, Silver, etc.....please explain to me the rationale with all 3 scenarios. Thank you

 

[Temo]

It's because "first touching" is actually a violation. Read below, Rule 9 Section 2 Article 2 of the official NFL rules:

Article 2 “First touching” is when a player of the kicking team touches a scrimmage kick that is beyond the line of scrimmage before it has been touched by a player of the receiving team beyond the line. If the ball is first touched by a player of the kicking team, it remains in play. 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 penalty is accepted on the play, or at the spot where the ball is dead. First touching does not offset a foul by the receivers.

Note: If the receiving team gains possession, subsequently loses possession, and fouls after the kicking team gains possession, the spot of first touching is disregarded, and the kicking team retains possession. See Rule 14, Section 3, Article 1, Exception 5.

Item 1: A Team B player is deemed not to have touched a kick if such touching occurs in the immediate vicinity of the line in an attempt to block the kick.

Item 2: If a player of the kicking team touches the goal line with any part of his body while touching the ball, the ball is dead, and the result of the play is a touchback.

Note: The spot of first touching is normally the yard line at which the ball is at when touched. If the first touching occurs while the ball is in the air above or beyond the goal line, and prior to the ball touching the goal line or the ground beyond the goal line, the spot of first touching is deemed to be the spot from which the touching player left the field of play, but in no event inside the receiving team’s one-yard line.

This is to prevent, among other things, kicking teams from batting the ball forward on kicks. So if we're kicking from our own 10 and the punt lands at midfield, we, as the kicking team, are not allowed to influence the ball by batting it forward to gain extra net yardage.

The essence of the rule is to ensure that receiving teams are given a fair opportunity to field the ball and influence its final position, rather than the kicking team being able to (possibly) design plays where they are able to dictate where the ball eventually ends up.

 

[Biggems]

so basically, the kicking team is actually never supposed to touch the ball until the receiving team touches it?

 

[Temo]

so basically, the kicking team is actually never supposed to touch the ball until the receiving team touches it?

"Supposed to" is a strong phrase. It's like saying a baseball pitcher is not "supposed to" throw a ball. The kicking team can and should touch the ball at times, but the rules are set up so that they do not really gain a strong advantage by doing so. (As opposed to the receiving team, which does have a strong advantage in being able to advance the ball after touching it)

 

[adamknite]

1. Why is it, when the punting team touches the ball at the 10, then downs it at the 2, it goes back to the 10.....however, if they touch it at the 10, but it takes a receiving team bounce and is downed at the 19, the ball is at the 19?

2. I also dont understand if the ball it touched at the 10, but downed at the 2, how it can be placed at the 10.....but if it is touched at the 10, and rolls into the endzone, how that is a touchback.

3. I also do not understand how if the punting team touches the ball, it makes it a free play for the receiving team to touch it without being charged with a muff or fumble....I find this rule odd.

I know I am showing weakness here in the knowledge department.....but hey, I want to understand these 3 issues. Can someone like Hos, Adam, Silver, etc.....please explain to me the rationale with all 3 scenarios. Thank you

It's because the kicking team could try and swat it into a player on the opposing team, making it a loose ball, if not for the rule.