pal@crystal.ARPA (Anil A. Pal) (10/26/83)
Some questions: Can the receiving team call for a fair catch on the kickoff? Does the kicking team have to give the receivers a "fair chance" to catch the ball? The reason I ask is because afew friends and I were discussing the possibility of a different kind of onsides kick, rather than the usual along-the-ground variety. The method suggested was to boot the ball high but only about 15 yards deep, allowing the kicking team to get under it before it dropped. They should then have (theoretically) the same chance of catching it as the receiving team does. Something similar happened in the Wisconsin-Indiana game this year. The badgers kicked off high but short, and the Indiana players cleared out from underneath (apparently thinking it was a punt or something!!), letting Wisconsin recover it easily. What would have happened if Indiana had tried to catch the ball? Would it be like a punt return, or more like a pass, where both sides have equal rights, provided they are going for the ball? Facts preferred, but opinions welcomed. Anil Pal U. of Wisconsin-MAdison
pmf@ihuxp.UUCP (Phil Francisco) (11/02/83)
In reply to Mr. Bickford's entry concerning whether or not a kickoff can or cannot be fielded by the kicking team, I believe he was mistaken in saying that either team can field one. As far as I can tell, ONLY the receiving team can catch the ball *PRIOR* to the ball landing/bouncing on the field once after the kickoff. Therefore, a short, high kick could not be fielded by the kicking team until it hit the ground. The example concerning the Cards and the Niners was one in which the result was just a 40+ yard onside kick (it did travel at least 10 yds, eh?) since the 49ers didn't pick up the ball. BTW, the receiving team can call for a fair catch of an onside kick but once the ball touches the ground, all bets are off and if it goes 10+ yds either team can fall on the ball and take possession. --Phil Francisco ...ihnp4!ihuxp!pmf