Question

[DinwiddieProud]

Team A Punts.
Team B signals fair catch.
Team A catches the ball before it heats the ground or a Team B player.
Team B player was not making an attempt to catch the ball, but was clearly close enough to make an attempt.
No penalty called.

correct?

 

[oldfool2]

Team A Punts.
Team B signals fair catch.
Team A catches the ball before it heats the ground or a Team B player.
Team B player was not making an attempt to catch the ball, but was clearly close enough to make an attempt.
No penalty called.

correct?

Did the ball go beyond the line of scrimmage?

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Yes sir

 

[White hat]

If the receiving team player was not making an attempt to catch the ball then I can see the back judge refraining from flagging that. There is not a real distance requirement. The Rules Book just says a kicking team player can catch the ball if no receiving team playe is in position to catch the ball.

In your play, if he was close to the ball but not in position to catch it or trying to catch it, I don't think that's a foul.

 

[DinwiddieProud]

That was the situation. Thank you sir.