Another Fair Catch Question

[Hampton Roads 6]

Team A punts ball to Team B, who calls for fair catch. Punt returner muffs punt and it hits ground and is recovered by Team A at 10 yard line. Official blows inadvertent whistle before ball is recovered. What's the ruling ?

I saw this last night in Appomattox-Heritage game.

 

[White hat]

No option. If the ball was loose when the whistle sounded, replay the down.

 

[sj320520]

No option. If the ball was loose when the whistle sounded, replay the down.

This exact situation is one of the most common spots where the IW happens. Deep official sees the FC signal and is too quick to sound the whistle.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

That's a rule that needs tweaking. Maybe worst rule in the NFHS rulebook.

 

[FBRef]

No "tweak" is needed. The rule is black and white. If an IW occurs during a loose ball play, the down is replayed. If the rule were changed to give the official the option to award the ball to either team, fans would be screaming when the ball is given to the opposing team.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

True but the team on losing end of IW should be given an option.

 

[FBRef]

True but the team on losing end of IW should be given an option.

Who's to say which team is on the "losing" end? If the ball is loose when the IW occurs, there is no "losing" end since neither team has the ball.

The team in possession is given the option, IF there is an option.

 

[VAOfficial]

Who's to say which team is on the "losing" end? If the ball is loose when the IW occurs, there is no "losing" end since neither team has the ball.

The team in possession is given the option, IF there is an option.

Something to think about here Hampton is why the down is replayed, as in why this rule is in place for an IW on a loose ball. Once the whistle is blown, players are taught to stop pursuit. If a player is going after the ball, hears the whistle, then pulls up, who's to say he wouldn't have gotten to the ball before another player, or the other player wouldn't have gotten there before he did? It's ambiguous. There's no way to know for sure what would've happened if the whistle was never blown to stop play. So, the down must be replayed. It's the simplest and the most fair way to handle a mistake by an official in this case.

 

[Hampton Roads 6]

That is true, but every IW I have ever seen in over 50 years of watching football, some team always got shafted on IW.