High School Football Kickoff question

[UJoking]

Is it the ball or the player that if is in the End Zone creates the non returnable kick off? Example guy receiving kick is standing on the End Zone Line (such that if he were on offense it would be a touchdown) is that non returnable or touchback?

 

[White hat]

It's the ball. It depends on where the ball is possessed. If it touches the goal line while still loose, it's a touchback. If the player on the goal line possesses the ball inches outside the goal line, even if he takes a step back, he is a runner.

I had not seen the scenario where a player on the goal line possesses the ball barely outside the endzone in years, and I had this call (or no call, as were the cases) twice this year, in successive weeks.
This post was edited on 10/30 2:38 AM by White hat