(Fair) Catch of the Day

By Tim Sloan

Oneof the safety features built into the rules is the fair catch. It is designed to protect the receiver of a free or scrimmage kick from injury after he has caught the ball but before he can protect himself from an onrushing opponent. In exchange for that protection, the receiving team forfeits its right to advance the ball or otherwise participate in the play before the catch is made. After a fair catch is made, the ball is dead and the receiving team has the choice of snapping or (NFHS only) making a free kick from anywhere between the hashmarks and along the line of the dead-ball spot (NFHS 6-5-2; NCAA 6-5-1a, 6-5-2).

There are three requirements to make a fair catch: The kick must be a legal kick that travels beyond the neutral zone, the receiver must make a valid fair catch signal while the ball is in flight and the catch must be made in or beyond the neutral zone in the field of play. When a fair catch occurs, the ball becomes dead when either team gains possession (NFHS 6-5-2, 6-5-4; NCAA 6-5-1c, e).

A valid fair catch signal is the full extension of one arm above the head with a side-to-side motion of the hand. If an invalid signal is given, the receiver forfeits his right to be protected when the catch is made, but the ball still becomes dead (NFHS 2-9-1; NCAA 6-5-2). In NFHS only, that is a foul with a five-yard penalty enforced under post-scrimmage kick enforcement. Also in NFHS, a signal made by the runner after the ball has been caught or recovered is an illegal signal, also resulting in a five-yard penalty (2-9-3, 2-9-5).

In NCAA, during a free kick, if a team R receiver gives a valid fair catch signal behind team R’s 25 yardline and catches the ball behind team R’s 25 yardline, the ball belongs to team R at its own 25 yardline. If any other receiver catches the ball in that instance, the ball is next put into play at the spot of the catch. If a team R receiver gives any waving signal that does not meet all of the requirements of a valid fair catch signal and subsequently catches the ball behind team R’s 25 yardline, the ball belongs to team R at its own 25 yardline (6-5-3a Exc.)

Play 1: Fourth and 10 from team R’s 33 yardline. K1 punts and R2 makes a valid fair catch signal while the ball is flight. It is caught by R2 (a) on team R’s 20 yardline, (b) in team R’s end zone, or (c) on team R’s 35 yardline. Ruling 1: Fair catch in (a). It is a touchback in (b). It is not a fair catch because the catch wasn’t made in the field of play. It is also not a fair catch in (c) because the ball didn’t cross the neutral zone. Since R2 made a valid signal, however, the ball is dead, and team R will put the ball in play from its own 35 yardline.

Play 2: K1 punts and R2 is at team R’s 20 yardline. While the ball is in flight, R2 (a) waves both hands above his head and catches the ball, (b)gives a valid fair catch signal but R3 catches the ball, or (c) gives a valid fair catch signal but recovers the ball after it is grounded. Ruling 2: It is not a fair catch in any case. In (a) it’s because the signal was invalid, in (b) it’s because the player making the signal was not the one who caught the ball, in (c) it’s because the ball was recovered, not caught.

There are blocking restrictions for a player who makes a fair catch signal before the ball is grounded. In NFHS, the player may not block until the kick ends. In NCAA, the restriction applies if the player does not touch the ball and lasts until the down ends. The penalty is 15 yards in NFHS and 10 yards in NCAA (NFHS 6-5-1; NCAA 6-5-4).

In NCAA only, if a team R player makes a valid fair catch signal, the unimpeded opportunity to catch a kick continues if the player muffs the kick and still has an opportunity to complete the catch. If any team R player subsequently catches the kick, the ball belongs to team R where the player making the signal first touched it. The protection terminates when the kick touches the ground (6-5-1b).

Play 3: Team K’s punt is rolling at team K’s 45 yardline. R1’s hands (a)are below his shoulders with no waving motion, (b) are below his shoulders and are in a waving motion, or (c) are just above the shoulders with no waving motion. Ruling 3: In NCAA, invalid fair catch signal in (b) and (c). No foul in (a) since the hands are not waving. Team R would retain the right to recover the ball and advance. In NFHS, none of the actions specifically match the definition of a valid fair catch signal.

However some interpreters may advise that one, some or all of the actions are legal or illegal.

Remember, the ball will always become dead when either team gains possession after a valid or invalid signal. By keeping that in mind, you can minimize risk to the players and sort out plays that aren’t a simple kick and a catch.

Tim Sloan, Davenport, Iowa, is a high school football, basketball and volleyball official, and former college football and soccer official. *