Fair Catch Flashcards
NO FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—NO PROTECTION
Fourth-and-5 on 50. B1 gives a valid fair-catch signal at the B10. The punted ball hits B1 in the hands and goes up
in the air as B1 falls to the ground at the B12. A2 pushes B2 out of the way at the B10, catches the ball, and scores.
B1 could not have caught the ball.
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-goal on B10. The ball is dead where caught. B2 does not have protection, as he did not
signal.
FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—BLOCKED INTO PUNT
Fourth-and-5 on 50. B1 signals for a fair catch at the B10. B1 then steps forward to the B13, allowing the ball to hit
the ground behind him. A1 then blocks passive B1 (high) into the ball forcing it into the end zone. A2 recovers there
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B20. Touchback. No foul by A1, as a fair catch is no longer possible once the ball
hits the ground. In addition, it is not a foul for fair catch interference, because B1 is not in position to catch the kick.
B1 is deemed not to have touched the ball. The block by A1 is the impetus that put the ball into the end zone.
NO FAIR CATCH—CATCH COMPLETED OUT OF BOUNDS
Fourth-and-12 on A12. The punt is shanked off the side of the kicker’s foot. B1 is running toward the sideline at the
B48 and gives a valid fair-catch signal. He catches the ball with one foot inbounds but his second step is out of
bounds. Time in the game expires on the play.
Ruling: Game over. There is no option for a fair-catch kick, as the fair catch was not completed inbounds.
FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—BALL HITS TEAM A PLAYER—LEGAL ADVANCE BY TEAM B
Fourth-and-10 on A40. B1 gives a legal fair-catch signal at the B15 as the ball goes over his head. The ball in flight
hits A2 at the B10, who is not near a Team B player. The ball bounces into the air toward B1, who catches it at the
B12 and runs for a touchdown.
Ruling: Touchdown, Team B. Kickoff B35. The advance by B1 is legal, since A2 touched the ball after the signal.
There is no foul by A2, because there was not a Team B player in position to catch the kick.
ADVANCE AFTER GIVING FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL
Fourth-and-10 on A40. B1 gives a valid fair-catch signal at the B10 and the ball hits (a) the ground; (b) A2 at the B10
while in the air; or (c) the ground and then bounces off A2’s leg. B1 or B2 then recovers the ball at the B15 and runs
to the 50 where he is tackled.
Rulings:
(a) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B15. The ball is dead when recovered by Team B.
(b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on A35. Fair Catch Interference. Legal return by Team B because the ball was touched by
Team A. Because the opponent has possession at the end of the down, the FCI can be enforced from the deadball spot
(c) B’s ball, first-and-10 on 50. Legal return by Team B because the ball was touched by Team A.
INVALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—PUNT HITS GROUND
Fourth-and 5 on A35. The punt is short and B1 gives a fair-catch signal at the B40 after the ball hits the ground at
the B44. B2 picks up the ball at the B44 and scores.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B35. Five-yard penalty enforced from the spot of the foul for giving a signal after the
ball hit the ground.
Note: The ball is dead when recovered by B2 after the ball hits the ground
INVALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—KICKOFF HITS GROUND
On an onside kick from the A35, A1 “tops” the ball causing it to go down into the ground and then bounce high in the
air to the A45 where it comes down to waiting B1. B1 signals for a fair catch, but just before B1 catches the ball, A2
blocks him aside and the ball hits the ground and is recovered by B3 at the A45.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on 50. Invalid fair-catch signal as the ball had hit the ground before the signal. The
action by A2 was legal both, because the ball had hit the ground (no interference with the opportunity), and because
the block occurred beyond the receiver’s restraining line after the ball hit the ground. The foul for an invalid signal is
enforced from the spot of the foul.
INVALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—ANOTHER TEAM B PLAYER CATCHES
Fourth-and-5 on A40. B1 gives an invalid fair-catch signal at the B14. The wind carries the punted ball in the air to
the B8 where B2 catches the ball.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B8. Team A would take the result of the play since the penalty would place the ball
at the B9. The ball is dead when caught.
INVALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—INTERFERENCE WITH OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH KICK
Fourth-and-10 on A40. A1 punts and B1 gives an invalid fair-catch signal at the B25. A2 contacts B1 prior to the
catch. B1 muffs the ball and it rolls to the B15 where: (a) B2 recovers, or (b) A3 recovers.
Rulings:
(a) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B20, or Team B has the option to replay. Double foul with a change of possession. (14-
5-2)
(b) A’s ball, fourth-and-10 on A40. Replay. Double foul. Because Team B lost possession during the down, its foul
is not post-possession, so the fouls offset at the previous spot. (14-5-2)
INVALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—MUFF BY TEAM B
Fourth-and-10 on A40. A1 punts and B1 gives an invalid fair-catch signal and muffs the ball up into the air. B1 could
have caught the muff, but A2 hits B1 at the B18, and B1 muffs the ball again. A2 then recovers at the B15.
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on B15. Legal contact after the invalid signal. Team A would decline the foul for invalid
signal.
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INVALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—MUFF BY TEAM B
Fourth-and-5 on B45. B1 makes an invalid fair-catch signal at the B6, but the wind carries the ball toward B2 who is
at the B5. B2 muffs the ball up into the air. B2 is about to catch the muff when A2 pushes him away and catches the
ball on the B5.
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-goal on B5. Legal contact since B2 did not give a valid fair-catch signal. Team A would
decline the foul for invalid signal.
INVALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—CONTACT BY TEAM A AFTER CATCH IS MADE
Fourth-and-10 on B45. B1 gives an invalid fair-catch signal at the B6. B1 catches the punt there and is immediately
tackled by A2.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B3. There is no foul by A2 for fair catch interference, or a dead ball personal foul,
since B1’s signal was invalid.
VALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—BLOCK BY SIGNALER
Fourth-and-5 on B45. B1 signals for a fair catch at the B10 and lets the ball go over his head. A1 touches the ball at
the B4, and B1 then blocks A1. A1 falls on the ball at the B2.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B4. Team B can take the ball at the spot of the first touch by A. It is legal for the
signaler to block after the ball is touched by a teammate or opponent.
Fourth-and-10 on A20. B1 gives a valid fair-catch signal at the B35, steps aside, and lets the punt go over his head.
The ball bounces at the B32, and while it is rolling at the B30, B1 blocks A2 above the waist from the side at the B32,
which allows B1 to recover the ball at the B30.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B17. Illegal block after giving a fair catch signal. Enforcement is from the spot of the
block by B1.
VALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—BLOCK BY SIGNALER
On a kickoff, B3 gives a valid fair-catch signal at the B25-yard line. The ball goes over B3’s head and is caught by
B4 at the B22 and advanced to the B30. Prior to B4 catching the ball, B3 blocked an opponent at the B20.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B10. The ball is dead when B4 catches it. The penalty for blocking after giving a fair
catch signal is enforced from the spot of the foul. This is a personal foul.
INVALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—PUNT INTO END ZONE—DEAD BALL FOUL BY B
Fourth-and-4 on B40. B1 gives an invalid fair-catch signal at the B10 and allows the punt to go over his head and
roll into and out of the end zone, after which B2 clips in the end zone.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B5. Invalid signal is a spot foul. The dead-ball clip would be declined as it would be
enforced from the B20.
VALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—FIRST TOUCH—LEGAL RECOVERY AND ADVANCE
Fourth-and-8 on A45. B1 signals for a fair catch on the B10, but allows the ball to hit the ground behind him. At the
B1, A1 bats the ball back to the B4. B1 pushes A2 from behind to recover the ball and advances to the B12.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B12. No foul for unnecessary roughness or block in the back since a player may
push an opponent in the back in a personal attempt to recover a loose ball. No foul for blocking after a signal,
because the ball was touched by a teammate or opponent. Legal advance after a signal because the ball was
touched by an opponent.
VALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—TEAM A RECOVERY OF TEAM B’S MUFF
Fourth-and-5 on A35. B1 gives a valid fair-catch signal at the B25. B1 attempts to make the catch but muffs the ball.
A2, who had been blocked out of bounds, re-establishes and recovers the muffed punt at the B23.
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on B23. Legal recovery because the punt was touched by a Team B player before the
recovery.
INVALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—ILLEGAL BLOCK—SIMULTANEOUS RECOVERY OF PUNT
Fourth-and-4 on A34. B1 gives an invalid fair-catch signal at the B35, steps aside, and blocks A2 at the B36. The
punt rolls to the B18 where A3 and B2 simultaneously recover the ball.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B18. Team A can take the result of the play and decline the fouls for invalid faircatch signal and for illegally blocking after a valid or invalid signal, since they are spot fouls. (14-1-1) The ball is
awarded to the receivers if there is a simultaneous catch or recovery of a legal or illegal kick. (7-2-1-i).
INVALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—ILLEGAL BLOCK
Fourth-and-12 on B38. B1 gives an invalid fair-catch signal at the B8. B1 allows the punt to bounce, and it rolls
toward the end zone. B1 then blocks A2 above the waist from the side at the B6 when the ball is at the B4. A4 falls
on the ball in the end zone.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B3. Accept the penalty for blocking after giving a signal (valid or invalid), which is
enforced from the spot of the foul. The foul for invalid signal would be declined. (14-1-3)
VALID FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—LEGAL BLOCK/ILLEGAL ADVANCE
Fourth-and-4 on B45. A1 punts, and B1 gives a valid fair-catch signal at the B10, but muffs the ball, and it hits the
ground. B2 then muffs the ball, after which B1 pushes A1 out of the way at the B8. B2 picks up the ball at the B6,
and runs to the B30.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B6. B1 can block after the ball is touched by a teammate or opponent, but Team B
cannot advance until the ball is touched by an opponent. The play should be blown dead when B2 recovers the ball.
FAIR-CATCH INTERFERENCE—PUNT HITS TEAM A PLAYER
Fourth-and-5 on B40. B1 gives a valid fair-catch signal at the B5. The punt hits A2 on the shoulder at the B6, while
he is standing directly in front of B1. B1 catches the ball at the B6 and runs to the 50. B1 fumbles at the 50 and A2
recovers there
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B21. Penalize 15 yards from the spot of the foul. Fair-catch interference. The
advance by B1 is legal because the ball touched an opponent.
FAIR-CATCH INTERFERENCE—PUNT MUFFED
Fourth-and-5 on 50. B1 gives a valid fair-catch signal at the B10. The punt hits B1 in the hands and goes in the air.
A2 pushes B1 out of the way and catches the ball at the B10 as B1 was going to catch the ball. A2 runs the ball into
the end zone.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B10. Fair-catch interference. There is no distance penalty in this situation. B is
awarded a fair catch at the spot of the foul. (10-2-2-Item 3-Penalty)
FAIR-CATCH INTERFERENCE—PERSONAL FOUL
Fourth-and-2 on A16. B1 gives a valid fair-catch signal at the A40. B1 is about to catch the punted ball at the A40
when A2 grabs B1’s facemask prior to the catch and flips him to the ground. The ball goes over B1’s head to the
A45 where B2 picks it up and scores.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on A25, or fourth-and-10 on A8. The ball is dead when B2 recovers it, since B1 gave a
fair catch signal. The foul for fair-catch interference is enforced from the spot of that foul, and Team B can fair-catch
kick or snap. The facemask foul is a multiple foul which would be enforced from the previous spot or the dead-ball
spot (A45), as it is a foul by the kicking team during the kick. Enforcing the facemask foul would not provide an
awarded a fair catch.
