Rule 2-16-2h defines a Post Scrimmage Kick foul as “as a foul by R (other than an illegal substitution or illegal participation foul that occurs at the snap) when the foul occurs:
- During scrimmage kick plays, other than a try or successful field goal. (PSK does not apply to a free kick play.)
- During a scrimmage kick play in which the ball crosses the expanded neutral zone. (The expanded neutral zone boundary is 2 yards beyond the neutral zone. When in doubt, the ball crossed the expanded neutral zone.)
- Beyond the expanded neutral zone. (When in doubt, the foul occurred beyond the expanded neutral zone.)
- Before the end of the kick. (The foul happens during the interval between the snap and the end of the kick.)
- K will not be next to put the ball in play (i.e., K does not recover a Team R muff or fumble).
The PSK rule allows Team R to keep the ball if all five caveats above are satisfied. If even one component is missing, we cannot have PSK enforcement.
Rule 10-2-3 says, “If each team fouls during a down in which there is a change of possession and all R fouls are PSK fouls, then R may retain the ball provided R declines the penalty for K’s foul(s), other than a nonplayer or unsportsmanlike foul.”
If both teams foul before the kick ends, Team R can decline all Team K fouls (other than nonplayer or USC) and enforce a Team R foul to keep the ball. (This is a PSK discussion, so let’s not get into the “clean hands” rule in this article. We’ll save that for a different article.)
Or, Team R can choose to enforce Team K’s foul. Team K will then choose to enforce Team R’s foul. The fouls will cancel, and Team K will replay the down.
Play: 4/7 from midfield. Following the snap, K30 holds R29 at the line of scrimmage and R66 blocks K80 below the waist at the R-45. R10 fields the punt at the R-2 and is downed at the R-35. Ruling: Team R can decline K30’s foul and have their foul enforced from the end of the kick (the R-2). Depending on the game situation, it may be better for Team R to enforce Team K’s foul so they don’t have to snap the ball from the R-1. Team K will then choose to enforce Team R’s foul, the fouls will cancel, and Team K will replay the down.
Rule 2-41-6 says, “The post-scrimmage kick spot is the spot where the kick ends. R retains the ball after penalty enforcement from the PSK spot when a post-scrimmage foul occurs. Fouls by R behind the PSK spot are spot fouls.”
Rule 10-4-3 says, “The basic spot is the spot where the kick ends when R commits a post-scrimmage kick foul. R fouls behind the post-scrimmage kick spot are spot fouls.”
In the previous Ready for Play article, we discussed the “spot comparison” procedure. The “spot comparison” procedure is like the old “All but One” principle and applies to a Post Scrimmage Kick foul (when Team R fouls and the basic spot is the end of the kick).
With PSK:
- Compare the basic spot with the spot of the foul and
- Choose the spot closest to the offending team’s goal line to enforce the foul.
We toss a beanbag when R possesses the ball during a scrimmage kick play because the end of the kick is a basic spot for penalty enforcement (and could be the spot for post-scrimmage kick penalty enforcement).
PSK applies to a punt or an unsuccessful FG attempt, but not a try attempt.
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer.
4/6 from the K-33. During the kick, R41 holds K18 at midfield. R20 catches the kick at the R-40 and advances to the K-40 where he is tackled.
- Enforce the foul from the previous spot, 1/10 for Team K at the K-43
- Enforce the foul from midfield
- Enforce the foul from the R-40
- Enforce the foul from the K-40
Review Rules 2-16-2h, 2-41-6, 10-4-3