Author Topic: Punt Rules in 4th Grade  (Read 335 times)

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AllIn21

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Punt Rules in 4th Grade
« on: August 25, 2018, 08:15:19 pm »
First off the refs in our game today we’re great and on this question we all huddled up. Basically we had made a 1st down on the 2. Got a 15yd penalty and a 10yd holding penalty. So ended up being 4th down on the 26-27 yd line. I was going to run a play where we have the option to punt. The field judge heard my play call and let me know that even if we kicked it, it would only be at most placed on the 20 yd line. So as a courtesy he suspended play and the refs huddled up to discuss. We pulled up the rulebook and they confirmed. We even had the skiatook coaches out on the field cause we were all curious.

Sorry about the novel. Just wanted to know if it’s a legal play to actually punt the ball to try and pin the other team deep or if no matter what the ball is placed no further than the 20. Kicked or not.

Thanks

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Director of Officials

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Re: Punt Rules in 4th Grade
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2018, 08:53:34 pm »
Great question.

So first off, Congrats on getting your team ready to punt in 4th grade! 
You can definitely do it if you want and it is a live ball and can be downed anywhere. 

The rule everyone is probably getting confused about is when you do the punt declare.  If you choose this option, it will never be downed inside the 20 yard line.   

Here is the rule:
20/20 Punt: Teams may elect to attempt the punt.

However, they may also opt to declare the punt and the ball will advance 20 yards down field.
The Ball will never be placed inside the opposing team’s 20 yard line.  (rule should add - on the punt declare only) 

Did we end up getting it right?

If the answer is no, Please let me know where you were at I can inform the officials of the rule. 

AllIn21

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Re: Punt Rules in 4th Grade
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2018, 10:20:22 pm »
We were at Ator in Owasso for the 1:30 4th Grade game between Skiatook and Owasso White.

No unfortunately they didn’t get it right. I do think the rule reads in a way that could be seen both ways so it wasn’t something I wanted to argue about too much. The refs were great and in the end we did pull out a close win. Thanks for the quick reply. We will be sure to keep this screenshot for future use if needed in the future.

Director of Officials

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Re: Punt Rules in 4th Grade
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2018, 10:04:45 pm »
I will send it out in an email to the officials this week as well.  Thanks for the feedback. 

CoachB#40

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Re: Punt Rules in 4th Grade
« Reply #4 on: September 07, 2018, 12:17:55 pm »
Another question about the punt. If we actually punt does it have to to go 20 yards or does where ever it goes is where it goes?

Director of Officials

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Re: Punt Rules in 4th Grade
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2018, 07:28:28 pm »
If you punt the ball is next put in play from where the play ends just like High School (the 20 yard rule is only for auto-punt)