a. Under post-scrimmage kick enforcement rules, fouls by Team B that satisfy the conditions in paragraph b (below) are treated as if Team B had been in possession at the time the foul was committed, even though by Rule 2-4-1b-3 team possession had not changed.
b. Post-scrimmage kick enforcement applies only to fouls by Team B during a scrimmage kick and only under the following conditions:
1. The kick is not during a try, a successful field goal, or in an extra period.
Approved Ruling 10-2-3 IV. Team A’s successful field goal attempt is snapped at Team B’s 30-yard line, and a Team B player fouls at the 20-yard line during the kick. RULING: Team A may decline the penalty and accept the score or void the score and have Team B penalized at the previous spot (Rule 10-2-5d).
2. The ball crosses the neutral zone.
3. The foul occurs before the end of the kick.
Approved Ruling 10-2-3 I. Either team fouls during a scrimmage kick after the ball has been touched beyond the neutral zone. The foul is beyond the neutral zone, and Team B will next put the ball in play. RULING: For fouls by Team B, penalty enforcement will be by the Three-and-One Principle with the post-scrimmage kick spot as the basic spot (Rule 2-25-11). Team B’s ball, first and 10. For fouls by Team A, penalty enforcement is either from the previous spot or from the spot where the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B (Rule 6-3-13).
Approved Ruling 10-2-3 II. Team A’s punt is blocked, crosses the neutral zone and is untouched by Team B beyond the neutral zone. It rebounds behind the neutral zone before Team B clips or holds. The ball is loose at the time of the foul. RULING: The foul is during the kick. If Team B is next to snap the ball, enforcement is according to post-scrimmage kick rules.
Approved Ruling 10-2-3 V. Team A’s untouched, unsuccessful field goal attempt is snapped from Team B’s 30-yard line. Team B fouls at the 15-yard line during the kick. RULING: Team B’s ball. The post-scrimmage kick spot is at the 30-yard line and the enforcement is from the 15-yard line, the spot of the foul, with no possible replay (Rules 2-25-11 and 8-4-2b).
4. Team B will next put the ball in play.
If these conditions are all met, the penalty is enforced according to the Three-And-One Principle. Team B is taken as the team in possession with the post-scrimmage kick spot as the basic spot (Rule 10-2-2c). See Rule 2-25-11 for the post-scrimmage kick spot.
Approved Ruling 10-2-3 III. Team A’s punt is blocked behind the neutral zone before clipping or holding by Team B beyond the neutral zone. The ball never crosses the neutral zone during the play. RULING: Rule 10-2-3 applies only when a scrimmage kick crosses the neutral zone. Team A retains possession after the penalty is enforced at the previous spot.
Approved Ruling 10-2-3 VI. Team A’s punt crosses the neutral zone. During the kick, B79 holds A55 one yard beyond the neutral zone. B44 catches the kick at the B-25 and returns to the B-40 where he is tackled. RULING: B79’s foul is covered by post-scrimmage kick enforcement. The 10-yard penalty is enforced at the end of the kick, which is the B-25. First and 10 for Team B at the B-15.
Approved Ruling 10-2-3 VII. Team A snaps the ball at the A-35 on fourth and seven. Just after the snap lineman B77 grabs guard A66 and pulls him to one side, allowing linebacker B43 to shoot the gap to try to block the kick. B44 catches the kick at the B-25 and returns to the B-40 where he is tackled. RULING: B77’s holding foul is not covered by post-scrimmage kick enforcement since it is before the kick. The 10-yard penalty is enforced at the previous spot. The penalty yardage gives Team A first down at the A-45.
