Roughing or Running Into Kicker or Holder
ARTICLE 16. a. When it is obvious that a scrimmage kick will be made, no
opponent shall run into or rough the kicker or the holder of a place kick (A.R.
9-1-16-I, III and VI).
1. Roughing is a live-ball personal foul that endangers the kicker or holder.
2. Running into the kicker or holder is a live-ball foul that occurs when the
kicker or holder is displaced from his kicking or holding position but is
not roughed (A.R. 9-1-16-II). Note: Running into the kicker carries a
five-yard penalty at the previous spot.
3. Incidental contact with a kicker or holder is not a foul.
4. The kicker’s protection under this rule ends (a)when he has had a
reasonable time to regain his balance(A.R. 9-1-16-IV); or (b)when he
carries the ball outside the tackle box (Rule 2-34) before kicking.
5. When a defensive player’s contact against the kicker or holder is caused
by an opponent’s block (legal or illegal), there is no foul for running into
or roughing.
6. A player who makes contact with the kicker or holder after touching the
kick is not charged with running into or roughing the kicker.
7. When a player other than one who blocks a scrimmage kick runs into or
roughs the kicker or holder, it is a foul.
8. When in question whether the foul is running into or roughing, the foul
is roughing.
b. A kicker or holder simulating being roughed or run into by a defensive
player commits an unsportsmanlike act (A.R. 9-1-16-V).FR-92 Rule 9 / COnduCT OF PlayeRs and OTheRs suBJeCT TO The Rules
PENALTY [a-b]—15 yards from the previous spot plus automatic first down
[S27 and S30].
c. The kicker of a free kick may not be blocked until he has advanced five
yards beyond his restraining line or the kick has touched a player, an official
or the ground.
PENALTY—15 yards from the previous spot [S40].
dont see anything about snap being dropped, but it did seem like the kicker made contact after our guy had turned around and stopped moving
edit: a bit more
Kicker A1, in a scrimmage kick formation, moves laterally two or three
steps to recover a faulty snap, or recovers a snap that went over his
head and then kicks the ball. He is contacted by B2 in an unsuccessful
attempt to block the kick. RULING: A1 does not automatically lose
his protection in either case unless he carries the ball outside the tackle
box. While in the tackle box A1 is entitled to protection as in any other
kicking situation. When it becomes obvious that A1 intends to kick in a
normal punting position, defensive players must avoid him after he kicks
the ball.
so no the ball hitting the ground does nothing to his protection, but I still think it was a bad call since it was incidental
