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Can you kick the ball after a blocked punt?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 21, 2026

A: "When a kick, field goal attempt or punt is blocked and the ball stays behind the line of scrimmage, if the offense recovers the ball, it can run, pass or kick." USA Football Rules Editor Bill LeMonnier is a former college football referee who currently serves as an ESPN NCAA rules analyst.

Can you kick after a blocked punt?

In a case where the ball crosses the line of scrimmage but there is enough backspin on the ball to return it behind the line of scrimmage, the kicking team may recover and advance. However, once the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage, the options to kick a second time or to pass are no longer available.

Can the punter kick the ball after its blocked?

If the receiving player is blocked into the ball, it is not considered "touching" the ball. A field goal cannot be scored on a punt kick.

What happens after a blocked punt?

The rule: If a punt is blocked and goes beyond the line of scrimmage, if it's touched by the receiving team beyond the line of scrimmage, the kicking team is eligible to recover the ball.

Can you run into the kicker if you block the punt?

Rule Summary View Official Rule. No defensive player may run into or rough a kicker who kicks from behind the line unless such contact: is incidental to and occurs after the defender has touched the kick in flight.

32 related questions found

Can you push a blocker into the punter?

Blockers don't have to worry about penalties if someone shoves them into the Kicker or if a foul occurs by the kicking team that causes the contact. Finally, the opposing team can legally hit if the kicker goes to the ground to recover a loose ball.

Can you tackle the punter?

According to the rulebook, kickers and punters are technically "defenseless" players at all times. That means they can't be hit in the head or neck, and can't be blocked with a helmet-first hit, even if they are trying to make a tackle on a return.

Can you punt twice if blocked?

From the NFL rule book: “A second kick from behind the line of scrimmage is legal provided the ball has not crossed the line.” The ball didn't cross the line off the block, but it did in the hands of the punter.

Is a blocked punt considered a turnover?

Is A Blocked Punt Considered A Turnover? Blocking a punt is also not considered a turnover in the NFL. It is not clear of the reasoning why a turnover statistic does not include this as a turnover because it does not involve the offense.

Can the punting team get a first down on a blocked punt?

For any field goal or punt that is partially blocked and travels beyond the line of scrimmage, think of it as a regular punt. The kicking team can down the ball but not advance it unless first touched by the defense after it crosses the line.

What happens if kicking team recovers blocked punt?

Item 3: If a player of the kicking team illegally catches or recovers a scrimmage kick, other than a field goal attempt from beyond the 20-yard line, and carries the ball across the goal line, or touches the goal line with any part of his body while in possession of the ball, the ball is dead, and the result of the ...

Can you advance a blocked field goal?

Blocked field goals

If the ball falls in or behind the neutral zone, it is treated like a fumble and can be advanced by either team. If the ball instead falls forward beyond the neutral zone, it is treated like a missed field goal under the rules explained above.

Can a kicker kick the ball twice NFL?

The NFL explained why the twice-kicked punt was allowed. “In #LARvsSEA, the punt was blocked and recovered by the kicking team,” NFL Officiating wrote in a Twitter post. “The punter kicks the ball again from behind the line of scrimmage.

What happens if you dont make 4th down?

Go For It: A football team can choose to play a regular play on fourth down and try to gain the 10 yards. If they don't, then the other team gets the ball at the spot of the tackle.

Are turnovers on downs considered turnovers?

For example, when a team goes for it on fourth down and fails, it is commonly called a turnover on downs -- but it is not counted as a turnover in the stats. A turnover is traditionally defined as an interception or a lost fumble, and therefore those are the only events that are included in the turnover ratio.

What happens if the offense can't get 10 yards in the allowed amount of downs?

When a team has the ball, it has 4 downs to advance the ball 10 yards or score. Each time it moves the ball 10 yards down the field, it's awarded a new set of 4 downs. If it fails to advance 10 yards, the ball is given to the other team at the point it became dead at the end of the 4th down.

Can you recover your own punt?

Yes, when punting the punter himself as well as any of his teammates have the option to catch the ball. Though when a punt is caught by the punting team they do not remain in possession of the ball.

What happens if you rough the kicker?

(1) For roughing the kicker: Loss of 15 yards from the previous spot (personal foul) and an automatic first down. The player may be disqualified if the action is flagrant. (2) For running into the kicker: Loss of five yards from the previous spot (not a personal foul).

Can kicker be tackled?

In gridiron football, roughing the kicker is an action in which a defender, having missed an attempt to block a kick, tackles the kicker or otherwise runs into the kicker in a way that might injure the kicker. This protection is also extended to the holder of a place kick.

Can you hit the kicker in college football?

In general, hitting the kicker or punter in any way, while they are in the act of kicking the ball, will likely result in a penalty. This is a very rare penalty, in 2019 it was only called 5 times total, twice against the Chicago Bears, and once against the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, and Seattle Seahawks.

How many yards do you need to go for a 1st down?

FIRST DOWN

Each time the offense gets the ball, it has four downs, or chances, in which to gain 10 yards. If the offensive team successfully moves the ball 10 or more yards, it earns a first down, and another set of four downs.

What is unsportsmanlike conduct?

Unsportsmanlike conduct (also called untrustworthy behaviour or ungentlemanly fraudulent or bad sportsmanship or poor sportsmanship or anti fair-play) is a foul or offense in many sports that violates the sport's generally accepted rules of sportsmanship and participant conduct.

Can you kick a field goal on 3rd and 4th down?

If the kicker misses the field goal on first, second, or third down, the ball is turned over to the opposing team. The kicking team does not get additional attempts. This is why teams rarely go for a field goal on anything except fourth down.

Do blocked kicks count as missed?

Blocked kicks

A blocked kick will not be credited. Field goals and Extra Points - If a field goal is touched by the defense, but goes beyond the line of scrimmage, it is also counted as a blocked kick (unless it still goes through the uprights and is good).

What happens if an extra point is blocked and returned?

Under the new PAT rule adopted before last season, the defense can return a blocked extra point attempt for two points. Last year, the Saints scored the first ever defensive two-point conversion in NFL history.