technology | March 25, 2026

What is the penalty for roughing the kicker in high school football?

What is the penalty for roughing the kicker in high school football?

15 Yards
Result

PenaltyNFLHigh School
Roughing The Kicker15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down

Can you rough 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: occurs because a defender is pushed or blocked (causing a change of direction) into the kicker.

Is roughing an automatic first down in high school?

Under National Federation of High School Association rules (which Ohio high schools use), the only defensive penalties that carry an automatic first down are roughing the passer and roughing the kicker/holder.

What is the penalty for roughing the passer?

Penalty: For Roughing the Passer: Loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down; disqualification if flagrant. When in doubt about a roughness call or potentially dangerous tactic against the quarterback, the Referee should always call roughing the passer.

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.

Is roughing the punter a first down?

Meanwhile, roughing the kicker, like other well-known calls (such as pass interference, illegal use of hands, or a facemask), is a personal foul, a 15-yard penalty, and an automatic first down for the kicking team.

Can you tackle a punter?

Is a face mask an automatic first down?

Rule Summary View Official Rule Penalty: For twisting, turning, pushing, pulling, or controlling the mask: Loss of 15 yards. The player may be disqualified if the action is flagrant. If the foul is by the defense, it is also an automatic first down.

Can high school football games end in a tie?

U.S. high school rules The overtime period length may vary, but it is commonly 10 minutes long. Depending on the state, if the game is still tied at the end of the first overtime: As many additional overtime periods – golden or silver goal rules – may be played as needed to determine a winner.

Can roughing the passer be challenged?

Update: No you cannot challenge roughing the passer. Roughing the passer is a judgement-call penalty, and judgement-call penalties (with the exception of pass interference in the NFL) are not reviewable. This applies to both college football and the NFL.

Can roughing the passer be called on a sack?

Defenders are allowed to contact a player attempting a forward pass while he still has possession of the ball (e.g., a quarterback sack); however, once the ball is released, defenders are not allowed to make contact with the quarterback unless carried to do so by momentum.

What constitutes roughing the punter?

Generally speaking, it’s roughing if the punter’s plant leg is contacted or if he collides with a rusher when both feet are on the ground. It’s running into the kicker when the kicking leg is contacted, or if the rusher slides underneath the punter and “prevents him from returning both feet to the ground.”