Anytime during a game when the ball is loose, or about to become loose, the odds dramatically increase that something will occur to challenge your officiating knowledge. 

So many things can be affected by a loose ball play: Down and distance...Determining team possession...and penalty enforcement are a few of the critical elements that will need to be sorted out..

We have all been there before-- A team is in scrimmage kick formation and an errant snap occurs.

Officials understand the obvious importance of protecting the kicker, but this must be balanced with the understanding when the "kicker" label is removed from the player.

To reiterate the rule, no one can run into or rough the kicker, and we must give him the protection that he is due because he is in such a vulnerable position.  A player can run into the kicker if he makes contact with the ball in attempting to block the kick.  Just because he makes contact with the ball, that doesn’t eliminate the fact that he or another teammate can still be penalized for roughing.  His play must be on the ball, not the kicker.  The same applies to all of the receiving team.

Let’s go back to the errant snap.  The kicker is now running for his life.  How much protection should you afford him?  The answer is very simple; it all depends on the kicker’s feet!

The kicker is afforded protection as long as he remains a kicker.  How is he a kicker?  If he is in his normal motion to kick the ball, he’s a kicker.  If he receives the snap and takes his normal steps to kick the ball, he is a kicker. 

If the player is running, he is no longer a kicker, he is a runner. 

It is his feet that tell you what he is; it’s a simple as that.  If he is running, and he STOPS, goes into his normal kicking motion, he’s re-established himself as a kicker and is afforded protection.  If he kicks while he’s running, he’s a runner and is not afforded protection.

If you use this technique it will make it a lot easier to make the correct ruling.