In
, a muffed punt is defined as "touching of the ball prior to possessing the ball.”
A muffed
punt occurs when there is an "uncontrolled touch" of the football by a player on the returning team after it is punted. This can occur when:
* The kicking team interferes with the other team's right to catch the punt
* A player on the kicking team is struck unaware by the football running down-field to cover the punt.
* A player attempts to return the ball, makes contact with it but cannot retain the ball in his hands and it comes loose.
To be a fumble, the receiving team must ''possess'' the football, then lose control. In the case of a fumble, the ball is live and can be returned by the team that recovers the
ball. In the case of a muffed punt, it is possible for the punting team to recover the ball and continue the drive, but at least in
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
and
NFL rules, they cannot advance the ball on that same play.
Rules vary by
league about how to handle a muffed punt.
In the
NFL, a muffed punt recovered by the kicking team cannot be challenged by a
coach for review because all turnovers are automatically reviewed.
Notes
{{American football concepts, state=collapsed
American football terminology