roughing the kicker on a snap over his head

Question
If the snap goes over the head of the punter and he has to chase it, pick it up from the ground, when does his protection start or stop?

Answer
Bobby
Thank you for your question.  This is a good question where there is a lot of judgement involved.  The general rule is the Kicker gets protection from being Roughed [Roughing the Kicker Protection] when he is in the act of kicking or just before he is about to kick and his is clearly a "Kicker" and not a "Runner".  When he is a runner he always have protection from unnecessary roughness personal fouls.

So in your question it is a play situation that I would have to see, but let me walk you though it.  So when the snap is bad and goes over the Punters head, all players may recover that loose ball.  There is no Roughing the Kicker protection for the punter as he chases the loose ball.  As the punter picks it us, he is then a "Runner" and has to Roughing the kicker protection.  When the Punter gains control of the ball and establishes himself as a Kicker - where it is obvious he is going to kick the ball and not run with it generally that is when he will get protection.

With that said, The rule and philosophies apply slightly differently to Rugby Style kickers and where the kicker is in the tackle box and under the NCA and NFHS rules.