high school football rules question...

[Stogie Vol]

On a punt, the returner calls fair catch and moves under the high, hanging punt. A member of the punting team approaches the returner as the ball is coming down, jumps up and swats the ball right before the returner can make the catch. No contact is made between the two players. The swatted ball carries 20 more yards down the field where it is downed. What's the call, if any?

[Tnphil]

If the returner is attempting to make a fair catch..it would be catch interference. If the returner is running away from the punt (ie letting the ball hit the ground hoping it will bounce into the end zone etc..)....then a punt return player can touch the ball but it is dead where it was touched.

[Stogie Vol]

The returner was attempting to catch the ball. The call on the field was to place the ball 20 yards beyond where the punting team swatted the ball. That was one irate coach.

[Creek Walker]

It goes without saying that even if the official ruled that the fielder's ability to catch the punt wasn't interfered with, the ball is dead where it was touched by the cover guy. Terrible call.