Decoding NCAA Punting Statistics: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Navigating the world of college football statistics can be daunting, especially when delving into specialized areas like punting. This article aims to demystify NCAA punting statistics, providing a comprehensive overview of the relevant metrics, guidelines, and considerations for understanding this crucial aspect of the game. It will utilize information from NCAA manuals and real-world examples to clarify the intricacies of punting statistics.

NCAA Statistical Policies and Guidelines

The NCAA provides specific guidelines for compiling and reporting statistics to ensure consistency and accuracy across all member institutions. These guidelines cover various aspects, including attendance figures, treatment of fall and exhibition games, career statistics, and procedures for changing official statistics. While this compilation of statistics service policies and guidelines should not be considered a definitive list, it is a good place to start. Sports information directors are encouraged to alert the NCAA to other areas not covered in this document that could be added to future versions.

Attendance Figures

Attendance figures for official box scores and NCAA reports can be calculated by turnstile count, tickets sold, or estimates. NCAA championship tournament figures are always produced by tickets sold. Schools should make every effort to mark an attendance figure on every box score it produces. For doubleheaders involving men’s and women’s teams, the attendance figure should be taken by halftime of the first game for it to count on that team’s season home attendance. If no figure is taken for the first game, do not count the game in that team’s season home attendance. When there is one gate charge for two or more games, this is considered a session and should have only one attendance figure for all games of that session. If two or more games are played and there is no admission price, an attendance turnstile count or estimate should be made for each game individually. If a team is hosting a regular-season tournament, conference tournament, or post-season NCAA tournament at its regular home site, the attendance figure should be included in its full season home attendance for each game or session that host team participates in. If a team moves a scheduled home game from its regular home site to another facility close-by, that attendance can count on the team’s home attendance. Some teams have multiple dates at an off-campus facility that the teams consider to be home games. These games can also be included in home attendance.

Baseball & Softball Statistics - Fall Games and Exhibition Games

For purposes of national statistics, games played during the fall shall not be included in a team's won-lost record and statistics. A game will be counted by both teams as an official contest for purposes of won-lost records and team and individual statistics unless both institutions agree in writing before the game that it is to be an exhibition contest. If it is an exhibition contest, the team and individual statistics and records cannot be counted for either team.

Career Statistics

For career record purposes, a player's statistics are recognized by the Association only for the years that the individual's college was an active member of the Association. In the event an individual's college changed divisions while a member, career statistics for the individual are credited only in the division he or she actually competed each year. In cases where an individual's college changed divisions while a member, the player's full career statistics are to be entered in the collegiate records category. All official games played count toward an athlete's career statistics including games played in a Redshirt season.

Changing Official Statistics

When an error or discrepancy in the official statistics is discovered after a contest has concluded and the official statistics have been distributed, use the following procedure. If the sports information director of the home team discovers the error, that SID must alert the visiting team SID of the change within one week. The home SID also must confirm the changes with the visiting SID in writing within 10 days. If applicable, the home SID also must send a copy of the changes to the conference office. If the visiting SID needs to make a change in the final statistics, he or she must call the home team’s SID within one week after the event. If the home team SID agrees, then the home team SID must confirm the changes to the visiting SID in writing and send a copy to the conference office, if applicable. If the home team SID disagrees with the change, then the visiting SID must accept the final statistics as listed by the home team. The visiting team SID cannot alter any statistics without the consent of the home team SID. There is no further appeal. However, if the game was televised and/or videotaped, and the dispute involves a non-judgmental call, the box score should be corrected if there is indisputable visual evidence.

Head Coach Determination

In order for a coach to be credited with wins, losses, or ties, that individual must be designated as the institution's head coach for the entire sports season. Individuals serving on an advisory or preseason basis may not be credited with the wins, losses, or ties.

Declared Champions

If a player has participated in fewer than the required percentage of the team's games, but the player's per-game average still would be highest in the nation if charged with the necessary required games, the player shall be declared champion. However, no player shall be declared champion by the application of both the necessary required games and the minimums required for a statistical category. In some cases, a player has participated in more than the required percentage but is just short of meeting the minimum required for a statistical category. If the additional numbers are added in the most negative way to meet the minimum required and the player's per-game average still would be highest in the nation, the player shall be declared champion.

Forfeits and Vacancies

For many years when issuing penalties to a school, the Committee on Infractions handed out forfeits for regular season games and vacancies for NCAA tournament games. Now, for the most part, the Committee still vacates NCAA tournament games but for regular season games, the penalty is to vacate victories. The only time NCAA statisticians change an official record is when the case is ruled on by the Committee on Infractions. To record vacancies for NCAA tournament games, the wins and losses of the penalized team are dropped from its overall record and treated as if no games had been played. To record vacancies for regular season games, the wins of the penalized team are dropped from its overall record. This affects season records, all-time records, and coaches' records. All records that are changed should be asterisked with the footnote stating something to the effect of “Later vacated by NCAA action.” The won-lost records for each of the opposing teams would not be changed. Except for any student-athletes declared ineligible, the individual statistics and the opponents' records are not affected by this action. To record a forfeit, the wins of the penalized team must be changed to losses, and the losses of its opponent must be changed to wins. This affects season records, all-time records, and coaches' records, and should be changed whenever and wherever these records are referred. Except for any student-athletes declared ineligible, the individual statistics are not affected by this action. Only when forfeits and vacancies are declared by the NCAA Committee on Infractions will the official record for schools be reversed. Games later forfeited due to post-game administrative actions but not declared by the Committee on Infractions do not alter any NCAA statistics and/or records.

Forfeit Scores

If a forfeit is declared while a contest is in progress or a situation occurs that forces a premature end to the contest, all statistics (other than won-lost and coach’s records) are voided unless the contest has progressed to a “reasonable point of conclusion” (e.g., three quarters in football and lacrosse, 30 minutes in basketball, five innings in baseball and softball, two periods in ice hockey; 70 minutes for soccer; for volleyball, all completed games in a match shall count, as well as a partial game if the team ahead has scored at least 10 points), in which case all statistics shall count and shall be reflected in all records. If the game had progressed to a “reasonable point of conclusion” and the team that was in the lead at the time was declared the forfeit winner, the score shall stand. If the score was tied or the trailing team was declared the forfeit winner, then the official game score should be recorded from the chart provided by the NCAA.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Football Statistics - Defensive

Effective with the 2004 football season, all individual defensive statistics reported to the NCAA must be compiled by the press box statistics crew during the game. Defensive numbers compiled by the coaching staff or other university/college personnel using game film will not be considered “official” NCAA statistics. This policy does not preclude a conference or institution from making after-the-game changes to press box numbers. This is consistent with existing NCAA policies involving corrections to any offensive statistics after a contest. Any changes to press box numbers must be obvious errors such as misidentified players and this should not be interpreted as a way for press box statistics to be later “updated” by the coaching films. Changes should be made within one week of the game played. Statisticians also are reminded that NCAA policy does not permit changes to away-game statistics unless approved by the home sports information director. The NCAA statistics staff reserves the right to review any statistics provided to the national office and may withhold publishing/posting those numbers until the accuracy of those statistics can been substantiated.

Key Punting Statistics

Several key statistics are used to evaluate punting performance in college football. These include:

Punt Average: The average distance of all punts, calculated by dividing the total punting yardage by the number of punts.
Net Punt Average: The average distance of all punts, minus returns and touchbacks. This statistic provides a more accurate picture of punting effectiveness, as it accounts for the impact of the return game.
Touchbacks: The number of punts that result in a touchback, where the ball is downed in the end zone.
Inside the 20: The number of punts that land inside the opponent's 20-yard line. This statistic measures a punter's ability to pin the opponent deep in their own territory.
Hang Time: The amount of time the punted ball is in the air. Longer hang times allow the punting team's coverage unit more time to get downfield and prevent a long return.

Advanced Punting Metrics

Beyond the basic statistics, advanced metrics can provide a deeper understanding of punting performance. These include:

Expected Points Added (EPA): This metric quantifies the impact of a punt on the expected points for the kicking team. It considers factors such as field position, down, and distance to go.
Kickoff and Kick Return Success Rate: These metrics measure the success rate of kickoffs and kick returns, respectively.
Touchback Zone Rate (Tbk Zone %): The number of kickoffs that went past the opponent’s 25-yard line and were not returned.

The Art of Punting: Strategy and Decision-Making

Punting is not merely about kicking the ball as far as possible. It involves strategic decision-making and skillful execution to maximize field position and minimize the opponent's scoring opportunities.

Fourth-Down Decisions

One of the most critical decisions in football is whether to punt, go for it on fourth down, or attempt a field goal. This decision often depends on factors such as field position, score, time remaining, and the team's strengths and weaknesses.

The Delay of Game Dilemma

As illustrated in the example of the Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots game, coaches sometimes face the decision of whether to take a delay of game penalty before punting. This strategy can be used to improve the punter's angle or distance, but it also carries the risk of giving the opponent better field position if the punt is not successful.

Drawing the Defense Offside

Another strategy is to attempt to draw the defense offside with a hard count. If successful, this can result in a fresh set of downs for the offense. However, this strategy also carries the risk of a delay of game penalty if the defense does not jump offside.

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