Toss To Punter

Question
I was involved in a middle school game the other day where the snapper hiked the ball to the upback, and the upback tossed it to the punter.  My kids had never seen that before, so immediately went after the punter as if he were a running back and knocked him out right before he punted it.  We were called for roughing the punter.  I had NEVER seen anything like this before.  Was this the correct call?

Answer
Fernando,
As I understand your play it was a trick play with a Kicker in position to punt the ball but the ball was snapped to the up back who passed it backwards to the punter who was about to kick the ball when the defensive players tackled the punter.  You state "knocked him out right before he punted it".

The phrase "right before he punted it" indicates to me the kicker was in the act of kicking the ball or about to kick the ball.  If this is the case then the Punter is given protection - the special protection afforded to kickers, holders, snappers and other defenseless players while in the act of doing their special duties (i.e. punter kicking the ball).

It sounds as though the call was correct and it was roughing the punter.

Thank you for your question.
Victor Winnek
NCAA Football Official