Free Kick (6-1 & 2) (Kickoff)

Tony Dutton

Kickoff Positions

Count Players

• U & B – Count Team A players.

• H , R & L - Count Team B players.

Back Judge & Umpire When the Ball is Kicked (6-1-2) • All Team A between 9-yard marks after the ready. (B,U) • All Team A in bounds . (B,U) • All Team A behind the ball except holder & kicker. (B,U) • Four Team A players on each side of kicker. (B,U) • Team A player goes out of bounds may not return. (All)

Head Lineman, Referee, & Back Judge When the Ball is Kicked (6-1-2) • All Team B in bounds . (H, R & L) • All Team B behind their restraining line . (H) • No Team A player may block until Team A is eligible to touch the ball. (U, B & H)

Referee & Line Judge

• Kick untouched by Team B touches ground in end zone.

• Start the clock when ball: (all) – Is

legally

touched in field of play, or – Crosses the goal line as B runs out of the end zone.

• Watch for:  Fair catch signal , any waving signal. (all)  Short kick & possible interference . (all)  Forward handoff . “A backward handoff occurs when the runner releases the ball before it is beyond the yard line where the runner is positioned.” (2-12-1-d)

All • Watch for:  Blocking below the waist.

 Clipping.

 Block in the back.

• Review short kick positions.

Obvious Short Kick

R L

U, B, H & L Block on Free Kicker (6-1-9)

• Kicker may not be blocked until : 1. He has advanced 5-yards or, 2. The kick has touched a player, an official or the ground. 3. Penalty: 15-yards from previous spot.

Team A Eligible to Touch (6-1-3)

• After the ball: 1. Touches a Team B touching).

player (except forced 2. Breaks the plane & remains behind B’s restraining line .

3. Touches any player , the ground , an official , or anything beyond B’s restraining line.

Illegal Touching by Team A (6-1-3)

• A violation that, when the ball becomes dead gives the receiving team the privilege of taking the ball at the spot of the violation.

• An accepted penalty for a live-ball foul by either team or offsetting fouls cancel the privilege.

Free Kick Penalty Enforcement • • Foul simultaneous with kick: p revious spot .

All fouls by kicking team may be enforced from: 1. Previous spot and down repeated or, 2. Spot where subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B.

Free Kick Out of Bounds 6-2

• Out of bounds between the goal lines untouched by B: Three options: 1. 5 yards from previous spot & re-kick.

2. 5 yards from spot where subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B.

3.

B’s ball 30-yards from previous spot (no 5-yard add-on to option 3).

A.R. 6-2-2 IV • Airborne B17 has leaped from inbounds and is the first player to touch Team A’s free kick when he receives the ball. He subsequently lands out of bounds with the ball in his possession.

RULING:

• Foul, free kick out of bounds (i.e. the out of bounds takes precedent over the touching).

Fouls Before Possession is Gained (Free Kick Play) • •

Basic Spot = Previous Spot.

But remember:

1. Interference :

Spot Foul.

(Behind the goal line: Touchback and penalize from succeeding spot.) • 2. Block or foul by B player who signals does not touch the ball:

Spot Foul.

Team A fouls

: From spot where subsequent dead ball belongs to B.

and

Running Play & Dead Ball

• Fouls after possession is gained (running play) :

Basic Spot = Spot Where the Run Ends (2-25-8).

• Fouls after the ball becomes dead :

Succeeding Spot.

• Personal fouls by opponents of team scoring a touchdown:

Penalize on try or succeeding kickoff.