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 player (except forced
touching).
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: previous
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 and
does not touch the ball: Spot Foul.
• Team A fouls: From spot where
subsequent dead ball belongs to B.
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.