Kicking Game
Jim Healey
Mike Hoffman
Neutral Zone
Fumble vs Muff
Snapper Protection
Kicking Game Definitions
• A kick is the intentional striking of the ball with the knee,
lower leg, or foot.
• A kick ends when a player gains possession or when the
ball becomes dead while not in player possession.
• A kicker is any player who legally punts, drop kicks, or
place kicks.
• A player becomes a kicker when his knee, lower leg, or
foot makes contact with the ball. He continues to be a
kicker until he has had reasonable opportunity to regain his
balance, or until after a free kick, he has advanced 5 yds
beyond his free-kick line or the kick has touched the
ground or any other player.
Place Kick Holder
• The ball remains live if a place kick holder with
his knee(s) on the ground and with a teammate in
kicking position (4-2-2a)
– Catches or recovers the snap while his knee(s) is on the
ground and places the ball for a kick, or if he rises to
advance, hand, kick, or pass.
– Rises and catches or recovers an errant snap and
immediately returns his knee(s) to the ground and
places the ball for a kick, or if he rises to advance,
hand, kick, or pass.
Placeholder Restrictions
Play 1
• K1 has one knee on the ground to hold for
an apparent field-goal attempt. K2 is in
position to kick. K1 catches the snap and:
(a) places the ball which is kicked by K2; or
(b) rises and either runs or passes; or
(c) without rising, flips the ball to K2 who
attempts to run.
Play 1 Ruling
• RULING: Legal in (a) and (b). In (c), the
ball becomes dead immediately when K1
tosses it to K2 while K1 has his knee on the
ground.
Play 2
• At the snap, K1 is in position to kick and K2 is in position
to hold for a place kick with one knee on the ground. The
snap is high or bounces once and it is necessary for K2 to
lift his knee off the ground in order to catch or recover the
ball. K2 catches the snap and:
(a) immediately drops to one knee and places the ball for a
kick; or
(b) immediately drops to his knees and then rises and
passes the ball; or
(c) takes several steps and then drops to his knees to place
the ball; or
(d) takes several steps and fumbles the ball which is
subsequently recovered and advanced by K1 or K2.
Play 2 Ruling
• RULING: The ball remains live in (a), (b)
and (d). In (c), the ball is dead when K2's
knee touches the ground, because he did not
go back down immediately after catching or
recovering the errant snap. In (d), the
advance by K1 or K2 is legal. (4-2-2a
Exception)
PSK Rule (2-16-2h)
• A foul by R when the foul occurs:
– During a scrimmage kick play in which the ball crosses the expanded
neutral zone
– Beyond the expanded NZ
– Before the end of the kick
– And K will not be next to out the ball in play
• The basic spot is the spot where the kick ends (Bean Bag)
• Allows R to keep ball after enforcement of R’s penalty during
the “window”
• Provide Ruling
Case Play
• Fourth and five from K's 20-yard line, K is
in an illegal formation at the snap. While
K1's punt is in flight, beyond the expanded
neutral zone, R2 blocks K8 in the back at
the 50-yard line. R4 catches the kick at R's
36-yard line and returns it for a touchdown.
Case Play
• RULING: This is a PSK foul by R.
Therefore, R may decline K's foul and keep
the ball after enforcement of the 10-yard
foul for the block in the back, or it may
accept the penalty against K, thereby
creating a double foul in which case the
down shall be replayed. (10-2-1b)