Contra Costa Football Officials
Association
New Officials Training
Session No. 7
The Kicking Game
1
RULES OF THE KICKING GAME
Rule 6
Free Kicks
Scrimmage Kicks
Touchback
Fair Catch
Definitions
Scrimmage Kick, Free Kick
ß Scrimmage Kick
®  2-24-4
®  Legal Kick from in or behind the neutral zone
®  Can be place kick, punt or drop kick
ß Free Kick
®  2-24-3
®  A “Kickoff” putting ball in play:
•  To start the half
•  After a score (TD, FG, Safety)
•  After a fair catch (don’t worry about that)
®  Must be a place kick or drop kick (for kickoff after a safety may
be a punt)
ß “A kick is a kick” until a player secures possession (catch
or recovery)
The Kicking Game
3
A Few Other Kick-Related
Definitions
ß  Kicker 2-32-8
®  A player who legally kicks the ball
®  Becomes Kicker when his lower leg strikes the ball
®  Remains a kicker until:
•  He has opportunity to regain balance (scrimmage Kick)
•  He advances 5 yards of kick touches ground or another player (Free kick)
ß  Holder – Player controlling ball on the ground or on a tee
ß  Fair Catch
®  Catch made by a player in or beyond neutral zone after he gives valid
fair catch signal
®  Can be awarded if R not given opportunity to catch the ball (whether he
signals or not)
®  Fair Catch signals – valid, invalid, illegal
ß  Kick Catch Interference
®  Touch a kick in flight or catch a kick (unless on a scrimmage kick only
there is no R player in position to catch kick)
®  Obstruct R’s path to the ball
The Kicking Game
4
Free Kick
Fundamental Rules
ß  Can be made anywhere between hash marks
ß  Only Kicker and Holder may be in neutral zone
ß  What R can do:
®  Catch or recover any where in field of play and advance (WIND THE
CLOCK – ABOUT ONLY TIME YOU WILL START THE CLOCK)
®  Call for a fair catch and give up right to advance
ß  What K can do:
®  After ball has gone 10 yards AND hit the ground K may recover
®  If ball touches R, then K may catch or recover anywhere
ß  What K can NOT do
® 
® 
® 
® 
® 
® 
Never advance a kick (DEAD BALL – WHISTLE)
Catch a kick (unless first touches an R player) (FLAG)
Be first to touch ball in neutral zone (BEANBAG)
Kick ball out of bounds untouched by R (FLAG)
Obstruct R’s path to ball (FLAG)
Cannot block R unless ball has gone 10 yards OR if K is eligible to
recover kick
ß  If kick goes into R’s end zone – immediately a touchback
The Kicking Game
5
Free Kick
Position Mechanics – 4 Man
ß Head Lines
®  With K, start in middle of field, hand ball to kicker, count K, move
off you your sideline, beanbag in hand, raise arm signaling ready
ß Line judge
®  R’s restraining line, count K
®  Start on sideline, beanbag in hand, raise arm signaling ready
ß Umpire
®  HL Side about 20 yard line but adjust depending on age and
strength of kicker, count R, raise arm signaling ready
ß Referee
®  5-10 yard line, Same side as LJ, Little outside hash marks
®  Counts R
®  Signals ready for play
The Kicking Game
6
Key on L position
The Kicking Game
CCFOA may be
opposite or on
same side as press
box depending on
level of play 7
X
The Kicking Game
U to be here
8
Scrimmage Kick
Fundamental Rules
ß Applies to “Punts” as well as to “Field Goals”
ß What R can do:
®  Catch or recover any where in field of play and advance
®  Call for a fair catch and give up right to advance
ß What K can do:
®  Beyond the line: Recover and maintain possession of a kick that
R has been first to touch beyond the line (WHISTLE)
®  Behind the line: recover and advance (LIVE BALL; NO
WHISTLE)
ß What K can NOT do
®  Commit Kick Catching Interference (FLAG)
®  Be first to touch ball beyond line of scrimmage (BEANBAG)
®  Catch a kick (unless no R player in position) (WHISTLE)
ß If kick goes into R’s end zone – immediately a touchback
The Kicking Game
9
Scrimmage Kick (Punts)
Position Mechanics (4 Man)
ß Headlines
®  On Line of Scrimmage (Have entire Line)
®  Stay on line until you are 100% positive kick is across the line
and is not coming back
®  Drift Down Field and cover kicks to your side
®  Kick out of Bounds Mechanic (Roll vs. In Flight)
®  Never move chains until Referee signals
ß Line Judge
®  7-10 yards wide and 2-3 yards in front of deepest receiver
®  Bean bag in hand
®  Cover kicks on your 2/3 of field
®  Kick O.O.B. – Same as HL
®  Rule on all touching
®  Rule on kicks into E.Z.
The Kicking Game
10
Scrimmage Kick (Punts)
Position Mechanics (4 Man)
ß Umpire
® Warn players “Stay off the snapper”
® Watch for roughing the snapper
® Pivot towards LJ side and observe play in front of
receivers
ß Referee
® On LJ side
® 3-5 yards outside TE and 2-3 yards behind kicker
® Kick O.O.B. in flight
The Kicking Game
11
Key on L position
CCFOA may be
opposite or on
same side as press
box depending on
level of play
The Kicking Game
12
Scrimmage Kick (FG or Try)
Position Mechanics (4 Man)
ß Headlines
® On Line
® Observe Neutral Zone
ß Line Judge
® Inside 15: On Line; help with over/under crossbar
® Outside 15:
•  Behind and directly between uprights
•  Drift to correct upright and make call – yours all the way
ß Umpire
® Same as punts
ß Referee
® Inside 15 - Rules on kick and roughing
® Outside 15 - Rules on roughing
13