Free Kick Flashcards
SAFETY KICK OUT OF BOUNDS—LAST TOUCHED BY TEAM A
A1 free kicks from the A20 following a safety. The kick is muffed at the B40 by B1, is touched by A3, and it then rolls
out of bounds at the B35.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on 50. If a safety kick goes out of bounds (untouched or last touched by A), the ball is
placed at the out of bounds spot or 30 yards from the spot of the kick, whichever is better for Team B.
ONSIDE KICK OUT OF BOUNDS ON KICKOFF FROM B35
B1 commits a personal foul on a touchdown run by A1, and then during the subsequent successful Try, B2 also
commits a personal foul. Team A elects to have both personal fouls enforced on the kickoff. On the ensuing kickoff
from the B35, (30 penalty yards), A attempts an onside kick, but the ball goes out of bounds, untouched, at the B8.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B10. The penalty for a kickoff out of bounds is 25 yards from the spot of the kick,
not a 25-yard penalty. Thus, there is no option to go “half the distance to the goal” and give B the ball at the B17½.
KICK INTO END ZONE—FUMBLED INTO FIELD OF PLAY
On a kickoff from the A35, B1 catches the ball in the end zone and fumbles after he starts to run. The ball rolls out
to the B4 where B2 falls on the ball. The game clock did not run on the play. There is: (a) 3:22; or (b) 1:55 left in the
fourth quarter.
Ruling:
(a) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B4. Game clock is set to 3:21.
(b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B25. After the two-minute warning, the ball returns to the spot of the fumble, since the
ball was recovered by the non-fumbling player, which is a touchback. Game clock is set to 1:54.
KICK INTO END ZONE—UNTOUCHED BY TEAM B
On a kickoff, the untouched ball hits in the end zone where: (a) B1 then muffs the ball and it rolls out of bounds at
the B2-yard line or (b) Team A recovers and downs it.
Ruling: In both (a) and (b): B’s ball, first-and-10 on B25. Touchback. The ball is dead when it hits in the end zone,
untouched by Team B. The covering official should blow his/her whistle and kill the play immediately upon the ball
touching in the end zone.
KICK INTO END ZONE—BALL TOUCHED BY TEAM B—REBOUNDS OUT OF BOUNDS
On a kickoff, B1 muffs the ball at the B4, and it rolls into the end zone and rebounds out of bounds at the B2
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B2. The ball is not dead when it hits in the end zone, because it was touched first
by Team B in the field of play.
KICK INTO END ZONE—TEAM B BATS THE BALL WHILE IN END ZONE
Kickoff from the A35. B1 tries to catch the kick in his end zone but muffs it there. While the ball is still in the end
zone, B1 bats it over the end line.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B25 (decline foul for illegal bat), or re-kick from A45. It is not a safety, as the foul
occurred during the kick.
KICKOFF—PERSONAL FOUL BY TEAM A PRIOR TO POSSESSION BY TEAM B
On a kickoff from the A35, A2 grabs and pulls the facemask of B3 before Team B gains possession, and B1 then
downs the ball in the end zone for a touchback
Ruling: Re-kick from A20, or B’s ball, first-and-10 on B40.
FREE KICK—FOUL BY EITHER TEAM IN TEAM B END ZONE DURING KICK
On A1’s kickoff from the A35, B1 muffs the kick at the B10, and the ball rolls into the end zone. In the scramble for
the loose ball: (a) A2 holds B2; or (b) B2 holds A2, to allow a teammate to recover the ball. The ball is recovered
and downed by B3 in the end zone.
Rulings:
(a) Re-kick A25, or B’s ball, first-and-10 on B35. Fouls by the kicking team during the kick are enforced from the
previous spot (re-kick) or the dead-ball spot as long as B does not lose possession during the down.
(b) Re-kick A45, or B’s ball, first-and-10 on B25. The only option for enforcing fouls by the receiving team during
the kick is the previous spot (re-kick).
Note: Fouls by either team during the kick are penalized as offensive fouls.
BLOCKING BY TEAM A ON FREE KICK
On a free kick from the A35, after the ball has been kicked, A2 blocks B2: (a) at the A43 while the ball is rolling at
the A46; (b) at the A47 after B2 muffs the ball at the A46; (c) at the A46 while the ball is rolling on the ground
(untouched) at the A48; or (d) at the B48 while the kick is untouched in the air. The kick is recovered and downed
by B4 at the B45.
Rulings:
(a) B’s ball, first-and-10 on A45. Illegal block by A2 that is enforced from the end of the kick, (or the previous spot
on a rekick). It is illegal for Team A to block in the first 10 yards, (between Team A’s and Team B’s restraining
lines), until the ball is legally touched.
(b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B45. Legal block. Team A may legally block between 10 and 15 yards beyond Team
A’s restraining line, after the ball has touched the ground or been legally touched.
(c) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B45. Legal block. Team A may legally block between 10 and 15 yards beyond Team
A’s restraining line, after the ball has touched the ground or been legally touched.
(d) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B45. Legal block. Team A may legally block more than 5 yards beyond Team B’s
restraining line, (15 yards beyond Team A’s restraining line), anytime, regardless of whether the ball has touched
the ground or been legally touched.
Note: The location of the ball is irrelevant in determining the legality of blocking on free kicks. The key is the location
of the block, and whether the ball has touched the ground or been legally touched.
BLOCKING BY TEAM B ON FREE KICK
On a free kick from the A35, after the ball has been kicked: (a) B2 blocks A2 at the A48 while the ball is in the air;
(b) B2 moves forward beyond Team B’s restraining line to the A43 but does not block A2 until the ball touches the
ground at the A43 or A46; (c) B2 blocks A2 at the A46 after the pooch kick is touched by B1 at the A44 or A46; or
(d) B2 blocks A2 at the B48 while the kick is untouched in the air. The kick is recovered and downed by B4 at the
B45.
Rulings:
(a) Rekick A45. It is illegal for Team B to block in the first 15-yards from Team A’s restraining line until the ball has
touched the ground or been legally touched.
(b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B45. Legal block. Team B can legally block anywhere after the ball has touched the
ground or been legally touched.
(c) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B45. Legal block. Team B can legally block anywhere after the ball has touched the
ground or been legally touched.
(d) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B45. Team B can legally block more than 5 yards beyond Team B’s restraining line, (15
yards beyond Team A’s restraining line), anytime, regardless of whether the ball has touched the ground or
been legally touched.
Rulings:
(a) Rekick A45. It is illegal for Team B to block in the first 15-yards from Team A’s restraining line until the ball has
touched the ground or been legally touched.
(b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B45. Legal block. Team B can legally block anywhere after the ball has touched the
ground or been legally touched.
(c) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B45. Legal block. Team B can legally block anywhere after the ball has touched the
ground or been legally touched.
(d) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B45. Team B can legally block more than 5 yards beyond Team B’s restraining line, (15
yards beyond Team A’s restraining line), anytime, regardless of whether the ball has touched the ground or
been legally touched.
Note: The location of the ball is irrelevant in determining the legality of blocking on free kicks. The key is the location
of the block, and whether the ball has touched the ground or been legally touched.
WEDGE ON KICKOFF
On a kickoff from the A35, B1 and B2 drift back and come together within one yard of each other, and on the same
yard line at the B22, and move forward in unison: (a) while the kick is in the air; (b) after B4 has caught the kick in
the end zone and is running with the ball in the field of play. In both (a) and (b), B4 is tackled at the B18; or (c) as B4
caught the kick in the end zone and took a knee.
Rulings:
(a) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B11. When the foul is during the kick, the 15-yard penalty is enforced from the spot
where the players formed the wedge.
(b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B9. When the illegal Wedge (or illegal double-team) occurs during the return,
enforcement is normal enforcement on a running play, (spot of the foul or dead ball spot).
(c) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B11. On a touchback, an illegal wedge is penalized 15 yards from the spot where the
players formed the wedge.
Note: If two or more players intentionally align shoulder-to-shoulder within two yards of each other and move forward
together, it is an illegal wedge at that point; actual contact with an opponent is not necessary. Additionally, if two or
more players, at least one of whom did not start in the set-up zone, block and make contact with an opponent at the
same time, it is an illegal double-team block. If the foul occurs during the kick, enforcement is from the spot of the
foul. If the foul occurs during the return, the penalty is enforced as a foul on a running play. If the foul occurs in the
receiving team’s end zone during the kick, it is enforced from the previous spot.
KICKOFF—TEAM B DOUBLE TEAM BLOCK
On a kickoff from the A35, B3 is one of eight players in the setup zone at the time of the kick. After the kick is caught
by B1, B3 double-team blocks (a) A2 at the B45, with teammate B4 who also was in the setup zone when the ball
was kicked, or (b) A2 at the B30, with teammate B5 who originally lined up as one of 3 players positioned outside of
the setup zone when the ball was kicked. B1 returns the kick to the B35.
Rulings:
(a) B’s ball, first-and-ten on the B35. No foul for 2 players blocking an opponent together who were both in the setup
zone at the time the ball is kicked. They may double-team block an opponent together, anywhere on the field,
though they may not form a wedge.
(b) B’s ball, first-and-ten on the B15. It is a foul for an illegal double team block if 2 or more players of the receiving
team block an opponent together, if they weren’t both in the setup zone when the ball was kicked. The 15-yard
penalty is enforced as a foul on a running play in this case, as it happened during the return. If it happened
during the kick, it would be enforced from the spot of the foul. This is a personal foul.
Note: As described, (a) is a legal double team block, and (b) is an illegal double team block. In either case, had the
two players come together, shoulder to shoulder, within two yards of each other, and moved forward together (with
or without contacting an opponent), it would be an illegal wedge. Enforcement is the same, but an illegal wedge is
prohibited by any two Team B players, while an illegal double team block is prohibited if one of the two players did
not start in the setup zone.
KICKOFF—TWO TEAM B PLAYERS MOVE FORWARD TO BLOCK - DURING/AFTER THE KICK
On a kickoff from the A35, B1 catches the kick at the B5 and is tackled at the B24. Two Team B players who were
in the setup zone at the time of the kick intentionally come together shoulder to shoulder within 2 yards of each other
at the B30 and move forward to block A3 (a) while the ball is in the air, or (b) after B1 begins running with the ball.
Rulings:
(a) B’s ball, first-and-ten on B15. An illegal wedge is a spot foul if it occurs during the kick. This is a personal foul.
(b) B’s ball first-and-ten on the B12. Since the illegal wedge occurred during the return, the enforcement is normal
enforcement on a running play - either the dead-ball spot as on this play, or the spot of the foul. This is a personal
foul.
Note: A wedge block, (2 or more players), is illegal both during the kick and during the return on Free Kick plays,
regardless of where the involved receiving team players were positioned at the time of the kick.
KICKOFF—TEAM A PLAYER PUSHES TEAM B PLAYER IN BACK WITH KICK IN AIR
On a kickoff from the A35, A2 runs downfield while the kick is in the air and pushes B4 in the back as he left the
setup zone at the B48. A2 tackles return man B2 at the B15.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-ten on B25 or re-kick A25. It is illegal for a Team A player on a kickoff to push a Team B
player in the back while the ball is in the air.
KICKOFF—ILLEGAL BAT BY TEAM A
On a kickoff, the untouched ball bounces at the B10 and is airborne out over the sideline. A2 jumps from the field of
play and bats the ball forward into the field of play. A3 recovers the ball at the B7 and advances to the B1.
Ruling: Re-kick A25. Illegal bat. No player may bat a kick toward his opponent’s goal line (even if he is attempting
to keep the ball inbounds).
