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They can only fair catch the ball if the kick has not touched the ground and if they have given the fair catch signal. Thus, most onsides kicks are bounced...
However, if a free kick is in flight (has not touched the ground)...
6-5-6 .. While any free kick is in flight in or beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line or any scrimmage kick is in flight beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line, K shall not touch the ball or R, unless blocked into the ball or R or to ward off a blocker, nor obstruct R's path to the ball. This prohibition applies even when no fair-catch signal is given, but it does not apply after a free kick has been touched by a receiver, or after a scrimmage kick has been touched by a receiver who was clearly beyond the neutral zone at the time of touching.
EXCEPTION: K may catch, touch, muff or bat a scrimmage kick in flight beyond the neutral zone if no player of R is in position to catch the ball.
... so K cannot block R or interfere with R if he is attempting to catch a free kick that has not touched the ground (in flight). If they do, it is kick-catching interference...
The key is the kick either being touched by R or touching the ground.
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