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Originally Posted by waltjp
FED 6.1.5 If any K player recovers or catches a free kick, the ball becomes dead. It belongs to him unless it is kick-catching interference and R chooses an awarded fair catch or unless it is first touching. The kickers may recover the ball before it goes beyond R’s free-kick line if it is touched first by any receiver. Such touching in the neutral zone by R is ignored if it is caused by K pushing or blocking R into contact with the ball or if K muffs the ball into contact with R. Any kicking team member may recover a free kick if it has both touched the ground and goes beyond the plane of R’s free-kick line. The two requirements may occur in any order. If a free kick becomes dead inbounds between the goal lines while no player is in possession, or inbounds anywhere while opponents are in joint possession, the ball is awarded to R.
With respect to your case play, If K catches or recovers a free kick the ball will be his if he hasn’t committed kick-catching interference or first touching.
First touching occurs when K touches the ball before the ball crosses R’s free kick line. (FED 2.12.1) This is not relevant in your case play.
A recovery is the act of gaining possession of a loose ball after it strikes the ground. (FED 2.36.1) Also, not relevant in your case play.
A catch is the act of gaining possession of a loose ball which is in flight. (FED 2.4.1)
Rule 6.5.6 defines Kick Catching Interference as:
a. Touching the ball or R while the ball is in flight; or
b. Obstructing R’s path to the ball.
Back to the case play and the original rule:
If any K player recovers or catches a free kick, the ball becomes dead. It belongs to him unless it is kick-catching interference or unless it is first touching.
The kick was muffed by R behind his free kick line and caught by K. This is not first touching. This was not kick catching interference. K’s ball at the spot where he gained possession.
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Thank you for the response, WJP. So then, unless I'm missing something else, the only way the above underlined portions can happen, assuming the ball has traveled beyond R's free kick line, is if the kick is muffed by R and subsequently caught (in flight, obviously) by K. This is the only time K can catch a free kick (at least under Fed rules) and have it not be kick-catching interference. Correct?