Quote:
Originally posted by stpetesteve
Don't you also beanbag it on a free kick if there's first touching by the kicking team (in the first 10 yards)? That's what I've been told to do. That's why I hold the beanbag in my hand as a lines judges during kickoffs. The R team can take the ball at the site of first touching in that case.
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Absolutely correct. All officials covering the neutral zone for a free kick should have bean bag in hand. If K touches the ball within the NZ, R can accept a first touching violation at that point.
On-sides kicks can involve all arms and legs and you as the official may not know exactly where the touching occurred because the adrenaline is pumping so fast. The beanbag lets you and everyone else know if it was in the NZ or out.
Case in point, covering an on-sides all the kickers converge on my side. I am running with the ball when K touches it. I am unsure exactly where between the 40 and 50 yard lines where it occurred. When I look back the bag is just on K's side of the 50.