Illegal Touching
 

K touches an onside free kick before it has travelled the requisite 10 yards. So I flag it and let the play continue. K recovers the onside kick. The white hat tells me I should have bagged the spot of first touching. I've never heard this before. Is he right?

Thanks.
4eyesallbad

Yep- it's not a penalty but R will have the choice to take the ball at the spot of first touching by K.

You only have a flag (KCI) on this if it is touched by K before the ball has touched the ground (Regardless of field position). If it is touched by K after having touched the ground, but before going 10-yards, you bag the spot.

Great question! I had one of these earlier this year and I knew K wasn't allowed to touch it before 10 yards but as it happened I wasn't sure if I should flag it or bag it. Without thinking too much I dropped the bean bag at the spot of touching (also the spot of possession since the player jumped on the ball at that point). The kicking team coach was right behind me throughout the play and asked how I could possibly give the receiving team a "choice" if there was no flag. I was somewhat lucky to get the mechanic right but at least I knew the rule better than the coach (he wanted a foul that gave him the opportunity to re-kick). Experience is definitely the best teacher.

Thanks.
 

Thank you AndrewMcCarthy, garwood8499, and bisonlj. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question.

4

The first 10 yards of a kick-off are ruled on exactly like a punt after it has crossed the neutral zone. The rules are exactly the same.