Free Kick Out Of Bounds
 

Fed rules - Just a minute ago, there was a thread about a free kick touched by R then touched by K and going up out of bounds. The poster stated he had observed this at a game and could not understand why the crew had not penalized the foul. He knew it was a penalty if K was the last to touch the kick before it went out-of-bounds.

It appears the poster realized the error of his ways, as the thread has disappeared, but it is a good reminder of a rule that changed a few years back. I sometimes have flashbacks and try to enforce rules that no longer exist (i.e. loss-of-down on ineligible downfield), and appreciate the reminders.

The appropriate rule is 6-1-8: A free kick shall not be kicked out of bounds between the goal lines untouched inbounds by R. If it is, R has the following choices:
a. Accept a 5-yard penalty from the previous spot and have K rekick.
b. Put the ball in play at the inbounds spot 25 yards beyond the previous spot.
c. Decline the penalty and put the ball in play at the inbounds spot.

<edited to add the original post was about Fed rules.>

Well...lets throw where R is forced into the ball by K, either before the ball goes 10 yards or after.

I found out from Bob M. forced touching rules differ on free and scrimmage kicks

i believe the touching is ignored. R can take the ball at the out of bounds spot or 5 yard penalty and replay the down.

what is the diference on forced touching between free and scrimmage kicks.

REPLY: For scrimmage kicks, forced touching is ignored only beyond the neutral zone; for free kicks, forced touching is ignored only in the neutral zone.

Yes, just wanted to make sure.

:eek: I had a dream about a play just like this last night. We nailed the call!!!

Must be football season! :D