Free Kick Out Of Bounds

[Blue37]

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.