Illegal kicking and penalty...
 

K is in scrimmage kick formation on his own 20 yard line on 4th down.. R is trying to block the kick with only a few seconds left and behind by 6 points. The ball sails over the kickers head as R players are rushing for the ball. while the ball is loose on the 5 yard line, K1 kicks the ball into the end zone and past the endline. There are three seconds on the clock.
>
This seems like a time where the penalty by K could actually help them out of a situation. Am I getting the penalty correct by saying that the best option for R maybe to take the re-kick fro, the 2 1/2yline.
>
And what about if the illegal kick had happened in the end zone?
Can the distance penalty be taken on the safety if desired?

You are correct in that being the best option for R since there are only a few seconds left and they are behind.
If the IK was in K's EZ, it would be a safety whether R accepted or declined the penalty.

I like the NCAA rule, 15 yards from the spot and LOD. This way R could get the ball at the 2.5 yard line.

Canadian Ruling
 

CANADIAN RULING:

Safety touch.

Similarly, let's say that A has the ball 4th and 10 from their own 5, late in the game and leading by 3. In punt formation, the punter gets a low snap and has to run the ball. He gets to the 8 yd line where he is tackled. The blocker in the endzone is flagged for holding. If accepted, the foul for holding would result in a safety since it was a foul in the endzone by A. But, the 2 pts. would not be worth much to the B team, so they decline the penalty and take the ball on downs at the 8 yd. line, 1st and goal. Hopefully, captains are wise enough to decline the penalty and white hats are knowledgeable enough to explain the options properly.

The philosophy 'round here is best option first.

No, because team A could surely kill the remaining 3 sec. while conceding a safety.

BTW, if you go way, way back in either USAn or Canadian football, if you kicked the ball out of bounds behind your own goal line, the attacking team would walk the ball in, touch it down, and score a TD.

Last down situations near the offense's own goal line are anomalous in that they can benefit by going backwards. I've long thought you shouldn't be able to give up a safety on last down, only a touchdown, like turning the ball over on downs in your own end zone, so that the incentive would always be to advance the ball. Of course, there can be a similar disincentive to advance the ball the last inch to the line-to-gain rather than being able to snap 2nd down and a spit to go.

Robert