Free Kick Rules

[U52]

In our pre game last Friday, we had a great discussion about Free Kick Rules. One of the two teams playing this night has a history of kicking from one hash and kicking it high across the field about 20-25 yards to the other hash. During our pre-game I mentioned that if K was to do this, R must have the opportunity to catch the ball and it is not a live ball until 1. It has went 10 yrds. and 2. It has touched the ground. We had a great debate about #2 and we are all checking our rules books for the this. Any help would be appreciated.

[MJT]

It is pretty clear you are correct according to 6-1-5. If any kicker recovers or catches a free kick, the ball becomes dead. It belongs to him unless it is kick-catching interference and R chooses an awarded fair catch or unless it is first touching. The kickers may recover the ball before it goes beyond R’s free-kick line if it is touched first by any receiver. Such touching in the neutral zone by R is ignored if it is caused by K pushing or blocking R into contact with the ball or if K muffs the ball into contact with R. Any kicking team member may recover a free kick if it has both touched the ground and goes beyond the plane of R’s free-kick line. The two requirements may occur in any order. If a free kick becomes dead inbounds between the goal lines while no player is in possession, or inbounds anywhere while opponents are in joint possession, the ball is awarded to R.

[Jim D]

Remember that, unlike a scrimmage kick where an R player must be in position to make a catch before it can be KCI, in a free kick R does not have to be anywhere near the ball for KCI to be called.

[grantsrc]

Originally Posted by Jim D

Remember that, unlike a scrimmage kick where an R player must be in position to make a catch before it can be KCI, in a free kick R does not have to be anywhere near the ball for KCI to be called.

Correct for NFHS. Not true in NCAA.

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Originally Posted by U52

In our pre game last Friday, we had a great discussion about Free Kick Rules. One of the two teams playing this night has a history of kicking from one hash and kicking it high across the field about 20-25 yards to the other hash. During our pre-game I mentioned that if K was to do this, R must have the opportunity to catch the ball and it is not a live ball until 1. It has went 10 yrds. and 2. It has touched the ground. We had a great debate about #2 and we are all checking our rules books for the this. Any help would be appreciated.

Let's be a little careful with our terminology. The ball is live as soon as it is legally free kicked. The ball may not be legally recovered by K until it has touched the ground or an R player - as pointed out by others, even touching a free kick before it hits the ground or an R player is KCI under Fed rules. (This was blown by one of our most experienced crews in a sectional final a couple of years ago, so I don't think anyone in our association will forget that rule anytime soon.)