Fake onside kick
 

There has been disagreement on whether or not a foul has occurred.

Rule 6-1-3: “After the ball is marked ready for play and until it is kicked, no player, other than the kicker and the holder for a place kick may be beyond his free-kick line.”

Situation: Preparing for a free kick, K huddles at their 30, K1 signals the referee he is ready for the kick. The whole huddle charges the ball as if to onside kick the ball and (a) on charging at the ball several K players cross the free kick line, the ball is not kicked, (b) K1 does not kick the ball but crosses his free kick line to the 44 yardline before returning ; in both (a & b), after regrouping from the fake onside kick, K2 , not K1, actually kicks the ball.

Sounds like you have encroachment. The exception for the kicker is at the time the ball is kicked he can be encroaching. This is a split second issue and not a run around for a while encroaching and then come back and kick the ball.

On both A&B:Encroachment
Warrenkicker is right the exception is just for a split second.

In the example I have K2 kicking the ball; however, many officials (with whom I disagree) say that the exception of the kicker is absolute. He can run thru the free kick line, return, and then kick the ball as long as he does not delay the game. Comments?

My question is, when does a kicker become a kicker? It isn't because he is lined up to kick the ball. He becomes a kicker when he makes contact with the ball. He remains a kicker for a short period. Unless he actually kicks the ball, it is encroachment.

Canadian Ruling
 

Canadian Ruling

This is not a foul unless the kicking team players are offside when the ball is actually kicked. The players are allowed to return to their side of the kicking prior to the ball being kicked.

The kicker is the player who actually kicks the ball. The kicker may be offside at the instant the ball is kicked.

Under the NF code, NF:6.1.3 "After the ball is marked ready for play and until it is kicked, no player, other than the kicker and the the holder for a place kick may be beyond his free kick line.

For the "fake an onside kick" routine, anyone who goes past the free kick line is guilty of encroachment. You can choose to either give them the benefit of the doubt and tell them that the first time, then flag any repeats, flag them the first time, because they're required to know better, or ignore it and put up with that nonsense the whole game, because if they go over the line once, and are not told to stop, they'll most assuredly continue doing so.

Tell them to look up the definition of "kicker" in 2-32-8. They're completely wrong.

I have a punitive flag for those who knew they were breaking the rule and a teaching flag for those that did not. Both flags come with an appropriate penalty to help them learn. :D