Question (speaking NFHS only):

Rule 6, Section 1, Article 6 states: “ If any kicker touches a free kick before it crosses R’s free-kick line and before it is touched there by any R player, it is referred to as “first touching of the kick.” R may take the ball at the spot of first touching, or any spot if there is more than one spot of first touching, ……”

Question is: What scenario would/could there be to create "...more than one spot of first touching..."?

Thanks,

1) Short kick...ball doesn't cross the restraining line and goes off a few K hands before R finally gets ahold of it beyond the restraining line or the play is killed.

2) Some K gets all excited and forgets that R is supposed to touch the ball first...then botches the reception and in the ensuing melee the ball batted around several times by K before R finally retains posession or the play is killed.


As a general rule, bag the first spot as long as the ball is moving toward R's dead ball line.

Also, K touches the ball short of R's restraining line, and after touching the ball, it bounces back towards K's free kick line (K40 in high school) where another K player touches it in trying to possess the ball. R would have a choice of accepting the play or choosing one of K's spots of "first touching".

Think of it this way. First touching has nothing to do with how many times the ball can be touched. First touching simply denotes WHO touched the ball first. First touching only occurs when K is the first to touch a free-kick before it has gone 10 yards OR if K is first to touch a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone before R has touched it. Simple touching of a scrimmage kick by K does not kill the play (unless the ball is no longer moving). In order for the ball to become dead, K must POSSESS the ball.

Can you see a play where K will touch a kick multiple times before they possess it?

Muffs, legal and illegal batting, accidental touching, etc. are all covered by this first touching rule.

Thanks everybody. Guess my mind was only seeing "possession" and not "touches".

Hope everybody has a great football season.