New kickoff rule

[NJ Official]

The new rule on kickoffs states there must be at least four players on each side of kicker on a kickoff. Does anyone know if this will be a dead ball foul?

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by NJ Official

The new rule on kickoffs states there must be at least four players on each side of kicker on a kickoff. Does anyone know if this will be a dead ball foul?

Yes, it is a dead ball foul.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

Yes, it is a dead ball foul.

That's interesting. At what point does it become a foul? When the ball is kicked?

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by Welpe

That's interesting. At what point does it become a foul? When the ball is kicked?

Yes...odd wording making the positioning based on the kicker starting at the RFP but the kicker isn't established until the ball is kicked. Would have made much more sense to say the foul occurs at the kick. I believe that's how most will officiate this.

[HLin NC]

See further discussion here:

2014 Comments on football rules changes...

[IAUMP]

I'm from Iowa and we experimented with this rule for a couple of years. I don't remember one game that we had to enforce a penalty for there not being 4 on each side of the kicker. Also, while this may have changed, we were told that the penalty applied happened when the ball was kicked.