Onside kick rule question

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Cliffdweller

Team A cannot block in free blocking zone unless B initiates it. (NFHS)

You mean the neutral zone.

[APG]

Originally Posted by hbk314

Is NCAA the only ruleset among NFHS, NCAA and NFL to view it that way? Because that doesn't make much sense to me.

Player safety...the NCAA powers that be are basically saying there is no appreciable difference between the ball being kicked directly in the air, and a ball that driven in the ground and takes that (high) initial bounce.

Originally Posted by Mingram

Thanks, wasn't aware of the bounce rule. Does receiver need space to make a catch like a punt or can he be blocked? (NCAA)

KCI rules are in place...meaning if a player is in place to make a catch, he can not be interfered with.

NCAA (2014)
Rule 6 Section 4 Opportunity To Catch a Kick

Interference With Opportunity

ARTICLE 1. a. A player of the receiving team within the boundary lines attempting to catch a kick, and so located that he could have caught a free kick or a scrimmage kick that is beyond the neutral zone, must be given an unimpeded opportunity to catch the kick (A.R. 6-3-1-III, A.R. 6-4-1-V, VI and IX).

b. It is an interference foul if, before the receiver touches the ball, a Team A player enters the area defined by the width of the receiver’s shoulders and extending one yard in front of him. When in question it is a foul.(A.R.6-4-1-X-XIII)

c. This protection terminates when the kick touches the ground (Exception: Free kick, par. f below), when any player of Team B muffs or touches a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone, or when any player of Team B muffs or touches a free kick in the field of play or in the end zone (Exception: Rule 6-5-1-b) (A.R. 6-4-1-IV).

f. During a free kick a player of the receiving team in position to receive the ball has the same kick-catch and fair-catch protection whether the ball is kicked directly off the tee or is immediately driven to the ground, strikes the ground once and goes into the air in the manner of the ball kicked directly off the tee.