Case book- Rule 6 Kicking the ball and
Fair Catch Correctly Solved
Recovery by K- 6.1.5 Situation A:
A kickoff by K1 from K's 40 is muffed by R1 near his 20-yard line. The muff is caught by K2 at the 18 and
he advances into R's end zone. - Answer Ruling: It will be K's ball first and 10 from R's 18. K2 may catch
or recover the muffed kick, but may not advance. The ball is dead when K gains possession. The covering
official should sound his whistle to stop play immediately when the ball becomes dead.
Recovery by K- 6.1.5 Situation B:
K's free kick is bouncing on the ground in the neutral zone where R1 and K1 are engaged in blocking one
another. K2 muffs the ball and the ball touches R1 on the leg and K3 recovers the ball. - Answer Ruling:
The touching by R is ignored and R will be awarded possession of the ball at the spot of first touching or
at the dead-ball spot.
First touching of a free kick- *6.1.6 Situation A:
A free kick from K's 40 is high and comes down over K's 45 where it is muffed in flight by K2 after which
it is recovered by K3 on R's 40. - Answer Ruling: This is first touching and also kick-catching interference
by K2. R may choose to take the ball at the spot of first touching, take the results of the play or accept
the 15-yard penalty for kick-catching interference. If the distance penalty is accepted, it is R's choice to
have the penalty enforced from the spot of the foul or have it enforced from the previous spot and
require K to rekick.
Comment: The clock will not be started when there is first touching of a free kick. The purpose is to
prevent the kickers from taking advantage by touching the ball to start the clock and thereby deny the
receivers the opportunity of putting the ball in play. The exception "the clock not start with first
touching," is protection for the receiving team and is consistent with the philosophy that the receiving
team be given an opportunity of putting the ball in play following a free kick. (3-4-1; 6-5-4, 6)
First touching of a free kick- 6.1.6 Situation B:
The ball is free kicked from K's 40-yard line and in flight, it crosses the 50-yard line before a strong wind
blows it back to K's 45 where it:
(a) is touched in flight by K1, or
(b) touches the ground and is recovered by K2. - Answer Ruling: Kick-catching interference in (a), first
and 10 for K in (b).
, Comment: The free-kick lines marking the neutral zone for K and R are vertical planes. When the free
kick penetrates R's free-kick line in flight, it is considered to have gone the required 10 yards. If it also
has touched the ground, before or after going 10 yards, it can be recovered, but not advanced by K. (6-
1-5)
Causing free kick to be out of bounds- 6.1.8 Situation A:
The free kick by K1 is possessed by R1 who:
(a) is airborne and alights with one foot in contact with the sideline at his 26, or
(b) contacts the sideline on the 26 after completing the catch. - Answer Ruling: In (a) and (b), R will put
the ball in play, first and 10, from its 26-yard line because R1 caused the ball to go out of bounds at the
26. (2-4-1)
Causing free kick to be out of bounds- 6.1.8 Situation B:
The free kick by K1 from K's 40-yard line:
(a) is touched by R1 at R's 5 and goes out of bounds at the 8-yard line; or
(b) is muffed by R1 at his 15 and then touched by K2 before it rolls out of bounds at R's 10-yard line; or
(c) bounces out of bounds on R's 30-yard line untouched by R or K. - Answer Ruling: In (a) and (b) the
ball belongs to R at the inbounds spot. In (c), it is a foul by K. The receivers may take the ball at the
inbounds spot, take the ball at the inbounds spot at R's 35 which is 25 yards beyond the previous spot,
or accept the 5-yard penalty and have K free kick from K's 35-yard line. (6-1-9; 2-41-4)
Causing free kick to be out of bounds- 6.1.8 Situation C:
R1 is running near a sideline as he attempts to catch a free kick in flight. R1 has:
(a) both feet inbounds; or
(b) one foot on the sideline, when he reaches through the plane of the sideline. The ball bounces off his
hands and lands out of bounds. - Answer Ruling: In (a), the ball is not yet out of bounds until it hit the
ground there. Since R1 touched it, he caused it to go out of bounds and R will have the ball at the
inbounds spot. In (b), since R1 is out of bounds when the ball
is touched, the kicker has caused the ball to be out of bounds.
.
Causing free kick to be out of bounds- 6.1.8 Situation D:
Fair Catch Correctly Solved
Recovery by K- 6.1.5 Situation A:
A kickoff by K1 from K's 40 is muffed by R1 near his 20-yard line. The muff is caught by K2 at the 18 and
he advances into R's end zone. - Answer Ruling: It will be K's ball first and 10 from R's 18. K2 may catch
or recover the muffed kick, but may not advance. The ball is dead when K gains possession. The covering
official should sound his whistle to stop play immediately when the ball becomes dead.
Recovery by K- 6.1.5 Situation B:
K's free kick is bouncing on the ground in the neutral zone where R1 and K1 are engaged in blocking one
another. K2 muffs the ball and the ball touches R1 on the leg and K3 recovers the ball. - Answer Ruling:
The touching by R is ignored and R will be awarded possession of the ball at the spot of first touching or
at the dead-ball spot.
First touching of a free kick- *6.1.6 Situation A:
A free kick from K's 40 is high and comes down over K's 45 where it is muffed in flight by K2 after which
it is recovered by K3 on R's 40. - Answer Ruling: This is first touching and also kick-catching interference
by K2. R may choose to take the ball at the spot of first touching, take the results of the play or accept
the 15-yard penalty for kick-catching interference. If the distance penalty is accepted, it is R's choice to
have the penalty enforced from the spot of the foul or have it enforced from the previous spot and
require K to rekick.
Comment: The clock will not be started when there is first touching of a free kick. The purpose is to
prevent the kickers from taking advantage by touching the ball to start the clock and thereby deny the
receivers the opportunity of putting the ball in play. The exception "the clock not start with first
touching," is protection for the receiving team and is consistent with the philosophy that the receiving
team be given an opportunity of putting the ball in play following a free kick. (3-4-1; 6-5-4, 6)
First touching of a free kick- 6.1.6 Situation B:
The ball is free kicked from K's 40-yard line and in flight, it crosses the 50-yard line before a strong wind
blows it back to K's 45 where it:
(a) is touched in flight by K1, or
(b) touches the ground and is recovered by K2. - Answer Ruling: Kick-catching interference in (a), first
and 10 for K in (b).
, Comment: The free-kick lines marking the neutral zone for K and R are vertical planes. When the free
kick penetrates R's free-kick line in flight, it is considered to have gone the required 10 yards. If it also
has touched the ground, before or after going 10 yards, it can be recovered, but not advanced by K. (6-
1-5)
Causing free kick to be out of bounds- 6.1.8 Situation A:
The free kick by K1 is possessed by R1 who:
(a) is airborne and alights with one foot in contact with the sideline at his 26, or
(b) contacts the sideline on the 26 after completing the catch. - Answer Ruling: In (a) and (b), R will put
the ball in play, first and 10, from its 26-yard line because R1 caused the ball to go out of bounds at the
26. (2-4-1)
Causing free kick to be out of bounds- 6.1.8 Situation B:
The free kick by K1 from K's 40-yard line:
(a) is touched by R1 at R's 5 and goes out of bounds at the 8-yard line; or
(b) is muffed by R1 at his 15 and then touched by K2 before it rolls out of bounds at R's 10-yard line; or
(c) bounces out of bounds on R's 30-yard line untouched by R or K. - Answer Ruling: In (a) and (b) the
ball belongs to R at the inbounds spot. In (c), it is a foul by K. The receivers may take the ball at the
inbounds spot, take the ball at the inbounds spot at R's 35 which is 25 yards beyond the previous spot,
or accept the 5-yard penalty and have K free kick from K's 35-yard line. (6-1-9; 2-41-4)
Causing free kick to be out of bounds- 6.1.8 Situation C:
R1 is running near a sideline as he attempts to catch a free kick in flight. R1 has:
(a) both feet inbounds; or
(b) one foot on the sideline, when he reaches through the plane of the sideline. The ball bounces off his
hands and lands out of bounds. - Answer Ruling: In (a), the ball is not yet out of bounds until it hit the
ground there. Since R1 touched it, he caused it to go out of bounds and R will have the ball at the
inbounds spot. In (b), since R1 is out of bounds when the ball
is touched, the kicker has caused the ball to be out of bounds.
.
Causing free kick to be out of bounds- 6.1.8 Situation D:
