NFHS FOOTBALL CASE PLAYS – RULE 6 (KICKING THE
BALL AND FAIR CATCH) TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS.
6.1.3 SITUATION A:
With ready to play and before kick, Team K has five of its players to the left of
the kicker and five to the right of the kicker with the ball at the K40. The kicker
potential, K1, is at the K32 to begin his kick and all the rest of the K players are
in well outside the K35. When K1 approaches the kick, he suddenly decelerates
and K2 then kicks an onside kick which is picked by R1. - ANSWER
RULING: Team K has committed free kick foul and the ball shall be whistled
dead immediately. R is given an option to take the distance penalty of 5 yards
for the dead-ball foul.
6.1.3 SITUATION B:
Five players to the left of the kicker and five players to the right of the kicker
are available for Team K with the ball spot established at the K40 following
ready for play and prior to ball being kicked. Before kicking the ball, K2 player:
(a) has both feet just in front of the K35 (toward midfield); (b) has one foot on
the K35; (c) has one foot on beyond the K35 toward the K36 and the other
behind the K35; or (d) K has both feet clearly beyond the K35 (toward midfield)
but his hand is on behind the K35 (toward K's goal line). - RULING: Legal in
(a) and (d). Free kick offense in (b) and (c).
6.1.4 SITUATION:
Rafter ready to play and upon being kicked, Team K has seven players to the
right of the kicker and three to the left of the kicker.
- ANSWER RULING: A free kick foul by K. The ball shall be blown dead
immediately and R given the option to take the distance penalty of 5 yards for
the dead-ball foul.
, COMMENT: Communication between the two teams and game officials is
critical and the referee should ensure all chances for coming together in proper
formation have been provided before signaling ready-for-play.
6.1.6 SITUATION A:
K1 kickoff from K's 40 is muffed by R1 on his 20-yard line. Muff is recovered
by K2 on the 18 and he runs with the ball into R's end zone. - RULING: It will
be K's ball first and 10 from R's 18. K2 can recover or pick up the muffed kick,
but may not move forward. The ball is dead when it reaches K's possession. The
covering official should blow his whistle to stop play at once when the ball is
called dead.
6.1.6 SITUATION B:
K's free kick remains on the ground in the neutral zone with R1 and K1
obstructing one another. The ball is messed up by K2 and the ball strikes R1 on
the leg and K3 picks up the ball.
- ANSWER RULING: Contact by R is ignored and R will be awarded
possession of the ball at first point of contact or at dead-ball position.
*6.1.7 SITUATION A:
K's 40 free kick is high and comes down over K's 45 where it is muffed in flight
by K2 and is thereafter picked up by K3 on R's 40. - ANSWER RULING: This
is initial touching and also kick-catching interference by K2. R may choose to
take the ball where initially touched, take the result of the play or the 15-yard
penalty for kick-catching interference. In case of taking distance penalty, it is
R's choice to have the penalty enforced from the location of the infraction or to
have it enforced from the previous location and require K to rekick.
COMMENT: Game clock will not start when there is first contact of a free kick.
The reason is to discourage the kickers from gaining advantage by making
contact with the ball to start the game clock and thereby taking away the
opportunity of placing the ball in play for the receivers. The exception "the
BALL AND FAIR CATCH) TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS.
6.1.3 SITUATION A:
With ready to play and before kick, Team K has five of its players to the left of
the kicker and five to the right of the kicker with the ball at the K40. The kicker
potential, K1, is at the K32 to begin his kick and all the rest of the K players are
in well outside the K35. When K1 approaches the kick, he suddenly decelerates
and K2 then kicks an onside kick which is picked by R1. - ANSWER
RULING: Team K has committed free kick foul and the ball shall be whistled
dead immediately. R is given an option to take the distance penalty of 5 yards
for the dead-ball foul.
6.1.3 SITUATION B:
Five players to the left of the kicker and five players to the right of the kicker
are available for Team K with the ball spot established at the K40 following
ready for play and prior to ball being kicked. Before kicking the ball, K2 player:
(a) has both feet just in front of the K35 (toward midfield); (b) has one foot on
the K35; (c) has one foot on beyond the K35 toward the K36 and the other
behind the K35; or (d) K has both feet clearly beyond the K35 (toward midfield)
but his hand is on behind the K35 (toward K's goal line). - RULING: Legal in
(a) and (d). Free kick offense in (b) and (c).
6.1.4 SITUATION:
Rafter ready to play and upon being kicked, Team K has seven players to the
right of the kicker and three to the left of the kicker.
- ANSWER RULING: A free kick foul by K. The ball shall be blown dead
immediately and R given the option to take the distance penalty of 5 yards for
the dead-ball foul.
, COMMENT: Communication between the two teams and game officials is
critical and the referee should ensure all chances for coming together in proper
formation have been provided before signaling ready-for-play.
6.1.6 SITUATION A:
K1 kickoff from K's 40 is muffed by R1 on his 20-yard line. Muff is recovered
by K2 on the 18 and he runs with the ball into R's end zone. - RULING: It will
be K's ball first and 10 from R's 18. K2 can recover or pick up the muffed kick,
but may not move forward. The ball is dead when it reaches K's possession. The
covering official should blow his whistle to stop play at once when the ball is
called dead.
6.1.6 SITUATION B:
K's free kick remains on the ground in the neutral zone with R1 and K1
obstructing one another. The ball is messed up by K2 and the ball strikes R1 on
the leg and K3 picks up the ball.
- ANSWER RULING: Contact by R is ignored and R will be awarded
possession of the ball at first point of contact or at dead-ball position.
*6.1.7 SITUATION A:
K's 40 free kick is high and comes down over K's 45 where it is muffed in flight
by K2 and is thereafter picked up by K3 on R's 40. - ANSWER RULING: This
is initial touching and also kick-catching interference by K2. R may choose to
take the ball where initially touched, take the result of the play or the 15-yard
penalty for kick-catching interference. In case of taking distance penalty, it is
R's choice to have the penalty enforced from the location of the infraction or to
have it enforced from the previous location and require K to rekick.
COMMENT: Game clock will not start when there is first contact of a free kick.
The reason is to discourage the kickers from gaining advantage by making
contact with the ball to start the game clock and thereby taking away the
opportunity of placing the ball in play for the receivers. The exception "the
