KICKS FROM SCRIMMAGE
1. Any kick from scrimmage must be made at or behind the line
of scrimmage to be legal.
2. Any punt that touches a goal post is dead.
3. During a kick from scrimmage, only the end men, as eligible
receivers on the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap, are
permitted to go beyond the line before the ball is kicked.
Exception: An eligible receiver who, at the snap is aligned or
in motion behind the line and more than one yard outside the
end man on his side of the line, clearly making him the
outside receiver, replaces that end man as the player eligible
to go downfield after the snap. All other members of the
kicking team must remain at the line of scrimmage until the
ball has been kicked..
4. Any punt that is blocked and does not cross the line of
scrimmage can be recovered and advanced by either team.
However, if the offensive team recovers it must make the
yardage necessary for its first down to retain possession if
punt was on four th down.
5. The kicking team may possess but not advance its own kick
even though legal recovery is made beyond the line of
scrimmage.
6. A member of the receiving team may not run into or rough a
kicker who kicks from behind his line unless contact is:
(a) Incidental to and after he had touched ball in flight.
(b) Caused by kicker’s own motions.
(c) During a quick kick or a kick made after a run behind the
line or after kicker recovers a loose ball on the ground.
(d) Caused by block into kicker.
The penalty for running into the kicker is five yards. For
roughing the kicker: 15 yards, an automatic first down, and
disqualification if flagrant.
7. If a member of the kicking team attempting to down the ball
carries the ball directly into the end zone, it is a touchback.
Note: It is also a touchback if a kicking team member touches
a kicked ball:
(a) while in contact with the end zone, or
(b) after contact with the end zone, but before re-
establishing a position (with two feet or any body part
other than the hands) in the field of play, or
(c) if a kicking team player illegally touches the ball inside the
receiver’s five-yard line.
8. For any foul by the kicking team prior to the actual change
of possession, the receiving team will have the option of
accepting the penalty at the previous spot and replaying the
down or adding the penalty yardage on to the end of the
play.
Exception: Fair catch interference, invalid fair catch signal,
interference with the oppor tunity, or personal foul (blocking)
after a fair catch signal. These are spot fouls.
9. While the ball is in the air or rolling on the ground following a
punt or field goal attempt and receiving team commits a foul
before gaining possession, receiving team will retain
possession and will be penalized for its foul.
10. It will be illegal for a defensive player to jump on or stand on
any player or be picked up by a teammate or to use a hand or
hands on a teammate to gain additional height in an attempt
to block a kick (Penalty 15 yards, unspor tsmanlike conduct).
11. A punted ball remains a kicked ball until it is declared dead or
in possession of either team.
12. Any member of the punting team may down the ball
anywhere in the field of play. However, if ball is not first
touched by receivers, it is a first touch violation. The receiving
team can take possession of the ball at the spot of first
touching, provided no penalty is accepted on the play.
13. If a member of the punting team goes out of bounds, he
cannot return inbounds and be the first to touch the kick.
When this occurs, it is a foul for illegal touching. If the illegal
touching is inside the receiver’s five-yard line, the receiving
team may elect to take a touchback.