THE KICKING GAME:
My chapter’s rules instructor introduced the topic of kicks at the beginning of our first class. His reason for beginning with kicks was that weird things happen most on plays that occur less often – such as kicks – so it’s important that we be prepared. He often presented questions such as “What’s the call when a kick made on the Team K 10 bounces back into K’s end zone, and Team K then runs it out to the 50?” We all smirked and silently thought, “It’ll never happen.” Rest assured that this very play happened to me in my first year as a certified official – and I was refereeing the JV game along with three new officials in training! So memorize, memorize, memorize!

This article is a quick review of general kicking concepts that cover both free and scrimmage kicks: kick duration, recovery, kick-catching interference, advancing, momentum, kicks out-bounds, first touching, fair catching, and roughing the kicker/holder. To test yourself, answer the questions in bold before reading on.
Kick duration: When does a kick end?

Any kick ends when a player gains possession, or the ball becomes dead (2-23-2). As the saying goes: “A kick is a kick is a kick is a kick (free or scrimmage) until Team R gets possession” – meaning that the kick has not yet ended during ensuing muffs, touches, and bounces.

Recovery: Name three situations where Team K may recover and retain the ball after a kick.
A good general rule to remember is that once the receiving team touches the ball, the next down is 1st & 10 for the recovering team unless a foul committed during a scrimmage kick is accepted. Team R always gets the ball unless:
–Team K recovers a free kick that has gone 10 yards and touched the ground (in any order) (6-1-5);
–a scrimmage kick goes behind the neutral zone and Team K recover (and either advances to a first down or has a down remaining) (6-2-3);
– any Team R player touches a kick anywhere in the field of play, and Team K recovers (6-2-4).

Remember that K’s recovery of R's muff can't be advanced if recovered beyond the scrimmage line, but recovery of Team R's fumble can be, since possession has changed.

Kick-catching interference: In relation to the scrimmage line, where can kick-catching interference occur?
Kick-catching interference occurs when Team K players don’t give the Team R receiver(s) an unhindered opportunity to catch a free kick in or beyond the neutral zone, or a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone (6-5-6). This means that beyond the Team K restraining line, if a Team K player(s) touches a kicked ball or a Team R player(s), or inhibits Team R's path to the ball (by contact or non-contact), it is kick-catching interference; unless a Team R player(s) blocks or pushes a Team K player(s) into the Team R receiver (C-6-5-6-D). Once Team R touches the ball beyond the scrimmage line, both teams are free to recover.

Advancing kicks: When CAN’T Team R advance a recovered kick? When CAN Team K advance a recovered kick?
Team R may advance any kick unless a Team R player signaled for a fair catch (6-2-2). Team K can't advance any kick unless the kick has ended (i.e., Team R possessed and lost it), or unless a scrimmage kick winds up in or behind the neutral zone (2-23-2; 6-1-5; 6-2-3, 4). This includes situations where the kick is blocked or muffed beyond the neutral zone to a point behind the line where Team K may recover and advance – the spot of recovery is the only factor (C-6-2-3-A, Comment).

Another good general rule to remember is that no one can advance any kick out of an end zone except (1) Team K on a Team K kick that winds up behind the scrimmage line in K’s own end zone, and (2) Team R in the momentum rule situation.

Momentum rule: OK, spit out the momentum rule.
If a Team R player intercepts a pass or catches a free- or scrimmage kick within 5 yards of his own goal, and his original momentum puts him into the end zone where the ball becomes dead, it is Team R's ball at spot of the catch (and not a safety) (8-5-2-excep; C-8-5-2-A). This rule does not apply to Team K; it exists to save Team R from inadvertently scoring a safety for Team K. Team R’s advance out of the end zone nullifies momentum rule (C-8-5-2-F). Likewise, if Team R fumbles the possessed catch once he’s in the end zone, and the ball is downed or goes out-bounds on field of play, momentum is nullified, and the ball is marked at the out-of-bounds or downed spot.

Out-of-bounds: Where is the ball spotted for a free kick that goes out of bounds? For a scrimmage kick that goes out?
If a free kick goes out of bounds untouched by Team R, it’s a foul, throw a flag. Team R’s choices are (6-1-8):
- they can elect a re-kick from Team K’s 35 (5-yard penalty. Team R will elect this if they want to try a run-back);
- they can take the ball at their own 35 (25 yards in advance of Team K’s prior free kick line which usually is Team R’s 35 on a kickoff unless a prior penalty changed the spot of the kick);
- they can take the ball at the out-bounds spot (this means the penalty is declined; Team R will take this option only if it’s in advance of other spots).
For a scrimmage kick that goes out of bounds, mark the spot with your foot or drop a bean bag at the spot; it’s Team R's ball at the inbounds spot unless the Team R can alternatively choose a spot of first touching (6-2-7).

First touching: Where can a first touching occur for a free kick? For a scrimmage kick? When does Team R lose their option to take the ball at the spot of Team K’s first touching?
Team K players are guilty of first touching if they touch the ball on a free kick before the kick goes 10 yards (6-1-6). On a scrimmage kick, they’re guilty if they touch it beyond the neutral zone expanded (6-2-5). First touching is not a foul, but rather a violation that gives a spot option that Team R will have unless they touch the kick and thereafter either commit a foul, or a penalty is accepted for any foul committed (by either Team R or Team K) during the down.
Fair catch zones: Where can fair catches be made on free kicks? On scrimmage kicks?
On a free kick, Team R may fair catch in or beyond the neutral zone in the field of play. For a scrimmage kick, Team R may fair catch anywhere beyond the neutral zone in the field of play (2-9-1; 6-5-2). Team K never has the option to fair catch their own kick.

Roughing the kicker: What’s the difference between roughing and running into a kicker?
There are many shades of gray here, but essentially, the 15-yard roughing penalty is called if the contact endangers the safety of the kicker or holder (likely to injure). The 5-yard running-into penalty is called when the kicker/holder is displaced, but not roughed (9-4-4).
Free kick after a safety: What is the “rub-salt-in-the-wound” rule?
The team who has given up a safety must then kick off from their own 20 yard line (6-1-b; C-8-5-1-C).