Contra Costa Officials Association

New Officials Training Session No. 7 The Kicking Game

1 RULES OF THE KICKING GAME Rule 6

Free Kicks Scrimmage Kicks Definitions Scrimmage , ß Scrimmage Kick ® 2-24-4 ® Legal Kick from in or behind the neutral zone ® Can be place kick, or ß Free Kick ® 2-24-3 ® A “Kickoff” putting ball in play: • To start the half • After a score (TD, FG, Safety) • After a fair catch (don’t worry about that) ® Must be a place kick or drop kick (for kickoff after a safety may be a punt) ß “A kick is a kick” until a player secures possession (catch or recovery) The Kicking Game 3 A Few Other Kick-Related Definitions ß Kicker 2-32-8 ® A player who legally kicks the ball ® Becomes Kicker when his lower leg strikes the ball ® Remains a kicker until: • He has opportunity to regain balance (scrimmage Kick) • He advances 5 yards of kick touches ground or another player (Free kick) ß Holder – Player controlling ball on the ground or on a ß Fair Catch ® Catch made by a player in or beyond neutral zone after he gives valid fair catch signal ® Can be awarded if R not given opportunity to catch the ball (whether he signals or not) ® Fair Catch signals – valid, invalid, illegal ß Kick Catch Interference ® Touch a kick in flight or catch a kick (unless on a scrimmage kick only there is no R player in position to catch kick) ® Obstruct R’s path to the ball The Kicking Game 4 Free Kick Fundamental Rules ß Can be made anywhere between hash marks ß Only Kicker and Holder may be in neutral zone ß What R can do: ® Catch or recover any where in field of play and advance (WIND THE CLOCK – ABOUT ONLY TIME YOU WILL START THE CLOCK) ® Call for a fair catch and give up right to advance ß What K can do: ® After ball has gone 10 yards AND hit the ground K may recover ® If ball touches R, then K may catch or recover anywhere ß What K can NOT do ® Never advance a kick ( – WHISTLE) ® Catch a kick (unless first touches an R player) (FLAG) ® Be first to touch ball in neutral zone (BEANBAG) ® Kick ball out of bounds untouched by R (FLAG) ® Obstruct R’s path to ball (FLAG) ® Cannot block R unless ball has gone 10 yards OR if K is eligible to recover kick ß If kick goes into R’s end zone – immediately a touchback The Kicking Game 5 Free Kick Position Mechanics – 4 Man ß Head Lines ® With K, start in middle of field, hand ball to kicker, count K, move off you your sideline, beanbag in hand, raise arm signaling ready ß Line judge ® R’s restraining line, count K ® Start on sideline, beanbag in hand, raise arm signaling ready ß Umpire ® HL Side about 20 yard line but adjust depending on age and strength of kicker, count R, raise arm signaling ready ß Referee ® 5-10 yard line, Same side as LJ, Little outside hash marks ® Counts R ® Signals ready for play

The Kicking Game 6 Key on L position

CCFOA may be opposite or on same side as press box depending on The Kicking Game level of play 7 X U to be here

The Kicking Game 8 Scrimmage Kick Fundamental Rules ß Applies to “Punts” as well as to “Field Goals” ß What R can do: ® Catch or recover any where in field of play and advance ® Call for a fair catch and give up right to advance ß What K can do: ® Beyond the line: Recover and maintain possession of a kick that R has been first to touch beyond the line (WHISTLE) ® Behind the line: recover and advance (LIVE BALL; NO WHISTLE) ß What K can NOT do ® Commit Kick Catching Interference (FLAG) ® Be first to touch ball beyond line of scrimmage (BEANBAG) ® Catch a kick (unless no R player in position) (WHISTLE) ß If kick goes into R’s end zone – immediately a touchback

The Kicking Game 9 Scrimmage Kick (Punts) Position Mechanics (4 Man) ß Headlines ® On Line of Scrimmage (Have entire Line) ® Stay on line until you are 100% positive kick is across the line and is not coming back ® Drift Down Field and cover kicks to your side ® Kick out of Bounds Mechanic (Roll vs. In Flight) ® Never move chains until Referee signals ß Line Judge ® 7-10 yards wide and 2-3 yards in front of deepest receiver ® Bean bag in hand ® Cover kicks on your 2/3 of field ® Kick O.O.B. – Same as HL ® Rule on all touching ® Rule on kicks into E.Z.

The Kicking Game 10 Scrimmage Kick (Punts) Position Mechanics (4 Man) ß Umpire ® Warn players “Stay off the snapper” ® Watch for roughing the snapper ® Pivot towards LJ side and observe play in front of receivers ß Referee ® On LJ side ® 3-5 yards outside TE and 2-3 yards behind kicker ® Kick O.O.B. in flight

The Kicking Game 11 Key on L position

CCFOA may be opposite or on same side as press box depending on level of play

The Kicking Game 12 Scrimmage Kick (FG or ) Position Mechanics (4 Man) ß Headlines ® On Line ® Observe Neutral Zone ß Line Judge ® Inside 15: On Line; help with over/under crossbar ® Outside 15: • Behind and directly between uprights • Drift to correct upright and make call – yours all the way ß Umpire ® Same as punts ß Referee ® Inside 15 - Rules on kick and roughing

® Outside 15 - Rules on roughing 13