Kicking the Ball; Legal and Illegal Kicks
ARTICLE 1.
Kicking the ball is intentionally striking the ball with the knee, lower leg or foot.
A legal kick is a punt, drop kick or place kick made according to the rules by a player of Team A before a change of team possession. Kicking the ball in any other manner is illegal (A.R. 6-1-2-I).
Any free kick or scrimmage kick continues to be a kick until it is caught or recovered by a player or becomes dead.
When in question, a ball is accidentally touched rather than kicked.
Punt
ARTICLE 2.
A punt is a kick by a player who drops the ball and kicks it before it strikes the ground.
Drop Kick
ARTICLE 3.
A drop kick is a kick by a player who drops the ball and kicks it as it touches the ground.
Place Kick
ARTICLE 4.
A field goal place kick is a kick by a player of the team in possession while the ball is controlled on the ground by a teammate.
A free kick place kick is a kick by a player of the team in possession while the ball is positioned on a tee or the ground. It may be controlled by a teammate. The ball may be positioned on the ground and contacting the tee.
A tee is a device that elevates the ball for kicking purposes. It may not elevate the ball’s lowest point more than one inch above the ground (A.R. 2-16-4-I).
Free Kick
ARTICLE 5.
A free kick is a kick by a player of the team in possession made under restrictions specified in Rules 4-1-4, 6-1-1 and 6-1-2.
A free kick after a safety may be a punt, drop kick or place kick.
Kickoff
ARTICLE 6.
A kickoff is a free kick that starts each half and follows each try or field goal (Exception: In extra periods). It must be a place kick or a drop kick.
Scrimmage Kick
ARTICLE 7.
A scrimmage kick is a punt, drop kick, or field goal place kick. It is a legal kick if it is made by Team A in or behind the neutral zone during a scrimmage down before team possession changes.
A scrimmage kick has crossed the neutral zone when it touches the ground, a player, an official or anything beyond the neutral zone (Exception: Rule 6-3-1-b) (A.R. 6-3-1-I-IV).
A scrimmage kick made when the kicker’s entire body is beyond the neutral zone is an illegal kick and a live-ball foul that causes the ball to become dead (Rule 6-3-10-c).
Return Kick
ARTICLE 8.
A return kick is a kick by a player of the team in possession after change of team possession during a down. It is an illegal kick and a live-ball foul that causes the ball to become dead (Rule 6-3-10-b).
Field Goal Attempt
ARTICLE 9.
A field goal attempt is a scrimmage kick. It may be a place kick or drop kick.
Scrimmage Kick Formation
ARTICLE 10.
A scrimmage kick formation is a formation with no player in position to receive a hand-to-hand snap from between the snapper’s legs, and with either (1) at least one player 10 or more yards behind the neutral zone; or (2) a potential holder and potential kicker seven or more yards behind the neutral zone in position for a place kick. For either (1) or (2) to qualify as a scrimmage kick formation, it must be obvious that a kick will be attempted (A.R. 9-1-14-I-III)
If Team A is in a scrimmage kick formation at the snap, any action by Team A during the down is deemed to be from a scrimmage kick formation.