SECTION 4. Batting and Kicking

Article 1 - Batting a Loose Ball

a. While a pass is in flight, only a player who is eligible to touch the ball may bat it in any direction (Exception: Rule 9-4-2).
b. Any player may block a scrimmage kick in the field of play or the end zone.
c. No player shall bat other loose balls forward in the field of play or in any direction if the ball is in the end zone (Rule 2-2-3-a) (Exception: Rule 6-3-11). (A.R. 6-3-11:I) (A.R. 9-4-1:I-X) (A.R. 10-2-2:II)
PENALTY − 10 yards and loss of down for fouls by Team A if the loss of down is not in conflict with other rules [S31 and S9: BAT]. [Exception: No loss of down if the foul occurs when a legal scrimmage kick has crossed the neutral zone].

Article 2 - Batting a Backward Pass in Flight

A backward pass in flight shall not be batted forward by the passing team.
PENALTY − 10 yards [S31: BAT].

Article 3 - Batting Ball in Possession

A ball in player possession may not be batted forward by a player of that team.
PENALTY − 10 yards [S31: BAT].

Article 4 - Illegally Kicking a Ball

A player shall not kick a loose ball, a forward pass or a ball being held for a place kick by an opponent. These illegal acts do not change the status of the loose ball or forward pass; but if the player holding the ball for a place kick loses possession during a scrimmage down, it is a fumble and a loose ball; if during a free kick, the ball remains dead. (A.R. 8-7-2:IV) (A.R. 9-4-1:XI)
PENALTY − 10 yards, plus loss of down for fouls by Team A if the loss of down is not in conflict with other rules [S31 and S9: IKB] (Exception: No loss of down if the foul occurs when a legal scrimmage kick has crossed the neutral zone).