SECTION 1. FREE KICKS

Article 1 - Restraining Lines

Article 2 - Free Kick Formation

a. A ball from a free kick formation must be kicked legally and from some point on Team A’s restraining line (Exception: Rule 6-1-2-c-4 ) and on or between the hash marks. The referee will declare the ball ready for play when the officials are in position after the kicker has received the ball. After the ready-for-play signal, the ball may only be relocated after a charged timeout or during a subsequent kick.
PENALTY—Dead ball foul. Illegal kick. Five yards from the succeeding spot [S7 and S19]. (A.R. 6-1-2-I).
b. After the ball has been made ready for play, all players on the kicking team except the kicker must be no more than five yards behind their restraining line. A player satisfies this rule when one foot is on or beyond the line five yards behind the restraining line. If one player is more than five yards behind the restraining line and any other player kicks the ball, it is a foul for an illegal formation. (A.R. 6-1-2-VII)
c. When the ball is kicked (A.R. 6-1-2-I-IV):
1. Each Team A player, except the holder and kicker of a place kick, must be behind the ball (A.R. 6-1-2-V) [S18].
2. All Team A players must be inbounds [S19].
3. At least four Team A players must be on each side of the kicker [S19]. (AR 6-1-2-II-IV)
4. After a safety, when a punt or drop kick is used, the ball may be kicked from behind the kicking team’s restraining line. If a yardage penalty for a live-ball foul is enforced from the previous spot, administration is from the 20-yard line, unless the kicking team’s restraining line has been relocated by a previous penalty [S18 or appropriate signal].
5. All players of Team A must have been between the nine-yard marks after the ready-for-play signal [S19].
PENALTY [b-c5]—Live-ball foul. Five yards from the previous spot, or five yards from the spot where the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B, or from the spot where the ball is placed after a touchback [S18 or S19] (A.R. 6-1-2-VI).
6. All Team B players must be inbounds [S19].
7. All Team B players must be behind their restraining line [S18].
PENALTY [c6-c7]—Live-ball foul. Five yards from the previous spot [S18 or S19].
d. After the ball is ready for play and for any reason falls from the tee, Team A shall not kick the ball and the official shall sound their whistle immediately

Article 3 - Touching and Recovery of a Free Kick; Illegal Touching

a. No Team A player may touch a free-kicked ball until after:
1. It touches a Team B player (Exception: Rule 6-1-4 and Rule 6-5-1-b</a );
2. It breaks the plane of and remains beyond Team B’s restraining line (Exception: Rule 6-1-4 ) (A.R. 2-12-5-I); or
3. It touches any player, the ground, an official or anything else beyond Team B’s restraining line. Thereafter, all players of Team A become eligible to touch, recover
or catch the kick.
b. Any other touching by Team A is illegal touching, a violation that, when the ball becomes dead, gives the receiving team the privilege of taking the ball at the spot of the violation.
c. If there is an accepted penalty for a live-ball foul by either team, or if there are offsetting fouls, the illegal touching privilege is canceled (A.R. 6-1-3-I).
d. Illegal touching in Team A’s end zone is ignored.

Article 4 - Forced Touching Disregarded

a. A player blocked by an opponent into a free kick is not, while inbounds, deemed to have touched the kick. (A. R. 2-11-4-I)
b. An inbounds player touched by a ball either batted or illegally kicked by an opponent is not deemed to have touched the ball. (Rule 2-11-4-c)

Article 5 - Free Kick at Rest

Article 6 - Free Kick Caught or Recovered

a. If a free kick is caught or recovered by a player of the receiving team, the ball continues in play (Exceptions: Rule 4-1-3-g
, Rule 6-1-7 , and Rule 6-5-1 and 2 ). If caught or recovered by a player of the kicking team, the ball becomes dead. The ball belongs to the receiving team at the dead-ball spot, unless the kicking team is in legal possession when the ball is declared dead. In the latter case, the ball belongs to the kicking team.
b. When opposing players, each eligible to touch the ball, simultaneously recover a rolling kick or catch a free kick, the simultaneous possession makes the ball dead.
c. A kick declared dead in joint possession is awarded to the receiving team.

Article 7 - Ball Dead in End Zone

a. When a free kick untouched by Team B touches the ground on or behind Team B’s goal line, the ball becomes dead and belongs to Team B.
b. If the result of the free kick is a touchback (Rule 8-6 ) for Team B, they will put the ball in play at their 25-yard line.

Article 8 - Fouls by Kicking Team

Penalties for all fouls by the kicking team during a free kick play other than kick-catch interference (Rule 6-4
) may be enforced at the previous spot with the down repeated or at the spot where the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B, at the option of Team B.

Article 9 - Foul Against Kicker

The kicker of a free kick may not be blocked until they have advanced five yards beyond the restraining line or the kick has touched a player, an official or the ground. (Rule 9-1-16-c )
PENALTY—15 yards from the previous spot [S40].

Article 10 - Illegal Wedge Formation

a. A wedge is defined as two or more players aligned shoulder to shoulder within two yards of each other.
b. Free-kick down only: After the ball has been kicked, it is illegal for two or more members of the receiving team intentionally to form a wedge for the purpose of blocking for the ball carrier. This is a live-ball foul, whether or not there is contact between opponents.
PENALTY—Noncontact foul. 15 yards, spot of the foul, or 15 yards, spot where the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B if this is behind the spot of the foul. 15 yards, previous spot with the down repeated if the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team A. [S27]
c. Formation of the wedge is not illegal when the kick is from an obvious onside kick formation.
d. There is no foul if the play results in a touchback, a foul for free kick out of bounds or fair catch.

Article 11 - Player Out Of Bounds

A Team A player who goes out of bounds during a free kick play may not return inbounds during the down (Exception: This does not apply to a Team A player who is blocked out of bounds and returns in-bounds immediately).
PENALTY—Live-ball foul. Five yards from the previous spot, or five yards from the spot where the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B, or from the spot where the ball is placed after a touchback [S19]

Article 12 - Eligibility to Block

No Team A player may block an opponent until Team A is eligible to touch a free-kicked ball. (A.R. 6-1-3-II)
PENALTY —Live-ball foul. Five yards from the previous spot, or five yards from the spot where the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B, or from the spot where the ball is placed after a touchback [S19].

SECTION 2.  FREE KICK OUT OF BOUNDS

Article 1 - Kicking Team

If a free kick goes out of bounds between the goal lines untouched by an inbounds player of Team B, it is a foul (A.R. 6-2-1-I-II and 4-2-1-III).
PENALTY—Live-ball foul. Five yards from the previous spot; or five yards from the spot where the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B; or the receiving team may put the ball in play 30 yards beyond Team A’s restraining line at the hash mark [S19].

Article 2 - Receiving Team

SECTION 3. SCRIMMAGE KICKS

Article 1 - Behind the Neutral Zone

a. A scrimmage kick that fails to cross the neutral zone continues in play. All players may catch or recover the ball behind the neutral zone and advance it (A.R. 6-3-1-I-III).
b. The blocking of a scrimmage kick by an opponent of the kicking team who is not more than three yards beyond the neutral zone is considered to have occurred within or behind that zone (Rule 2-11-5 )

Article 2 - Beyond the Neutral Zone

a. No inbounds player of the kicking team shall touch a scrimmage kick that has crossed the neutral zone before it touches an opponent. This is illegal touching, a violation that, when the ball becomes dead, gives the receiving team the privilege of taking the ball at the spot of the violation (Exception: Rule 6-3-4 ) (A.R. 2-12-2-I and A.R. 6-3-2-I).
b. This privilege is canceled if there is an accepted penalty for a live-ball foul by either team (A.R. 6-3-2-I-IV, A.R. 6-3-11-I-III and A.R. 10-1-4-VII).
c. The privilege is canceled if there are offsetting fouls.
d. Illegal touching on a try, in extra periods, or in Team A’s end zone is ignored.

Article 3 - All Become Eligible

Article 4 - Forced Touching Disregarded

a. A player blocked by an opponent into a scrimmage kick that has crossed the neutral zone shall not, while inbounds, be deemed to have touched the kick (A.R. 6-3-4-I-V and 2-11-4-I).
b. An inbounds player touched by a ball either batted or illegally kicked by an opponent is not deemed to have touched the ball (A.R. 6-3-4-II). (Rule 2-11-4-c )

Article 5 - Catch or Recovery by Receiving Team

Article 6 - Catch or Recovery by Kicking Team

a. If a player of the kicking team catches or recovers a scrimmage kick that has crossed the neutral zone, the ball becomes dead (A.R. 6-3-1-IV). The ball belongs to the receiving team at the dead-ball spot, unless the kicking team is in legal possession when the ball is declared dead. In the latter case, the ball belongs to the kicking team. (Exception: Rule 8-4-2-b ).
b. If opposing players who are each eligible to touch the ball simultaneously catch or recover a scrimmage kick, the simultaneous possession makes the ball dead. A kick declared dead in joint possession of opposing players is awarded to the receiving team (Rule 2-4-4 and Rule 4-1-3-l).

Article 7 - Out of Bounds Between Goal Lines or at Rest Inbounds

Article 8 - Out of Bounds Behind Goal Line

Article 9 - Touching Ground On or Behind Goal Line

Article 10 - Legal and Illegal Kicks

a. A legal scrimmage kick is a punt, drop kick or place kick made according to rule.
b. A return kick is an illegal kick, a live-ball foul that causes the ball to become dead (Rule 2-16-8
).
PENALTY—For a return kick (live-ball foul): Five yards from the spot of the foul [S31].
c. A scrimmage kick made when the kicker’s entire body and the ball is or has been beyond the neutral zone is an illegal kick, a live-ball foul that causes the ball to become dead.
PENALTY—For an illegal kick beyond the neutral zone (or when the kicker goes beyond the neutral zone and returns) (live-ball foul): Five yards from the previous spot and loss of down [S31 and S9].
d. No device or material may be used to mark the spot of a scrimmage place kick or elevate the ball. This is a live-ball foul at the snap.
PENALTY—Five yards from the previous spot [S19].

Article 11 - Loose Behind the Goal Line

Article 12 - Out-of-Bounds Player

No Team A player who goes out of bounds during a scrimmage kick play may return inbounds during the down (Exception: This does not apply to a Team A player who is blocked out of bounds and attempts to return inbounds immediately).
PENALTY—Live-ball foul. Five yards from the previous spot or if the scrimmage kick crosses the neutral zone, five yards from the spot where the subsequent dead ball belongs to Team B [S19].

Article 13 - Fouls by Kicking Team

Article 14 - Defensive Linemen on Scrimmage Kick Plays

a. If Team A is in a scrimmage kick formation at the snap, any Team B player within one yard of the line of scrimmage must be aligned completely outside the frame of the body of the snapper at the snap (A.R. 6-3-14-I and II).
b. If Team A is in a formation to attempt a place kick (field goal or try) it is illegal for three Team B players on their line of scrimmage inside the blocking zone to align shoulder-to-shoulder and move forward together after the snap with primary contact against a single Team A player (A.R. 6-3-14-III and IV).
PENALTY—Live-ball foul. Five yards, previous spot. [S19]

SECTION 4. OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH A KICK

Article 1 - Interference With Opportunity

a. If an inbounds player of the receiving team is located where they could catch a free kick or a scrimmage kick that has crossed the neutral zone, and if the player is attempting to do so, they must be given an unimpeded opportunity to catch the kick (A.R. 6-3-1-III, A.R. 6-4-1-V, VI and IX).
b. It is an interference foul if, before the receiver touches the ball, a Team A player enters the area defined by the width of the receiver’s shoulders and extending one yard in front of him. When in question it is a foul.(A.R. 6-4-1-X-XIII)
c. This protection ends when the kick touches the ground (Exception: Free kick, par. f below), when any player of Team B muffs or touches a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone, or when any player of Team B muffs or touches a free kick in the field of play or in the end zone (Exception: Rule 6-5-1-b ) (A.R. 6-4-1-IV).
d. If interference with a potential receiver is the result of a player being blocked by an opponent, it is not a foul.
e. It is an interference foul if the kicking team contacts the potential receiver before, or simultaneous to, their first touching the ball (A.R. 6-4-1-II, III, and VIII). When in question, it is an interference foul.
f. During a free kick a player of the receiving team in position to receive the ball has the same kick-catch and fair-catch protection whether the ball is kicked directly off the tee or is immediately driven to the ground, strikes the ground once and goes into the air in the manner of the ball kicked directly off the tee.
g. If contact by Team A is deemed to be a targeting foul (Rule 9-1-3 and 4 ) or any other personal foul that interferes with the receiver’s opportunity to catch a kick, it may be ruled either as interference or as a targeting or personal foul. The 15-yard penalty is enforced at the spot where the dead ball belongs to Team B or at the spot of the foul, at the option of Team B.
PENALTY [a-g]—For foul between the goal lines (other than a foul behind the B-25 on a free kick): Receiving team’s ball, first down, 15 yards beyond the spot of the foul for an interference foul [S33].
For a foul on a free kick play behind the B-25-yard line against a player who has given a valid fair catch signal: Penalize from the B-25 [S33].
For foul behind the goal line: Award a touchback and penalize from the succeeding spot [S33].
Flagrant offenders shall be ejected or disqualified [S47].

SECTION 5. FAIR CATCH

Article 1 - Dead Where Caught

a. If a Team B player makes a fair catch, the ball becomes dead where caught and belongs to Team B at that spot. [Exception: If a Team B player makes a fair catch of a free kick behind Team B’s 25-yard line, the ball belongs to Team B at its own 25-yard line. The next snap shall be from midway between the hashmarks, unless a different
position on or between the hashmarks is selected by the team designated to put the ball in play before the play clock is at 25 seconds or before any subsequent ready-for-play signal. After the play clock is at 25 seconds or any subsequent ready-for-play signal, the ball may be relocated only after a charged team timeout unless preceded by a Team A foul or offsetting fouls.
b. If a Team B player makes a valid fair catch signal, the unimpeded opportunity to catch a free or scrimmage kick continues if this player muffs the kick and still has an opportunity to complete the catch. If that player (or another Team B player) subsequently catches the kick, the ball belongs to Team B where the player making the signal first touched it. This protection terminates when the kick touches the ground. (A.R. 6-5-1-I-II).
c. Rules pertaining to a fair catch apply only when a scrimmage kick crosses the neutral zone or during free kicks.
d. The purpose of the fair catch provision is to protect the receiver who, by using the fair catch signal, agrees they or a teammate will not advance after the catch (A.R. 6-5-5-III).
e. The ball shall be put in play by a snap by the receiving team at the spot of the catch if the ball is caught (Exceptions: Rule 6-5-1-a , Rule 6-5-1-b , Rule 7-1-3 and Rule 8-6-1-b ).

Article 2 - No Advance

No Team B player shall carry a caught or recovered ball more than two steps in any direction after any Team B player gives a valid or invalid fair catch signal (A.R. 6-5-2-I-III).
PENALTY—Dead-ball foul, delay of game. Five yards from the succeeding spot [S7 and S21].

Article 3 - Invalid Signals: Catch or Recovery

a. A catch after an invalid signal is not a fair catch, and the ball is dead where caught or recovered. (Exception: During a free kick, if a Team B receiver gives any waving signal that does not meet all of the requirements of a valid fair catch signal, and subsequently catches the ball behind the B-25 yard line the ball belongs to Team B at its own 25-yard line).
b. If the signal follows a catch or recovery, the ball is dead when the signal is first given (A.R. 6-5-1-I).
c. Invalid signals beyond the neutral zone apply only to Team B.
d. An invalid signal beyond the neutral zone is possible only when the ball has crossed the neutral zone (Rule 2-16-7 ) (A.R. 6-5-3-I).

Article 4 - Illegal Block or Contact

A player of Team B who has made a valid or invalid signal for a fair catch and does not touch the ball shall not block or foul an opponent during that down (A.R. 6-5-4-I and II).
PENALTY—Free kick: Receiving team’s ball 10 yards from the spot of the foul [S40]. Scrimmage kick: 10 yards, post scrimmage kick enforcement [S40]. If a Personal Foul is committed in conjunction with this action, the penalty is 15 yards and flagrant offenders shall be ejected or disqualified.

Article 5 - No Tackling

No player of the kicking team shall tackle or block an opponent who has completed a fair catch. Only the player making a fair catch signal has this protection (A.R. 6-5-5-I and III).
PENALTY—Dead-ball foul. Receiving team’s ball 15 yards from the succeeding spot [S7 and S38].