Rule 6: Free Kicks – A Not-So-Free For All
Welcome to NFL free kicks, where the action starts and the crowd holds their breath. Let’s break down what a free kick is and the meticulous rules that govern this spectacle.
Section 1: Procedures for a Free Kick
What is a Free Kick?
- Kickoff and Safety Kicks: These are the two types of free kicks used to put the ball into play. A kickoff occurs at the start of each half, after a try, and following a successful field goal. Safety kicks come into play after a safety.
- Tee Time: During a kickoff, you can use a tee to hold the ball no more than one inch off the ground. No tees allowed for safety kicks; you’ve got to kick it old school with a dropkick, placekick, or punt.
Stay Behind the Line
- Restraining Lines for Kicking Teams:
- Kickoffs: The kicking team starts at their 35-yard line.
- Safety Kicks: They kick from their 20-yard line.
- Receiving Team’s Line: They need to stay 10 yards away from wherever the kicking team’s ball is teed up.
Lining Up Right
- Formation Musts:
- Kicking Team Setup: All kickers, except the one kicking the ball, need one foot behind their line, staying put until the ball is kicked.
- Receiving Team Rules: They must be lined up behind their restraining line, with 8-9 players close to that line, ready to catch or block the kick.
Catching and Recovery Etiquette
- What Happens Next:
- Receiving Team Can Advance: If they catch or recover the ball, they’re free to run it back.
- Ball is Dead If: It’s recovered by the kicking team or goes out of bounds in the end zone—hello, touchback!
Section 2: Other Free Kick Rules
Blocking Do’s and Don’ts
- Before the Ball is Touched:
- Kicking Team: No blocking in the “neutral zone” right after the kick.
- Receiving Team: They can block but have to wait until the ball hits the ground or is touched.
- Penalty Time: Illegal blocks? That’s 10 yards lost.
Don’t Mess With the Kicker
- Protect the Kicker: Running into the kicker before he can reset costs you 5 yards—think of it as the “bubble” rule. Don’t pop the bubble!
Keep It Inbounds
- Out of Bounds No-No’s:
- Kickoffs: If the ball goes out without touching anyone, the receiving team can start their drive 25 yards from where the kick was made, or where it went out.
- Safety Kicks: They get to start 30 yards from the kick spot if the ball sails out of bounds.
No Early Touching
- Kicking Team Restrictions: They can’t touch the ball before it crosses the receiving team’s line, unless a receiver touches it first.
- Penalty: Touch it too soon? That’s a 5-yard no-no.
Section 3: Enforcement of Penalties
- Where Penalties are Enforced:
- Fouls During the Kick: They’re usually enforced from where the last play started—unless it’s one of those tricky situations that changes things, like fouls after a fair catch signal.
- Out of Bounds and Other Fouls: Specific fouls like kicking out of bounds have their own special spots for penalty enforcement.
Key Takeaways:
- Stay in Your Lane: Really, both teams need to mind their lines until the ball is kicked.
- Don’t Touch: If you’re kicking, don’t touch the ball too early, and keep it in bounds.
- Protect the Kicker: Let him land! No crowding the kicker.
Free kicks are where strategy meets chaos, and knowing these rules can make or break the opening plays of each half. Whether you’re watching the game or playing in it, understanding the ins and outs of Rule 6 will definitely enhance your NFL experience. So, next time you see a player teeing up for that kick, you’ll know exactly what rules they’re playing by!
