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National Football League / Melbourne Australia Crew
« Last post by Aussie-Zebra on September 05, 2026, 05:19:20 AM »Anyone know which crew is coming to Melbourne, Australia for the round one game ?
Recent Posts
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National Federation Discussion / Re: Rule about distance the holder has to be from snapper on the try
« Last post by ncwingman on September 04, 2026, 01:20:12 PM »Thank you for the responses. Is it written anywhere in the rules that you are allowed to kick from a non scrimmage kick formation? Thanks.
In a roundabout way - there's nothing that requires a scrimmage kick formation for a legal scrimmage kick, and anything not forbidden is allowed.
Fun fact that you'll probably never see - the kick does not have to be immediately following the snap, and you may have seen the "rugby style" roll out punt where the punter catches the snap, runs sideways a bit, and then kicks the ball. The unlikely event: if he were to drop kick the ball instead, it could score a field goal.
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National Federation Discussion / Re: Rule about distance the holder has to be from snapper on the try
« Last post by NVFOA_Ump on September 03, 2026, 06:05:37 PM »Thank you for the responses. Is it written anywhere in the rules that you are allowed to kick from a non scrimmage kick formation? Thanks.
No, A can kick anytime the ball is behind the NZ and in an A player possession. There is no rule requirement that A be in a scrimmage kick formation. A scrimmage kick formation provides protection for snapper, holder, and kicker but is not required to kick the ball.
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National Federation Discussion / Re: Rule about distance the holder has to be from snapper on the try
« Last post by higham85 on September 03, 2026, 04:51:30 PM »Thank you for the responses. Is it written anywhere in the rules that you are allowed to kick from a non scrimmage kick formation? Thanks.
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National Federation Discussion / Re: Interesting play from this past weekend - Illegal kicking during free kick down.
« Last post by NVFOA_Ump on September 03, 2026, 02:36:16 PM »Here's the 2026 version of Rule 10, Section 4, Article 2. As noted, Rule 10 continues to "evolve over time". 
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National Federation Discussion / Re: Interesting play from this past weekend - Illegal kicking during free kick down.
« Last post by dch on September 03, 2026, 11:20:12 AM »Thank you sj. 
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National Federation Discussion / Re: Rule about distance the holder has to be from snapper on the try
« Last post by Ralph Damren on September 03, 2026, 07:47:15 AM »When we rewrote the definition of a scrimmage kick back in 2009 (2-14-2) we felt the need to eliminate any trick plays to circumvent the then current rule. The yardage quoted of : 7 yards-holder, 3 yards behind the holder for kicker and 10 yards -punter; were merely estimates...a surveying crew not needed 
. I'm with 'Bama on this ,s we don't need to be a walking rule waiting to happen 
. A potential trick play that I've had proposed in pre-game sevral times is:
COACH : "Our holder will be in a 'catcher's crouch' and pitch the ball forward to a blocking back...."
ME: "That is legal, BUT it would not qualify as a scrimmage kick formation. You would loose the numbering exception and roughing the holder or snapper protection.![8]](http://www.refstripes.com/forum/Smileys/classic/cool.gif "Cool")
"
COACH : "Ayuh, 'spect not ...this game no how
"
. I'm with 'Bama on this ,s we don't need to be a walking rule waiting to happen . A potential trick play that I've had proposed in pre-game sevral times is:COACH : "Our holder will be in a 'catcher's crouch' and pitch the ball forward to a blocking back...."
ME: "That is legal, BUT it would not qualify as a scrimmage kick formation. You would loose the numbering exception and roughing the holder or snapper protection.
"COACH : "Ayuh, 'spect not ...this game no how
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National Federation Discussion / Re: Rule about distance the holder has to be from snapper on the try
« Last post by bama_stripes on September 03, 2026, 06:39:16 AM »Legal, but not a SKF. No snapper protection, and no numbering exception. If it’s close, give K the benefit of the doubt.
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National Federation Discussion / Rule about distance the holder has to be from snapper on the try
« Last post by higham85 on September 02, 2026, 11:45:36 PM »Is there a rule that the holder has to be 7 or more yards back from ball on a field goal or try? I see that for scrimmage kick formation it says holder must be 7 yards back. If you move closer is it still legal but you loser your protections in scrimmage kick formation? Any clarification on this would be appreciated. Thank you.
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National Federation Discussion / Re: Interesting play from this past weekend - Illegal kicking during free kick down.
« Last post by sj on September 02, 2026, 08:25:25 PM »my 10.4.2b says foul that occurs behind the line of scrimmage during a loose-ball play. This situation is a loose-ball play during a free kick down, therefore no line of scrimmage.
I am also confused about 10.4.4a that says the basic-spot is the spot of the foul for illegal kicking.
You have an old book. 10-4-2-b has created problems for the last couple of years due to a change they had made. But for 2026, they finally removed the language about the foul having to be "behind the line of scrimmage" and it is better now. And with the way it reads now, it is the rule you would use for the play that's being talked about here.
10-4-4-a - You're not alone. Project for next year.