Specific rule reference, please.
2-28-1. There was a year when a rule was passed that stated the neutral zone on a free kick could NOT extend into the end zone.
Along came the "WHAT IF"
POLICE. Their concern was :
K punts from deep in their end zone with LOS at K's1.
R makes fair catch @ K's 2
.
R, now A, decides it would be a nice time to free kick
K, now B, send in 2 7' basketball players to stand at goal line and try to block kick
.
Returning the neutral zone to 10 yards and into end zone wouldn't give K an advantage on recovering a potential onside kick, as once the kick broke the goal line plane, it would become dead and a touchback.
We agreed and stretched to NZ back to 10 the following year
.
TTR (things to remember) :
(1) As K's free kick grows closer to R's end zone, the chance of an onside kick grows greater - be ready.
(2) While penalties halve the distance, the 25 yard award for untouched going OOB does not. If K line is inside R's 25, that option is no longer available.
(3) There is no rule that requires the free kick to go 10 yards - if it doesn't, it's just like a punt. If near the goal line, just knocking the ball from the tee and falling on it is enough.