Kickoff Tee

[ElvisLives]

Let’s have some fun.

By RULE, in UIL football, what is the maximum elevation that a tee may raise the ball above the ground for a place kick on a free kick?

Read the question carefully, and support your answer.

[JasonTX]

2-16-4-b:  No more than 1 inch on a free kick. 

For a Field Goal place kick there is a UIL exception that allows for the use of a tee, and it can elevate the ball no more than 2 inches per UIL exception #27.


Edit:  2 inches for both.  I just now realized they edited the UIL exceptions to include both A and B in the exceptions.

[Legacy Zebra]

Nothing in 2-16-4-b or Exception 27 says anything about scrimmage vs free kick. Paragraph (a) defines what a field goal place kick is and Exception 27 allows a tee to be used. Paragraph (c) defines a free kick and says a tee may be used. Paragraph (b) and its relevant section of exception 27 simply define a tee and its allowable height with no mention of free or scrimmage kicks. A tee may be 2” regardless of type of kick in UIL football.

[dammitbobby]

Since a free kick is a place kick, 2-16-4-b, c, and UIL Exception 27 apply, but I think makes sense to list them in a different order for explanation purposes:

c.  A free kick place kick is a kick by a player of the team in possession while the ball is positioned on a tee or the ground. It may be controlled by a teammate. The ball may be positioned on the ground and contacting the tee.

b.  A tee is a device that elevates the ball for kicking purposes. It may not elevate the ball’s lowest point more than one inch above the ground (A.R. 2-16-4-I). If utilized, a tee must be in contact with the ball for the kick to be legal.

UIL exception 27b changes the second sentence of b to read: It may not elevate the ball’s lowest point more than two inches above the ground (A.R. 2-16-4-I).

In c, the rule states a tee can be used on free kick place kicks, as long as the requirements in b are met - for UIL purposes, per the exception, this is 2".

[JasonTX]

Nothing in 2-16-4-b or Exception 27 says anything about scrimmage vs free kick. Paragraph (a) defines what a field goal place kick is and Exception 27 allows a tee to be used. Paragraph (c) defines a free kick and says a tee may be used. Paragraph (b) and its relevant section of exception 27 simply define a tee and its allowable height with no mention of free or scrimmage kicks. A tee may be 2” regardless of type of kick in UIL football.

Edit:  I just now noticed the updated, updated, UIL exceptions.  The version I had didn't have Exception 27 b.  All mine has is 27 a.  Agree that 2" may be used regardless.

[ElvisLives]

Well, I had this discussion with 'upper' folks some weeks ago and, after they coordinated with the UIL, I was told it would be addressed in the Exceptions next year. And I followed up yesterday and got the same info, but it seems that the UIL went ahead and updated the Exceptions, and TASO uploaded it to the TASO web site, but didn't tell as many folks as they should have, even some of the 'upper' folks. Well, good. No longer a discrepancy. 2" (max) tee for any place kick.
(But you won't mind if I take credit for getting this fixed...)

No more issue. I won't need to cover that in my Kicking Game presentation in Abilene. But, come on by at 10:30! The other guys are boring.

[JasonTX]

Another question has come up regarding using a tee.  On a Try team A lines up in an apparent formation to attempt a place kick for 1 point and has a tee on the field.  Team A shifts out of the kick formation and into a regular scrimmage play formation, leaving the tee on the field and run a successful 2-point play.  Ruling?

[dammitbobby]

I can't see a rule that says this isn't allowed - but I would want the R to let the closest Team A player know so he can toss it off the field, as I would view this as a safety issue. That said - there would be no pumping to 25 on it either, since it's A fault the tee won't be used.

[ElvisLives]

This is one for Shaw. I think I have used up my quota of questions for 2024. Somebody else give it a shot.

[Legacy Zebra]

I agree with Bobby, nothing says it’s a foul. The rule just says if a tee is utilized, the ball must be touching it for the kick to be legal. But in this case, there’s no kick to be legal or illegal.

There is AR support for this to be UNS if the shift is quick and the tee is only used to deceive the defense.  9-2-2-II- and -IV are pretty comparable.

I don’t know that Shaw is much help on this. UIL or TASO would have to make a ruling on this since a UIL exception is the only reason they can even use a tee on scrimmage kicks to begin with.

[Clear Lake ref]

Similar vein tonight. On the try the tee was dropped at the 10, but a gate formation initially with no one even near the tee. Most of the attempts it just sat there.