Free Kick Ball Location

[JasonTX]

Team A lines up for a free kick.  The ball is laying flat on the ground touching the tee for an apparent onside kick.  The ready for play is given.  The kicker decides he wants to kick it deep so he goes up to the ball and places the ball on the tee.  Legal or Illegal?

[Kalle]

Well, there may well be an interpretation on this in the future, but considering there currently is none, and the only remotely relevant A.R. simply talks about the position between the hash marks, I don't see anything that makes this illegal.

[Clear Lake ref]

He’s got 25 seconds to do as he sees fit. Same with the team crossing the line when he misses the ball.  You have 25 seconds to kick off.

[ElvisLives]

He’s got 25 seconds to do as he sees fit. Same with the team crossing the line when he misses the ball.  You have 25 seconds to kick off.

Yes, and no. 
Before Redding, there was no prohibition on relocating the ball between the hash marks after the RFP signal.  At that time, yes, they truly had 25 seconds to do as they wished.  But, Redding made the interpretation that the ball could not be relocated between the hashmarks after it is first located, following the RFP.  Also, Team A players must all be, and stay, within 5 yards of their restraining line.  So, now, no, they don’t truly have 25 seconds to whatever they want.

But, there has been no interpretation with respect to changing the “teeing” of the ball after the RFP.  So, within the 25 second RFP period, they may put the ball on a tee, lay it on the ground, leaning against a tee or not, adjust the orientation of the ball (all axes), etc.  They just aren’t allowed the change location of the ball laterally.

Robert

[dvasques]

So if we have that situation on a safety kick and the kicker picks the ball up as to reposition it and then punts it, that's ok? When I picture that it seems a bit like trying to decieve the opponents using the ball as prop

[ElvisLives]

So if we have that situation on a safety kick and the kicker picks the ball up as to reposition it and then punts it, that's ok? When I picture that it seems a bit like trying to decieve the opponents using the ball as prop

The rule language does not prohibit such action, and we have no interpretation that prohibits such action.  But, once the ball gets placed on the ground, that sets the location of the kick.  So, if an A player picks up the ball to punt it, he is not allowed to step laterally to any significant degree to kick the ball.

[Sonofanump]

Is the language in a bulletin that the ball can not be relocated?

[ElvisLives]

Is the language in a bulletin that the ball can not be relocated?

AR 6-1-2-VIII.