Fair catch free kick and restraining lines.

[TXMike]

On NFHS rules, when a team completes a fair catch and then chooses to attempt the free kick field goal, how far away does the receiving team have to lineup? Is it still 10 yards? And if so, what happens when that restraining line gets pushed to the receiving team five, or even inside it? Do the rules give any guidance for a situation like that?

[NVFOA_Ump]

It's 10 yards, no exceptions.

[TXMike]

So what happens if the fair catch is at the 8 yard line for example? As you probably remember, in NCAA, the receiver's restraining line cannot be inside the 5?

[NVFOA_Ump]

So what happens if the fair catch is at the 8 yard line for example? As you probably remember, in NCAA, the receiver's restraining line cannot be inside the 5?

Never seen it but the rule is very clear:  6-1-1 THE KICKOFF AND OTHER FREE KICKS - .... these lines are always 10 yards apart.  I am not aware of any exceptions anywhere in the rule book or the case play book.

[riffraft]

Never seen it but the rule is very clear:  6-1-1 THE KICKOFF AND OTHER FREE KICKS - .... these lines are always 10 yards apart.  I am not aware of any exceptions anywhere in the rule book or the case play book.

Never had it happen, but I was told years and years ago, to use the chains to establish where in the endzone the line would be.

[Legacy Zebra]

So what happens if the fair catch is at the 8 yard line for example? As you probably remember, in NCAA, the receiver's restraining line cannot be inside the 5?

The rule you’re referencing in NCAA says that a penalty cannot extend a team’s free kick restraining line beyond their five yard line. This does not apply to a fair catch kick in NCAA for a few reasons.

1) There is no penalty enforcement involved.

2) A FCK is not a free kick. The formation follows free kick formation rules, but it is not by definition a free kick down. 7-1-1-c includes FCK in scrimmage downs, but technically it is neither a scrimmage down nor free kick down by definition.

3) Fair Catch Kicks have Fair Catch Kick lines, not restraining lines. 2-16-11-f and -g.

[ElvisLives]

In NFHS, on a true Free Kick, does the kicker have protection from contact by Team B until he has advanced a certain distance, (or until some other event(s) occurs)?

In NFHS, on a true Free Kick, is there a prohibition against “wedge blocking” by Team B? (A wedge block is 2 or more players of Team B aligning through their shoulders within 2-yards of each other, for the purpose of blocking for the ball carrier (kick returner)).

I ask, because, if those things are illegal on a true Free Kick, are they also illegal on a FCK? If not, why not?
———————————————-

In NFHS, on a FCK, is Team A allowed to touch the ball after it has reached Team B’s FCK line or has been touched by Team B (as with a true Free Kick)?

In NFHS, on a FCK, is Team A prohibited from touching the ball before it has been touched by Team B (as with a scrimmage kick)?

We realize these are highly, highly theoretical events, but the current NCAA rule for FCKs has many, many holes in it, and those holes need to be filled. We just need to know how those things are handled in NFHS, so, maybe, we can use that info to push to get those holes filled.
Thanks, in advance.

[NVFOA_Ump]

Under NFHS rules all free kick rules are the same except for the original spot of the ball which will change based on the specifics.  Start of game, following a try, following a safety, following a fair catch, or one of those spots following a penalty enforcement.  The "live ball" rules are the same, no exceptions.

[ElvisLives]

Under NFHS rules all free kick rules are the same except for the original spot of the ball which will change based on the specifics.  Start of game, following a try, following a safety, following a fair catch, or one of those spots following a penalty enforcement.  The "live ball" rules are the same, no exceptions.

OK, the rules are the same for regular free kicks and Fair Catch Kicks. But, not being knowledgeable on NFHS rules, we need to know the specifics I asked about:

——————————————————

In NFHS, on a Free Kick/FCK, does the kicker have protection from contact by Team B until he has advanced a certain distance, (or until some other event(s) occurs)?

In NFHS, on a Free Kick/FCK, is there a prohibition against “wedge blocking” by Team B? (A wedge block is 2 or more players of Team B aligning through their shoulders within 2-yards of each other, for the purpose of blocking for the ball carrier (kick returner)).

In NFHS, on a Free Kick/FCK, is Team A allowed to touch the ball after it has reached Team B’s restraining/FCK line, or has been touched by Team B? If so, what is to keep Team A from attempting an onside kick? (As foolish as it may be, what is to keep Team A from attempting an onside kick?)

Authoritative answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated.

[NVFOA_Ump]

OK, the rules are the same for regular free kicks and Fair Catch Kicks. But, not being knowledgeable on NFHS rules, we need to know the specifics I asked about:

——————————————————

In NFHS, on a Free Kick/FCK, does the kicker have protection from contact by Team B until he has advanced a certain distance, (or until some other event(s) occurs)?  Kicker cannot be contacted by R until he has gone 5 yards, ball has gone 10 yards, or the ball has been legally touched by R.

In NFHS, on a Free Kick/FCK, is there a prohibition against “wedge blocking” by Team B? (A wedge block is 2 or more players of Team B aligning through their shoulders within 2-yards of each other, for the purpose of blocking for the ball carrier (kick returner)). Three or more players forming a "wedge" is illegal.

In NFHS, on a Free Kick/FCK, is Team A allowed to touch the ball after it has reached Team B’s restraining/FCK line, or has been touched by Team B? If so, what is to keep Team A from attempting an onside kick? (As foolish as it may be, what is to keep Team A from attempting an onside kick?) K can touch/recover the ball after it has gone 10 yards, or after the ball has been legally touched by R in the 10 yard NZ.  On-side kicks are allowed on all free kick plays.

Authoritative answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated.

[ElvisLives]

Thank you. That’s what we needed to know. I am grateful for the answers.

Unless the NCAA rules makers realize this new FCK rule is full of holes, our only hope to not screw this up is to hope we never see one. The most poorly vetted rule in my lifetime.

[Ralph Damren]

IN estabishing the NZ ,the NFHS suggests setting the stakes as the odds of such a kick occurring from a marked line are 1:10.

[bama_stripes]

IN estabishing the NZ ,the NFHS suggests setting the stakes as the odds of such a kick occurring from a marked line are 1:10.

The odds are 19:1 against on fields that have lines every 5 yards.

[Etref]

I can actually see this h

Thank you. That’s what we needed to know. I am grateful for the answers.

Unless the NCAA rules makers realize this new FCK rule is full of holes, our only hope to not screw this up is to hope we never see one. The most poorly vetted rule in my lifetime.

a o

Thank you. That’s what we needed to know. I am grateful for the answers.

Unless the NCAA rules makers realize this new FCK rule is full of holes, our only hope to not screw this up is to hope we never see one. The most poorly vetted rule in my lifetime.

I can cause this happening in 6 player football with the shorter field

[ncwingman]

FCK

That sure is a choice for an acronym there. Intentional, I'm guessing?

The odds are 19:1 against on fields that have lines every 5 yards.

Have you ever seen/played on a field that only has lines every 10 yards? I've been on plenty that don't have hash marks every yard, but those are officially optional.

I'd imagine you'd only really see missing 5 yard lines at some pee-wee field where you're probably lucky they have any lines at all, and there's no hope of any of them actually being straight.

[ElvisLives]

That sure is a choice for an acronym there. Intentional, I'm guessing?

Fair Catch Kick
Yes, intentional. Unfortunate, if others read something else into it. Nothing formal, I don't believe. So, if someone knows of a formally adopted acronym by either NFHS or NCAA, please share it, and the source.

[bama_stripes]

Have you ever seen/played on a field that only has lines every 10 yards? I've been on plenty that don't have hash marks every yard, but those are officially optional.

I'd imagine you'd only really see missing 5 yard lines at some pee-wee field where you're probably lucky they have any lines at all, and there's no hope of any of them actually being straight.

Unfortunately, early in my career, I called several varsity games on fields like that.

[NVFOA_Ump]

Unfortunately, early in my career, I called several varsity games on fields like that.

I had 2 games on field ("natural grass") like that last year.