Fair Catch Kick

[ElvisLives]

OK, I was able communicate with the UIL Exceptions editor, and he has prepared proposed revised language FOR 2027 (not 2026) to clearly allow any type of legal tee to be used on a Fair Catch Kick, and, more importantly, make the use of a holder OPTIONAL.

So, for a Fair Catch Kick (FCK) in 2026, yes, they may use any type of legal tee, but a player in the ‘holder’s’ position is required, regardless of the type of tee used.
For a FCK in 2027, if their committee approves, the use of a holder will be optional.

With this, IMHO, all known gaps in the FCK rule for 2026 have been addressed, even if the 2026 answers are somewhat nonsensical.
We can make it work, for the massive number of FCK’s we’ll see.😁
But, we are able to effect change, and that’s good.

[bctgp]

I think making a holder optional is good for 2027. Wish they would have done it initially.
Not sure they need to add anything on the Tee, the existing definition kind of says it all, but the added language doesn't change/add anything new so no harm if they add it.

[Ralph Damren]

The NFHS stance on this is where it is a free kick, treat it like a free kick. A tee can be used with or without a holder and, like a kickoff, the ball may be kicked from any spot between the hashes.

[ElvisLives]

The NFHS stance on this is where it is a free kick, treat it like a free kick. A tee can be used with or without a holder and, like a kickoff, the ball may be kicked from any spot between the hashes.

Ralph, NCAA is quite different, so I am compelled to offer the correct info for NCAA here, to prevent confusion by our members.

Firstly, the location of the Fair Catch Kick (FCK) is the spot of the fair catch, if completed, or awarded by penalty, between the hash marks. If completed/awarded in a side zone, the spot for the kick is the nearest hash mark. There is NO option by the FCK team to place the ball anywhere along the FCK yard line.

Secondly, the FORMATIONS for both teams is that for a free kick. The only detail that needs to be reiterated here is that, in the most incredibly bizarre - but possible - event that the fair catch was made inside the kicking team’s 10-yard line, the FCK (restraining) line of the opponent of the team making the FCK will still be 10-yards beyond the line through the FCK spot. That will place the opponent’s FCK line in their end zone. No need to get into other details of a free kick formation. They are fully defined, and are as they have been for many years.

Thirdly, the moment the ball leaves the foot of the kicker, the game clock is started, and then the down - 100% - instantly converts to a scrimmage kick. As such, Team A is governed by illegal touching rules, and the rules governing the next play when the field goal attempt is unsuccessful and untouched by Team B are in full effect. Team B is NOT prohibited from blocking the kicker before he has moved 5-yards downfield, etc., and they are not prohibited from ‘wedge’ blocking.

bctgp is correct in that the UIL really doesn’t need to provide any additional language related to the type of tee that may be used. The proposed modification for 2027 only needs to make the use a holder optional, which it does. (I wish I had brought the nonsensical nature of requiring a holder to the attention of the UIL’s exceptions author/editor sooner; might have been able to get it put into effect this season. I believe he never considered the concept of using a ball-supporting (kickoff) tee for a FCK. Once he was made aware of, and recognized, that, he authored the 2027 proposal.)

So, the NCAA FCK may be quite different than a FCK in other rule sets.

[Ralph Damren]

Thanks, Elvis, for clarifying the NCAA stance on this. I'll be interested in seeing how many FCK's occur this season, but you did well on NCAA's complex definition . If the kick is missed but into the EZ, is it a TB OR B's ball from where the kick was made  .

[ElvisLives]

Thanks, Elvis, for clarifying the NCAA stance on this. I'll be interested in seeing how many FCK's occur this season, but you did well on NCAA's complex definition . If the kick is missed but into the EZ, is it a TB OR B's ball from where the kick was made  .

Ralph, in NCAA, an unsuccessful FCK is just like any other unsuccessful field goal attempt. The short answer is that, if Team B doesn’t touch the ball, they’ll get the ball at the previous spot, or the B-20, whichever is better for them.
If the score is tied, and time in the second/fourth period has expired, or will expire during the down, and they are able to catch the ball (before it passes over the crossbar), the ball remains alive and in play, if they want to attempt to advance for a score. If Team B is ahead in score, they are best served to just let Team A make their FCK, uncontested in any way, and avoid committing any sort of foul (stay away from opponents). Yeah, they might be able to jump above the crossbar and deflect the ball to prevent the score, but that is a batting foul, and a penalty won’t do them any good.

We all agree that this is all much ado about something that may rarely, if ever, be seen. We rarely see 1-point safeties, but we have to be prepared for them.

[Legacy Zebra]

Since this thread is already here on the TASO forum, I’ll put this here:

Did anybody else catch the error in the bulletin sent out yesterday? I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader, but I will say this: It was a true rule error and not merely a typo.

[JasonTX]

Since this thread is already here on the TASO forum, I’ll put this here:

Did anybody else catch the error in the bulletin sent out yesterday? I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader, but I will say this: It was a true rule error and not merely a typo.

Stop teasing.  What is the issue?  The part about 10-2-5-f not applying in regards to the restraining line being 2 yards into the end zone?

[ElvisLives]

Since this thread is already here on the TASO forum, I’ll put this here:

Did anybody else catch the error in the bulletin sent out yesterday? I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader, but I will say this: It was a true rule error and not merely a typo.

What "...TASO forum,..."?

[Ralph Damren]

I still recall the words of NCAA's Steve Shaw when addressing the NFHS RC a couple of years ago. It went sorta' like this : "Most of high school football officials work a game as a hobby and the love of football.  It is important that you make rule changes that are easy to understand and enforce......"

IMHO, the NFHS FCK rule is simple....just like a kickoff. In my 56 years in the game, it never occurred in any of my games or that I heard of in my state. I do applaud you guys wanting to be ready IF it should occur.

Elvis started the lsit with the saftey on a PAT. Allow me to add some more unicorn rules (NFHS version, but I'm sure NCAA has some ,too:

The "pregnant FB" hiding the ball under one's jersey. 


 

[ElvisLives]

The "pregnant FB" hiding the ball under one's jersey. 

This would be my announcement:

“Illegitimate possession. Loss of reputation. Do not repeat the play.”

[ElvisLives]

Since this thread is already here on the TASO forum, I’ll put this here:

Did anybody else catch the error in the bulletin sent out yesterday? I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader, but I will say this: It was a true rule error and not merely a typo.

Well, I’ve scoured the bulletin. If it has something to do with replay, I probably wouldn’t know, anyway. But, I don’t see whatever it is. Please break the suspense.

[Legacy Zebra]

The bulletin states (multiple times) that the FCK line for the receiving team in sixman football is 10 yards from the kicking team’s line just like 11-man. But the sixman rule variations say it’s 15.

[ElvisLives]

The bulletin states (multiple times) that the FCK line for the receiving team in sixman football is 10 yards from the kicking team’s line just like 11-man. But the sixman rule variations say it’s 15.

Well, that explains it. Quite stupidly, I was thinking of the NCAA Bulletin 2. Now that I am pointing in the right direction - TASO 2026 Bulletin 1 - I actually DO recall thinking, when I first read it, that the 10-yard offset for 6-player football was different than what I’d previously understood. Knowing the source, I think I was just confident that this was correct, without double checking against the UIL Exceptions. However, I will dig into this to see if this bulletin was coordinated with the UIL. I can understand the logic that, since this is, in fact, NOT a free kick, the 15-yard offset doesn’t apply. On the other hand, we keep telling everybody that the FCK formations are the same as a free kick. For 6-player football, that would mean a 15-yard offset.
Part of the problem is that the UIL Exceptions author/editor is a bit notorious for not vetting the Exceptions thoroughly before releasing them. That’s why there is already a proposed modification for 2027 to make the use of a holder for a FCK optional - not required. But, in this case, 15 yards may, truly, be appropriate.
I’ll get back to you, if I can get some clarification.

[ElvisLives]

The bulletin states (multiple times) that the FCK line for the receiving team in sixman football is 10 yards from the kicking team’s line just like 11-man. But the sixman rule variations say it’s 15.

I have checked with a TASO authority and have been advised that the Bulletin takes precedence, and that they understand the UIL Exceptions are being updated to match.
So, if I happen to get a FCK in a 6-player game, I will place Team B’s FCK kine 10-yards beyond Team A’s FCK line.