Dropkick Question

[busman]

A dropkick is legal for a free kick.  A local school is using it as an onside kick. 

The ball is placed on a tee, then it is picked up by K1 and a backward pass is thrown to K2  (behind the 40) who drop kicks it.  The kick is legal.  Is it legal to start a free kick with a backward pass or should K2 have the ball to start with?

[mbyron]

We already have a thread on this play:
http://www.refstripes.com/forum/index.php?topic=8384.0;topicseen

[Atlanta Blue]

A dropkick is legal for a free kick.  A local school is using it as an onside kick. 

The ball is placed on a tee, then it is picked up by K1 and a backward pass is thrown to K2  (behind the 40) who drop kicks it.  The kick is legal.  Is it legal to start a free kick with a backward pass or should K2 have the ball to start with?

While a drop kick is a legal free kick, the one I saw Pulaski running is not legal.  Once designated the ball must be kicked from THAT spot.  The drop kick cannot legally be BEHIND the restraining line, it must be ON it.  And since no one but the kicker and holder can go beyond the restraining line after the RFP, how is the person picking up the ball doing so while staying completely behind it?

[busman]

Don't you think it is odd that the drop kick is not given the same one-yard variance of a punt?

[Atlanta Blue]

Don't you think it is odd that the drop kick is not given the same one-yard variance of a punt?

Probably, but it is such a rare occurance, it's probably not even though about by the rules committee.  I have seen more free kicks after a fair catch (1), than drop kicks on a kickoff (0).

And how does a drop kick on a kickoff (free kick) meet the requirements of "Once designated, K must kick from that spot" in 6-1-2.

It's an anacronism that should be removed from the book, just like "the team scored upon gets their choice of kicking or receiving the following free kick."  Other than some ridiculous blowout situation, when would a team scored upon choose to kickoff?

[bama_stripes]

It's an anacronism that should be removed from the book, just like "the team scored upon gets their choice of kicking or receiving the following free kick."  Other than some ridiculous blowout situation, when would a team scored upon choose to kickoff?

Not so fast, my friend!  Believe it or not, I had this exact situation in a youth game this weekend.  The coach of the team who was leading and had just given up a TD wanted his team to play defense again, and chose to kick off!

Strange, but perfectly legal.

[Atlanta Blue]

Not so fast, my friend!  Believe it or not, I had this exact situation in a youth game this weekend.  The coach of the team who was leading and had just given up a TD wanted his team to play defense again, and chose to kick off!

Strange, but perfectly legal.

I didn't say it COULDN'T happen, but in all your years of officiating, I'll bet it's the first time you ever had it happen.

Pulaski proved you COULD drop kick a kickoff (although illegally), but that doesn't mean it isn't a rule whose time is long gone.

[110]

Other than some ridiculous blowout situation, when would a team scored upon choose to kickoff?

I've seen it done once, but for the life of me, I can't recall why. I think it was something to do with wind, IIRC.

I could see a team that has been scored upon perhaps wishing to execute a short kick?

Either way, few folks even know that's in the rules.

[busman]

With Pulaski Academy's success in recovering onsides kicks (as an example), I could certainly see them taking a chance to elect to kick and get the ball near the 50, particularly if their opponent was going to put it in the endzone, rather than taking it on the 20.

[blandis]

   I wrote the NFHS Redding Study Guide writer George Demetriou about this. Simply stated: Once the spot is designated for a free kick along the line of scrimmage and between the hashes the ball may not be removed from that area.
   An exception, but a tight one, is the removal of a ball from a tee for a drop kick but it must be in nearly the exact spot of the tee on the free kick line to be legal or its a free kick infraction. Free kicks (other than a Safety) may be a drop kick, from a tee, from the ground or tee while controlled by a holder all at the designated spot on the free kick line (normally the 40), or on a Safety free kick only, be punted within one yard of the line.
   The ball may not be kicked off the ground while it is simply laying there next to the tee or a kicker acts like he's picking it up and kicks it. The drop kick needs to be clear, or the ball clearly set on the tee, or controlled by a holder either on the tee or ground for a free kick to be legal or it's Illegal Kicking.

[KDJBBBJ]

"The ball may not be kicked off the ground while it is simply laying there next to the tee or a kicker acts like he's picking it up and kicks it. The drop kick needs to be clear, or the ball clearly set on the tee, or controlled by a holder either on the tee or ground for a free kick to be legal or it's Illegal Kicking."

blandis I am confused , are you saying that you cannot out the ball on the ground without a holder holding and kick it?  In the definition of a placekick I also dont see anywhere that it says that it has cand be sitting on the ground next to a tee and kicked from there.  Do you have any rules references to help me on this?

ART. 7 . . . A place kick is a legal kick made while the ball is in a fixed position on the ground or on a kicking tee. No material or device may be placed on the ground to improve the kicker's footing. The ball also may be held in position on the ground or on a kicking tee by a place-kick holder who shall be a teammate of the kicker. A place kick may be used for a scrimmage kick, a kickoff, a free kick following a safety or for a free kick following a fair catch or awarded fair catch.