Free Kick Ball in Process of Falling When Kicked

[kid50]

I've never seen this happen until now:

Free kick with RFP whistle blown.
Just before kicker kicks ball, it starts to fall from tee.  Before we can blow dead and before it hits ground, kicker (already committed to kicking) kicks ball.  Because ball was falling, kick is off center and is kicked out of bounds untouched just beyond Team B restraining line.  We have flag down and normal options.

Coach from A is upset and wants re-kick.  We tell him that ball was live and result of kick is what it is...Does anyone have anything different?

If ball had hit ground before we killed and kicker kicked, do we still have ball in play?  Since a free kick can be kicked without a tee, at what point is play dead prior to whistle killing it?

[FLBJ]

Not to be too 'tongue in cheek' but this is a false start on the ball for moving before being kicked. Shut it down and redo. Anything that happens (just as in a real false start) is immaterial. Coach was correct.

FWIW, ESPECIALLY if it's a windy day, I make sure I tell the kicker that if it starts to fall to NOT kick it.

'Learning opportunity'.

[Ump62]

Kill It.
6-1-2-a
"After the ball is ready for play and for any reason falls from the tee, Team A shall not
kick the ball and the official shall sound his whistle immediately."

[Sonofanump]

Agree that re-kick is the only option.

We had 50 mph gust on Saturday with 20-25 prevailing.

As a deep wing on the receiver line, I spent the whole time staring at the ball with the R line in periphery vision to make sure it did not move before kicked

[chymechowder]

Agree that re-kick is the only option.

We had 50 mph gust on Saturday with 20-25 prevailing.

As a deep wing on the receiver line, I spent the whole time staring at the ball with the R line in periphery vision to make sure it did not move before kicked

[110]

Kill It.
6-1-2-a
"After the ball is ready for play and for any reason falls from the tee, Team A shall not
kick the ball and the official shall sound his whistle immediately."

But Team A did kick the ball, and it had not completed the act of falling ...

[El Macman]

But Team A did kick the ball, and it had not completed the act of falling ...

Livin': trust us. At the moment the ball begins to fall from the tee, sound your whistle long and hard - get the play stopped. The ball should be stationary when it is kicked.

[Sonofanump]

I bet you buy a hat like this you get a free bowl of soup.

[FLBJ]

I bet you buy a hat like this you get a free bowl of soup.

"Oh, but it looks good on you!"