How many can kick the ball at the same time?

[Wettstein]

Okay, this is probably on the first base of the rule book in clear English, but I can't find reference to it, so I am hoping to get some experts to point out if it is legal or not, and if not, by which rule.

Can two people kick a ball at the same time?  Forget about whether this has any advantages like distance or power or even if two people could sync their feet together...let's just assume they could.  Is it legal?

Let's take it further, can two people throw the ball at the same time?  Again, not from a physical ability but purely from a rules perspective.

The assisting the runner rule calls out pushing, pulling, lifting - but what if two people carried the ball at the same time?

[HLinNC]

but what if two people carried the ball at the same time?

  Ever seen the QB ride the option with the RB?  Brief but it happens.

2-24-ART. 3 . . . A legal free kick is any legal kick which puts the ball in play to start a free-kick down. After the ready-for-play signal and before the kick, each player other than the kicker and holder for a place kick must be behind his free-kick line. A free kick is used for a kickoff, for a kick following a safety, and is used if a free kick is chosen following a fair catch or awarded fair catch.

Singular tense

2-24-ART. 8 . . . A punt is a legal kick by a player who drops the ball and kicks it before it has touched the ground. A punt may be used for a free kick following a safety or for a scrimmage kick.

One

2-24-ART. 6 . . . A drop kick is a legal kick by a player who drops the ball and kicks it when it touches the ground or as it is rising from the ground.

Again one

2-32-ART. 8 . . . A kicker is any player who legally punts, drop kicks or place kicks. A player becomes a kicker when his knee, lower leg or foot makes contact with the ball.

2-32-ART. 11 . . . A passer is a player who throws a legal forward pass.

As they say Read Rule 2

[Kalle]

I don't see why not. I don't see any advantage gained by doing so, so I don't see why it should be illegal.

[HLinNC]

At some point travesty of the game comes into play into these mental acrobatics.

[Kalle]

At some point travesty of the game comes into play into these mental acrobatics.

Fortunately NCAA does not have such a concept

[Ralph Damren]

Conjointed twins could perform these feats. You may wish to check your state's statutes, regarding if they are considered as one entity or two.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts once ruled that unseperated Siamese twins were considered as one....ie..if one commits a crime, probably the other knew about it. Where Maine was a district of Mass. until 1821, I would choose to revert to the Commonwealth's law and count unseperated conjointed twins as one.They / he / she could pass, kick and even be the team captain and would never be considered both the 11th & 12th player on the field. A dilemma would occur if one wanted to be a back and the other a lineman. We would need to apply rule 1-1-6 in such case. It's now time for some lobster chowder ......(8-1)  DISCLAIMER : This does not reflect the opinion of NFHS, NASO, MPA , MAFO , ASPCA , AFL/CIO or any such; but merely the musings of a grumpy ole' guy who stayed up way beyond his bedtime last night watching, well, er.....8-1 !!!!!

[AlUpstateNY]

I don't think there is a rule prohibiting swallowing a football, which is aproximately as likely as two players legally kicking a football, or combining to throw one. 

We could probably have a spitited discussion about whether "swallowing" would violate NF: 9-9-3 ("No player shall hide the ball under a jersey"), but that discussion should only proceed after consuming a large amount of alcohol.

[Ralph Damren]

ALUpstateNY has a very intriguing point. I offer my following NON OFFICIAL interpretations regarding the swallowing of said football : (1) An offensive player swallowing a football is guilty of violating 9-9-3 and also impersonating a former prom queen in her 3rd trimester; (2) If said player was a lineman - they usually have better appetites - he should be facing his own goal while he does so  or violate 7-3-2a; (3) a defensive player swallowing the ball and later passing it after deflation ,with the aid of a health care professional, would not be considered to have obtained the ball with "clean hands." Hope this helps to clean things up! eat&

[Osric Pureheart]

I'm reminded of a Scottish coach's comment when he joined a rules sub-committee that I was on, trying to sort out 5-man rules.  He didn't quite realise how specific rules can get sometimes!

"Why d'we need a rule about that?  It disnae say that ye cannae stick a knife in the ball, or take a pish on it, but we all ken ye can't dae that either..."

[Morningrise]

I don't think there is a rule prohibiting swallowing a football, which is aproximately as likely as two players legally kicking a football, or combining to throw one. 

We could probably have a spitited discussion about whether "swallowing" would violate NF: 9-9-3 ("No player shall hide the ball under a jersey"), but that discussion should only proceed after consuming a large amount of alcohol.

What? A swallow carrying a football? A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound football. In order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings forty-three times every second, right? It could be carried by an African swallow. But then the African swallow's not migratory...

[Legacy Zebra]

Are you suggesting footballs migrate?

[VALJ]

What? A swallow carrying a football? A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound football. In order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings forty-three times every second, right? It could be carried by an African swallow. But then the African swallow's not migratory...

What if two swallows carried the football together?

[blokenone]

What if two swallows carried the football together?

Using a peice of creeper to hold the ball?

[Osric Pureheart]

Well, you have to know these sort of things when you're White Hat.