Kickoff
1. The kickoff shall be from the kicking team’s 30-yard line
at the start of each half and after a field goal and try. A kickoff
is one type of free kick.
2. A one-inch tee may be used (no tee permitted for field goal,
safety kick, or try attempt) on a kickoff. The ball is put in play
by a placekick.
3. A kickoff may not score a field goal.
4. A kickoff is illegal unless it travels 10 yards OR is touched
by the receiving team. Once the ball is touched by the receiving
team or has gone 10 yards, it is a free ball. Receivers may recover
and advance. Kicking team may recover but NOT advance UNLESS receiver
had possession and lost the ball.
5. When a kickoff goes out of bounds between the goal lines without
being touched by the receiving team, the ball belongs to the receivers
30 yards from the spot of the kick or at the out-of-bounds spot
unless the ball went out-of-bounds the first time an onside kick
was attempted. In this case, the kicking team is penalized five
yards and the ball must be kicked again.
6. When a kickoff goes out of bounds between the goal lines and
is touched last by receiving team, it is receiver’s ball at
out-of-bounds spot.
7. If the kicking team either illegally kicks off out of bounds
or is guilty of a short free kick on two or more consecutive onside
kicks, receivers may take possession of the ball at the dead ball
spot, out-of-bounds spot, or spot of illegal touch.
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