1. Plays of The Week September 19, 2016 FREE KICK FOULSby
Don Sabo
Rules Interpreter
Youngstown District Football Officials Association

2. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?

3. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker

4. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
Less than 4 players on either side of kicker

5. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
Less than 4 players on either side of kicker
Encroachment

6. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
Less than 4 players on either side of kicker
Encroachment
K player hitting R before 10 yards

7. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
Less than 4 players on either side of kicker
Encroachment
K player hitting R before 10 yards
Kicking the ball Out of Bounds

8. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
Less than 4 players on either side of kicker
Encroachment
K player hitting R before 10 yards
Kicking the ball Out of Bounds
Blocking below the waist

9. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
Less than 4 players on either side of kicker
Encroachment
K player hitting R before 10 yards
Kicking the ball Out of Bounds
Blocking below the waist
Grabbing Face Mask

10. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
Less than 4 players on either side of kicker
Encroachment
K player hitting R before 10 yards
Kicking the ball Out of Bounds
Blocking below the waist
Grabbing Face Mask
Kick Catch Interference

11. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
Less than 4 players on either side of kicker
Encroachment
K player hitting R before 10 yards
Kicking the ball Out of Bounds
Blocking below the waist
Grabbing Face Mask
Kick Catch Interference
DBF either a PF or UNS

12. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
Less than 4 players on either side of kicker
Encroachment
K player hitting R before 10 yards
Kicking the ball Out of Bounds
Blocking below the waist
Grabbing Face Mask
Kick Catch Interference
DBF either a PF or UNS
Not a Foul, but First Touching

13. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
K55 is more than 5 yards from the free kick line. K99 is next to the kicker and when K55 runs up to kick the ball, K99 kicks the ball instead.
RULE 6-1 ART After the ball is marked ready for play, and until the ball is kicked, the following formation requirements must be met:
a. No player, other than the kicker and the holder for a place kick, may be beyond his free-kick line; and

14. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Wrong kicker
b. No K players, other than the kicker, may be more than 5 yards behind the kicking team’s free-kick line. A player satisfies this rule when no foot is on or beyond the line 5 yards behind K’s free-kick line. If one K player is more than 5 yards behind this restraining line and any other player kicks the ball, it is a foul.
PENALTY: Arts. 3a, b, 4 – encroachment – (S7-18) – 5 yards;

15. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2. Less than 4 players on either side of kicker
K lines up with 4 players on one side of the kicker and 6 players on the other side. K45 moves to the other side of the kicker that now has 7 players on one side of the kicker and then the kicker kicks the ball.
Rule 6-1 ART At the time the ball is kicked, at least four K players must be on each side of the kicker.
PENALTY: Arts. 3a, b, 4 – encroachment – (S7-18) – 5 yards;

16. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
3. Encroachment
K22 is ahead of the kicker and past the football before the kicker K7 kicks the ball.
Rule 2-8 Encroachment occurs when a player is illegally in the neutral zone during the time interval starting when the ball is marked ready for play and until the ball is snapped or free kicked as in 6-1-3a or 6-1-3b. For the purposes of enforcing encroachment restrictions, an entering substitute is not considered to be a player until he is on his team’s side of the neutral zone.

17. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
3. Encroachment
K22 is ahead of the kicker and past the football before the kicker K7 kicks the ball.
Encroachment also occurs when a player violates the free kick restrictions as in

18. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
4. K player hitting R before 10 yards
RULE 9-3 ART No member of the kicking team shall initiate contact to (block) an opponent on a free kick until:
a.    The legal kick has traveled 10 yards;
b.    The kicking team is eligible to recover a free-kicked ball; or
c.    The receiving team initiates a block within the neutral zone. PENALTY: Art. 8 – Illegal Block – (S43), live ball foul, 10 yards from previous spot.

19. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
5. Kicking the ball Out of Bounds
K22 is the kicker for the free kick and he aims his kick for the sideline, but the ball goes out of bounds at R’s 15 yard line.
Rule 6 – 1 ART A free kick shall not be kicked out of bounds between the goal lines untouched inbounds by R. If it is kicked out of bounds and R does not accept a penalty for kick-catch interference on the same kick as in 6-5-4, R has the following choices:

20. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
5. Kicking the ball Out of Bounds
a. Accept a 5-yard penalty from the previous spot and have K rekick;
b. Put the ball in play at the inbounds spot 25 yards beyond the previous spot, or
c. Decline the penalty and put the ball in play at the inbounds spot.

21. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
6. Blocking below the waist
K22 blocks R44 below the waist during the return.
Rule ART Blocking below the waist is making initial contact below the waist from the front or side against an opponent other than a runner. Contact with an opponent’s hand(s) below the waist that continues into the body below the waist is considered blocking below the waist.

22. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
6. Blocking below the waist
Blocking below the waist applies only when the opponent has one or both feet on the ground.

23. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Grabbing Face Mask
R33 is returning the kick off and K44 grabs the runner’s face mask and tackled the runner.
Rule 9 – 4 ART No player or nonplayer shall: h. Grasp an opponent’s face mask, any edge of a helmet opening, chin strap, or a tooth and mouth protector attached to the face mask and twist, turn or pull the face mask, helmet opening, chin strap or a tooth and mouth

24. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Grabbing Face Mask
protector attached to the face mask; or incidentally grasp an opponent’s face mask, helmet opening, chin strap or a tooth and mouth protector attached to the face mask.
PENALTY: Art. 3h – incidental grasping the face mask, helmet opening, chin strap or tooth and mouth protector – (S45) – 5 yards;

25. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Grabbing Face Mask
protector attached to the face mask; or incidentally grasp an opponent’s face mask, helmet opening, chin strap or a tooth and mouth protector attached to the face mask.
PENALTY: Art. 3h – grasping and twisting, turning or pulling the face mask, helmet opening, chin strap or tooth and mouth protector – (S38-45) – 15 yards;

26. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Kick Catch Interference
Kicker K24 kicks a high short kick towards his sideline, K44 runs toward the ball and catches it before the ball has touched the ground.
Rule 6 – 5 ART While any free kick is in flight in or beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line or any scrimmage kick is in flight beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line, K shall not:

27. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Kick Catch Interference
a. Touch the ball or R, unless blocked into the ball or R, or to ward off a blocker; or
b. Obstruct R's path to the ball.
This prohibition applies even when no fair-catch signal is given, but it does not apply after a free
behind this restraining line and any other player kicks the ball, it is a foul.

28. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
Kick Catch Interference
PENALTY: Art. 6 – kick-catching interference – (S33) – R may accept the results of the play, an awarded fair catch after enforcement of a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the foul, or a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot and a replay of the down;

29. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
DBF either a PF or UNS
After R22 is tackled K45 dives and hits R22 for a dead ball late hit.
Rule 9 -4 ART No player or nonplayer shall:
b. Charge into or throw an opponent to the ground after he is obviously out of the play, or after the ball is clearly dead either in or out of bounds.
c. Pile on any player who is lying on the ground.

30. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
10. Not a Foul, but First Touching
K44 kicks the ball and the ball hits the ground at K’s 45 yard line and K33 touches the ball at K’s 48 yard line.
Rule 6 -1 ART If any K player touches a free kick before it crosses R's free-kick line and before it is touched there by any R player, it is referred to as "first touching of the kick." R may take the ball at the spot of first touching, or any spot if there is more than one spot of first touching,

31. What fouls can the Kickers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Kickers commit?
10. Not a Foul, but First Touching
or they may choose to have the ball put in play as determined by the action which follows first touching. Such touching is ignored if it is caused by R pushing or blocking K into contact with the ball. The right of R to take the ball at the spot of first touching by K is canceled if R touches the kick and thereafter during the down commits a foul or if the penalty is accepted for any foul committed during the down.

32. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?

33. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Encroachment

34. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Encroachment
2. Hitting kicker before ball hits ground

35. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Encroachment
Hitting kicker before ball hits ground
Block below the Waist

36. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Encroachment
Hitting kicker before ball hits ground
Block below the Waist
Holding

37. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Encroachment
Hitting kicker before ball hits ground
Block below the Waist
Holding
Clipping

38. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Encroachment
Hitting kicker before ball hits ground
Block below the Waist
Holding
Clipping
Blocking in the Back

39. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Encroachment
Hitting kicker before ball hits ground
Block below the Waist
Holding
Clipping
Blocking in the Back
DBF either PF or UNS

40. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Encroachment
Hitting kicker before ball hits ground
Block below the Waist
Holding
Clipping
Blocking in the Back
DBF either PF or UNS
Invalid / Illegal Fair Catch Signal

41. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Encroachment
R99 runs past the 50 yard line before the kicker K7 kicks the ball.
Rule 2-8 Encroachment occurs when a player is illegally in the neutral zone during the time interval starting when the ball is marked ready for play and until the ball is snapped or free kicked as in 6-1-3a or 6-1-3b. For the purposes of enforcing encroachment restrictions, an entering substitute is not considered to be a player until he is on his team’s side of the neutral zone.

42. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
1. Encroachment
Encroachment also occurs when a player violates the free kick restrictions as in

43. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Hitting kicker before ball hits ground
R44 hits the kicker before the kick off hits the ground.
Rule 9 – 3 ART The kicker or place-kick holder of a free kick may not be blocked before:
a. He has advanced 5 yards beyond his free-kick line; or
b. The kick has touched the ground or any other player.

44. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Block below the Waist
R55 blocks K66 below the waist on the kick off return. Rule 2 -3 ART Blocking below the waist is making initial contact below the waist from the front or side against an opponent other than a runner. Contact with an opponent’s hand(s) below the waist that continues into the body below the waist is considered blocking below the waist. Blocking below the waist applies only when the opponent has one or both feet on the ground.

45. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
4. Holding
R55 holds K44 from making the tackle on R22
Rule 2 – 1 ART An offensive player (except the runner) shall not:
a. Use a blocking technique which is not permissible by rule. (See 2-3-2, 2-3-3)
b. Grasp or encircle any teammate to form interlocked blocking.
c. Use his hands, arms or legs to hook, lock, clamp, grasp, encircle or hold in an effort to restrain an opponent.

46. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Clipping
R88 in his attempt to block K44 hits him below the waist in the back of his thighs.
Rule 2 – 5 ART Clipping is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is from behind, at or below the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.

47. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Clipping
R88 in his attempt to block K44 hits him below the waist in the back of his thighs.
Rule 2 – 5 ART Such cases shall not be ruled clipping and/or blocking in the back unless the game official sees the initial contact. When in doubt, the contact is legal and not from behind. When the contact is ruled to be from behind, and the game official has question as to the initial point of contact, it shall be ruled clipping.

48. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
Blocking in the Back
R44 blocks K33 in the back and knocks him down to the ground.
Rule 2 – 5 ART Blocking in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent's back, inside the shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.

49. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
7. DBF either PF or UNS
R55 hits K66 after the play is over
Rule 9 -4 ART No player or nonplayer shall:
b. Charge into or throw an opponent to the ground after he is obviously out of the play, or after the ball is clearly dead either in or out of bounds.
c. Pile on any player who is lying on the ground.

50. What fouls can the Receivers commit?
2016 The Year of MIBT
FREE KICK FOULS
What fouls can the Receivers commit?
8. Invalid / Illegal Fair Catch Signal
R55 puts his hand up in the air, but does not wave it before he catches the kick off.
Rule Art A receiver shall not give an invalid fair-catch signal.
Rule 6 – 5 ART The runner shall not give an illegal fair-catch signal.
PENALTY: Art. 7 – Invalid fair catch signal (S32) – 5 yards; Art. 8 – Illegal fair catch signal (S32) – 5 yards.

51. 2016 The Year of MIBT
M = Make
I = It
B = Be
T = There