1. Fort Worth Football Officials Association
Scrimmage Kicks
Fort Worth Football Officials Association
New Members Training

2. Objective
The intent of this training session is to help you understand and familiarize you with the rules pertaining to Football. It’s important you also read and study the NCAA Rules, UIL Exceptions and TASO mechanics manuals outside of training sessions to get the best understanding possible on football officiating.
Disclaimer
The information covered has been condensed and paraphrased to help you understand both
the intent and the philosophy of the rules. The current NCAA Rule Book & UIL Exceptions are the final authority.

3. Scrimmage Kicks
SCRIMMAGE KICK is a punt, drop kick or field goal. It MUST be made from IN or BEHIND the neutral zone. (Note it is legal for a player to cross the neutral zone and then return behind the neutral zone and make a legal kick)
A Scrimmage Kick has crossed the neutral zone when it touches beyond the neutral zone:
The Ground
A Player
An Official
Or anything
Exception: Rule b (When Team B player blocks a kick and he is not more than 3 yards beyond the neutral zone)
An illegal kick is when the ENTIRE body is beyond the neutral zone

4. Scrimmage Kick Formation
No player can be in a position to receive a hand- to-hand snap and
At least (1) player 10 or more yards behind the neutral zone OR:
A potential holder and kicker 7 or more yards behind the NZ in position for a place kick
TO QUALIFY AS A SCRIMMAGE KICK FORMATION: IT MUST BE OBVIOUS THAT A KICK WILL BE ATTEMPTED

5. Field Goals 61 50 71 81 60 80 14 13 70 12 11 7 or more yards
Eligible Receivers
A13
A14
A11
A12 12 11

6. PUNTS 81 71 50 60 13 11 80 14 61 70 12 Eligible Receivers A81 A80
10 or more yards 12

7. Who are the Eligible Receivers?80 50 60 61 70 71 13 14 81
Eligible Receivers
A80
A14
A81
A11
A12
A13 12 11

8. Eligibility to Touch
After the scrimmage kick has crossed the NZ and touches a player of the receiving team
FORCED TOUCHING is when a player is blocked by an opponent into a scrimmage kick
Batted or illegally kicked by an opponent is to have NOT touched the ball

9. Receiving Team (Team B) – Live ball
STATUS OF BALL
Receiving Team (Team B) – Live ball
(Except if recovered after it touches the GL or EZ or an invalid or valid fair catch is signaled)
An untouched kick that touches the GL or EZ, Touchback
Kicking Team (Team A) - Dead ball (if never possessed by Team B)
If not touched by Team B beyond the NZ, Team B will be the next to put in play (Violation for Illegal touching)
If touched by Team B – Team A starts a new series at spot of recovery

10. Opportunity to Catch a Kick
With or Without a Valid of Invalid Fair Catch Signal
If a receiving team player is in position to make a catch, the kicking team cannot touch or enter the area defined one yard in front of the shoulder width of the receiver
Kick Catch Interference – 15 yard penalty from the spot of the foul
Player who gives a valid or invalid signal cannot block
1 Yard

11. Common Fouls Block in the Back Holding Blind Side Block
Roughing (Plant leg) or Running into the Kicker (Kicking Leg) (Rules of thumb)
Violation (Not a Foul) – Illegal Touching

12. Mechanics
It is not possible to cover all mechanics in this session it is important for you to continue to read & study the following:
TAS0 Mechanics for 3-Man crews
TAS0 Mechanics for 4-Man crews
TAS0 Mechanics for 5-Man crews
No need to review 7-Man crew mechanics as you will not work them your first year
UIL/TAPPS exceptions
2017 NCAA Rules