Orlando (Special to NFLNewsbyZennie62.com) – On Sunday, March 24th, at the start of the 2024 NFL Annual Meeting, NFL clubs received the following amended kickoff rule proposal, which changes certain kickoff touchbacks from the 35 to the 30-yard line.
2024 PLAYING RULE PROPOSAL NO. 10A
For one year only, amend Rule 6 as follows:
SECTION 1 PROCEDURES FOR A FREE KICK
ARTICLE 1. FREE KICK. A free kick is a kickoff or safety kick that puts the ball in play to start a free kick down. It must be made from any point on the kicking team’s restraining line and between the inbounds lines.
A kickoff puts the ball in play at the start of each half, after a Try, and after a successful field goal. A dropkick or placekick may be used for a kickoff.
Note: During a placekick on a kickoff, the kicking team may use a manufactured tee designed to hold the ball no more than one inch from the ground and approved by the League. A holder or tee cannot be used to elevate the ball more than one inch above the ground. Once the ball has been placed on the kicking tee, the kicking tee cannot be moved. If the ball falls off the tee, the covering officials must stop play and restart the timing process without penalty to the kicking team. If the ball falls off the tee a second time during the same free kick down, the kicking team then must kick it off the tee with the use of League-approved kicking sticks to hold the ball in place. Immediately after the kick is made with the use of sticks, the nearest game official will retrieve the sticks while the kick is in the air. The ball may be placed on the ground leaning against the tee, provided the tee is in its normal upright position.
A safety kick puts the ball in play after a safety. A dropkick, placekick, or punt may be used for a safety kick. A tee may be used for a safety kick.
Penalty: For illegal free kick: Loss of five yards.
ARTICLE 2. RESTRAINING LINES AND ZONES. The restraining lines and applicable zones for a free kick shall be as follows, unless they are adjusted because of a distance penalty:
“Kicker’s Restraining Line” – the restraining line for the kick by the kicking team shall be its 35-yard line for a kickoff and its 20-yard line for a safety kick.
“Kickoff Team’s Restraining Line” – the restraining line for the remaining 10 players of the kicking team shall be the yard line 25 yards in advance of the kicker’s restraining line (Team B’s 40-yard line on a normal kickoff play).
“Receiving Team’s Restraining Line” – the restraining line for the receiving team shall be the yard line 30 yards in advance of the kicker’s restraining line and five yards in advance of the kicking team’s restraining line (Team B’s 35-yard line for a normal kickoff play).
The “setup zone” for the receiving team is the 5-yard area between their restraining line and 5 yards behind their restraining line (Team B’s 35-yard line to its 30-yard line for a normal kickoff play). See Article 6 below for the setup zone for an onside kick.
The “landing zone” shall be the area from the Team B 20-yard line extending to the receiving team’s goal line.
(Images for illustration purposes only)
ARTICLE 3. FREE KICK FORMATION. When the ball is kicked on a free kick down:
From the time the kicker begins his approach to the ball and until the ball touches the ground or a player in the landing zone or the end zone, all kicking team players must be inbounds and:
all kicking team players other than the kicker must be lined up with their front foot on the kicking team’s restraining line, and both feet must remain on the ground; and
no more than five players of the kicking team may be on either side of the ball; and
at least two players must be lined up inbounds between the sideline and the bottom (outside) of the yard-line number, at least two players must be lined up between the top (inside) of the yard-line number and the inbounds lines, and at least two players must be lined up inside the inbounds lines.
the kicker may be beyond the kicker’s restraining line, provided his kicking foot is not beyond the line. After the kick, the kicker may not cross the yard line 15 yards from the kicker’s restraining line (50-yard line for normal kickoff) until the ball touches the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone.
Until the ball is kicked, all receiving team (Team B) players must be inbounds and behind their restraining line, and at least nine players must be positioned in the setup zone. The following applies to the receiving team players in the setup zone:
At least seven of the players must be lined up with their front foot on the receiving team’s restraining line. If the receiving team elects to have more than nine players in the setup zone, then at least eight players must be lined up with their front foot on the receiving team’s restraining line.
Two players must be lined up between the sidelines and the inbounds lines on each side of the field; one of those two players on each side must be lined up inbounds between the sideline and the bottom (outside) of the yard-line number.
One receiving team player must be lined up between the inbounds lines.
The remaining two players in the setup zone must be lined up between the sidelines and the inbounds lines on each side of the field.
All players on the kicking team other than the kicker, and all receiving team players in the setup zone, must have both feet remain on the ground until the ball touches the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone.
Penalty: For a player being beyond the restraining line when the ball is kicked (offside), a player being out of bounds when the ball is kicked, either team being in an illegal formation when the ball is kicked, kicking team players (other than kicker) or receiving team players in the setup zone moving before permitted, or kicker moving beyond 15 yards from the kicker’s restraining line before permitted: Loss of five yards.
Prior to the end of the kick, it is a foul if a kicking team player voluntarily goes out of bounds (without being contacted by a receiving team player) to avoid a block.
Penalty: For voluntarily going out of bounds without contact: Loss of 5 yards.
ARTICLE 4. CATCH OR RECOVERY OF A FREE KICK. The following applies to the catch or recovery of a free kick:
If a player of the receiving team catches or recovers the ball in the landing zone or inbounds in the end zone, he may advance.
If the ball is declared dead while in the simultaneous possession of two opposing players, the ball is awarded to the receiving team.
A player of the kicking team may legally touch, catch, or recover the ball if it lands in the landing zone or in the end zone and it is not possessed by a receiving team player.
The ball is dead if:
it is caught or recovered by a player of the kicking team in the landing zone or in the end zone. If the catch or recovery is legal, the ball belongs to the kicking team at the dead ball spot.
it is downed by the receiving team in the end zone or goes out of bounds in the end zone (touchback).
it does not reach the landing zone.
the receiving team signals for a fair catch (valid or invalid). See 10-2-2 for penalty;
the receiving team catches or recovers the kick anywhere in advance of the front yard line (receiving team’s 20-yard line) of the landing zone.
If the live ball comes to rest anywhere in the landing zone or in the end zone, and no player attempts to possess it, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the receiving team at the dead ball spot.
Notes:
A player is deemed to have not touched the ball if it is batted or illegally kicked into him by an opponent. Such touching is ignored, though the bat or kick could be a foul for an illegal bat or illegal kick.
For illegal catch or recovery, see 6-2-4.
ARTICLE 5. FREE KICK CROSSES GOAL LINE. A free kick into the end zone that remains inbounds must be returned or downed by the receiving team, otherwise it is a live ball. It is a touchback and the dead ball spot is the 20-yard line if a free kick:
touches the ground or a player in the landing zone, rolls beyond the goal line and is downed in the end zone;
The dead ball spot is the 30-yard line if a free kick:
goes out of bounds behind the receiving team’s goal line;
strikes the receiving team’s goal post, uprights, or cross bar; or
lands at or beyond the goal line and is downed in the end zone by the receiving team.
ARTICLE 6. ONSIDE KICK. At any time during the fourth period, the kicking team, if trailing its opponent, may declare an onside kick by notifying the Referee prior to the start of the play clock (25-second play clock after the Back Judge hands the kicker the ball). The Referee will then notify the receiving team before starting the play clock and the following rules will apply:
An onside kick is defined as a free kick that the kicking team attempts to legally recover from its restraining line to the furthest point downfield within the onside kick setup zone (See definition of onside kick setup zone in (f) below).
All kicking team players other than the kicker must be lined up with at least one foot on the yard line that is one yard behind the kicker’s restraining line, and both feet must remain on the ground until the ball is kicked.
The kicking team may line up in a five-by-five formation (see Article 3(a)(2) and
(3) above).
A player of the kicking team may legally touch, catch, or recover the ball if:
It first touches a receiving team player; or
It reaches or crosses the receiving team’s restraining line.
The restraining line for the receiving team shall be the yard line 10 yards in advance of the kicker’s restraining line.
Until the ball is kicked, all receiving team (Team B) players must be inbounds and behind their restraining line, and at least eight, but no more than nine, players must be positioned between their restraining line and a spot 15 yards behind their restraining line (the “onside kick setup zone”).
If the onside kick goes untouched beyond the onside kick setup zone, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the receiving team.
Penalty: For a player being beyond the restraining line when the ball is kicked (offside), a player being out of bounds when the ball is kicked, or either team being in an illegal formation when the ball is kicked: Loss of 5 yards.
Penalty: For an onside kick that goes untouched beyond the onside kick setup zone: Loss of 15 yards from the kicker’s restraining line.
ARTICLE 7. END OF FREE KICK. A free kick ends when either team possesses the ball, or when the ball is dead, if that precedes possession. A running play begins when the receiving team establishes possession of the ball.
SECTION 2 OTHER FREE KICK FOULS ARTICLE 1. BLOCKING.
Item 1. Kicking Team. After the ball hits in the landing zone, end zone, or is legally touched, a kicking team player may legally block an opponent, and he may use his hands and arms to push or
pull an opponent out of the way in a personal attempt to recover the ball or a receiver who is actively attempting to obstruct his attempt to proceed downfield.
During the kick, the kicking team is subject to the blocking restrictions of the defense.
Item 2. Receiving Team.
Until the ball is legally touched or hits the ground or a player in the landing zone or end zone, no player on the receiving team may initiate a block against the kicking team.
After the ball is kicked and hits the ground or a player in the landing zone or end zone, receiving team players are subject to the blocking restrictions of the offense (see 12-1-1 through 12-1- 3), and they may use their hands/arms legally to push or pull an opponent out of the way in a personal attempt to recover the ball.
Penalty: For illegal blocking or use of hands by either team: Loss of 10 yards.
A “double team block” is permissible only by players who were initially lined up in the setup zone at the time of the kick. A double team block is defined as two or more players who contact an opponent at the same time. Any other players may not participate in a double team block at any time during a kick or during a return.
A “wedge block” is not permitted by any players at any time. A wedge block is defined as two or more players intentionally aligning shoulder-to-shoulder within two yards of each other, and who move forward together. The foul for a wedge block occurs at that point; actual contact with an opponent is not necessary.
Penalty: For an illegal wedge block or an illegal double team block: Loss of 15 yards. If the foul occurs during the kick, enforcement is from the spot of the foul. If the foul occurs during the return, the penalty is enforced as customary. If the foul occurs in the receiving team’s end zone during the kick, it is enforced from the previous spot.
ARTICLE 2. BLOCKING DURING ONSIDE KICK.
Item 1. Kicking Team.
Between the Restraining Lines (10 Yards). Until the ball is legally touched, a kicking team player may not block or use his hands or arms against an opponent between the restraining lines, except to push or pull aside a receiver who is actively attempting to obstruct his attempt to proceed downfield. After the ball is legally touched, a kicking team player may legally block an opponent, and he may use his hands and arms to push or pull an opponent out of the way in a personal attempt to recover the ball or a receiver who is actively attempting to obstruct his attempt to proceed downfield.
At or Five Yards Beyond Receiving Team’s Restraining Line (Next Five Yards). Until the ball is legally touched or touches the ground, a kicking team player may not block or use his hands or arms against an opponent in the area that is at or no more than five yards
beyond the receiving team’s restraining line, except to push or pull aside a receiver who is actively attempting to obstruct his attempt to proceed downfield. After the ball is legally touched or touches the ground, a kicking team player may legally block an opponent anywhere, and he may use his hands and arms to push or pull an opponent out of the way in a personal attempt to recover the ball.
More than 15 Yards Beyond Kicking Team’s Restraining Line. The kicking team may legally block more than 15 yards beyond its restraining line.
Item 2. Receiving Team.
First 15 Yards. Until the ball is legally touched or the ball hits the ground no player on the receiving team may initiate a block against the kicking team in the 15-yard area between the kicking team’s restraining line and five yards behind the receiving team’s restraining line.
More than 15 Yards Beyond Kicking Team’s Restraining Line. The receiving team may legally block more than 15 yards beyond the kicking team’s restraining line.
After the ball is kicked, receiving team players are subject to the blocking restrictions of the offense (see 12-1-1 through 12-1-3), and they may use their hands/arms legally to push or pull an opponent out of the way in a personal attempt to recover the ball.
Double Team and Wedge Blocks. Restrictions in Article 1, Item 2(c) and (d) above and penalty enforcement for those blocks also apply to onside kicks.
Penalty: For illegal blocking on an onside kick or use of hands by either team: Loss of 10 yards.
ARTICLE 3. RUNNING INTO FREE KICKER. A player of the receiving team is not permitted to run into the kicker before he recovers his balance. See also 12-2-8-i for personal fouls against the kicker.
Penalty: For running into the kicker: Loss of five yards.
ARTICLE 4. FREE KICK OUT OF BOUNDS. The kicking team may not (a) kick the ball out of bounds, (b) be the last to touch the ball before it goes out of bounds between the goal lines, or
(c) kick the ball in the air short of the landing zone. If the receiving team is the last to touch the ball before it goes out of bounds, the receiving team puts the ball in play at the inbounds spot.
Penalty: For a kickoff out of bounds or a kickoff that lands short of the landing zone: The receiving team may elect to take possession of the ball 25 yards from the spot of the kick at the inbounds line on the side of the field where the ball went out of bounds, or at the out of bounds spot.
Penalty: For a safety kick out of bounds or a safety kick that lands short of the landing zone: The receiving team may elect to take possession of the ball 30 yards from the spot of the kick at the inbounds line on the side of the field where the ball went out of bounds, or at the out of bounds spot.
ARTICLE 5. FREE KICK ILLEGALLY TOUCHED.
Item 1. Ball Reaches Landing Zone/End Zone. A player of the kicking team may not touch, catch, or recover the ball before it has reached the receiving team’s landing zone or end zone, unless it has first been touched by a receiving team player.
Penalty: For illegal touching of a free kick by the kicking team: Loss of five yards, or the receiving team takes possession of the ball at the spot of the illegal touch.
Item 2. Player Out of Bounds. If a kicking team player goes out of bounds during the kick, either of his own volition or by being legally forced out of bounds, he may not touch or recover the ball beyond the receiving team’s restraining line on an onside kick or in the landing zone or end zone on all other free kicks, unless it has first been touched by a receiving team player. If a kicking team player touches the ball before re-establishing himself legally inbounds, it is a free kick out of bounds.
Penalty: For illegal touching of a free kick by the kicking team: Loss of five yards.
ARTICLE 6. FAIR CATCH SIGNAL. No member of the receiving team may fair catch a free kick. If a member of the receiving team signals for a fair catch, the play will be blown dead immediately.
Penalty: For a valid or invalid fair catch signal of a free kick by the receiving team: Loss of five yards.
SECTION 3 ENFORCEMENT OF FOULS
ARTICLE 1. ENFORCEMENT FROM PREVIOUS SPOT. If there is a foul during a free kick, enforcement is from the previous spot, and the free kick is made again. However, if the kicking team commits a foul prior to the end of the kick, and the receiving team retains possession throughout the down, it will have the option of enforcing the penalty at the previous spot and replaying the down or adding the penalty yardage to the dead ball spot. The dead ball spot for free kicks that result in a touchback is the 20-yard line (See Section 1, Article 5(a) above) or 30-yard line (See Section 1, Article 5(b-d) above).
Exceptions:
A foul for an illegal double team block, or an illegal wedge block, during the kick is enforced from the spot of the foul or the previous spot if it occurs in Team B’s end zone;
For a free kick out of bounds, see Section 2, Article 3; or
For a free kick illegally touched, see Section 2, Article 4.
Note:
In (a) above, if the foul is not part of a double foul and the opponent has possession at the end of the down, the foul may be enforced from the dead ball spot. See 14-2-4.
RULE 15 INSTANT REPLAY
SECTION 1 INITIATING A REPLAY REVIEW
ARTICLE 2. REPLAY OFFICIAL REQUEST FOR REVIEW. Only the
Replay Official or the Senior Vice President of Officiating or his or her designee may initiate a review of a play:
that begins after the two-minute warning of each half;
throughout any overtime period;
when points are scored by either team;
that is a Try attempt (successful or unsuccessful); and
when on-field officials rule:
an interception by an opponent;
a fumble or backward pass recovered by an opponent or that goes out of bounds through the opponent’s end zone;
that the offense failed to reach the line to gain on fourth down;
possession by the kicking team at the end of any free kick or scrimmage kick down;
a disqualification of a player; or
a free kick touched the ground or a receiving team player in the landing zone.
Such plays may be reviewed regardless of whether a foul is committed on the play that, if accepted, would negate the on-field ruling.
The Replay Official may only challenge a play until the next legal snap or kick. The Replay Official may consult with a designated member of the Officiating department at the League office regarding whether to challenge a play.
Submitted by Competition Committee
Effect: Creates a new form of a free kick play that is designed to: (1) resemble a typical scrimmage play by aligning players on both teams closer together and restricting movement to reduce space and speed; and (2) promote more returns. Permits the Replay Official to automatically review whether a free kick legally touched the ground or a receiving team player in the landing zone.
Reason: Player Safety. Provides excitement and competition in the game.