Kicking Game (U-17 + up)

1. Kicking

• 1.1A kicked ball is 1 struck by a player's foot or leg below the knee to intentionally give possession of the ball to the opposing team.
• 1.23 types of kicks exist in 7v7 flag football for divisions U-17 and higher. They are: kick-off, punt and freekick.
• 1.3When the ball contacts a foot or part of a leg of a player while a team is trying to gain possession and is not intentionally kicking the ball, it is considered not to be a kick and the ball is treated as a lateral pass with applicable rules.

2. Restraining Zone

• 2.1The first player to touch the ball kicked by the opponent (returner) has a 5 yard restraining zone: no player on the kicking team (including the kicker) can be inside the 5 yard area when the returner touches the football for the first time. Infractions result in a penalty for not respecting restraining zone (penalty with options; see different types of kicks). If a player from the kicking team touches the ball first, the ball is whistled dead and the restraining zone rule is in effect, even if no player from the receiving team is closer than the 5 yard area.

3. Kick Off

• 3.1The kick-off is executed as the 1st play to start a half or after a touchdown. It can also be executed after a safety.
• 3.2On kick-offs that occur after a touchdown to start a half; the football is placed between the hash marks on the side of the field of the kicking team, 10-yards away from midfield. For kick-offs after a safety, the ball is placed 20-yards away from midfield, between the hash marks and on the side of the field of the kicking team. The application of penalties can modify the placement of the football.
• 3.3During a kick-off, the ball may be placed on the ground, held by another player, or it can be placed on a kicking tee. If placed on the tee, the football must not be more than 2 inches off the ground. A procedure penalty may be called for infractions. The team executing the kick-off is responsible for removing the kicking tee from the field once the ball is whistled dead. The team receiving the kick provides the football.
• 3.4A huddle is not mandatory for a kick-off. The kicking team has 20 seconds after the official's whistle to kick the ball. Once the time has expired, the official will stop the play and give a penalty for delay of game. If there is a second penalty for delay of game, the opposing team will take possession where the ball was spotted. After the penalty for delay of game, the official must inform both teams of the implications of a second penalty for delay of game.
• 3.5Once the official has whistled the start of the 20 seconds, no player, either on offense or defense, may enter the field (penalty for illegal substitution). The official will make sure there are 7 players on the field for each team. A team that takes too much time to line up 7 players on the field for kick-off will receive a penalty for delay of game.

4. Offside on a Kick Off

• 4.1Neutral zone: the neutral zone is the area between the kick-off line, the line 20-yards in front of the kickoff line and the 2 sidelines.
• 4.2At the exact moment when the ball is kicked, all players on the kicking team (except for the holder) have to be behind the ball (if not, penalty for offside: 5-yard penalty and re-kick, or the receiving team may decline the penalty and take the ball at the point where the play stopped).
• 4.3Until the ball is kicked, players on the receiving teams must remain on their side of the neutral zone (if not, penalty for offside: 5-yard penalty and re-kick or kicking team may decline the penalty and the receiving team takes possession of the ball at the point where the play stopped).

5. Kick Off Out of Bounds

• 5.1A kick-off is out of bounds when:
• The ball goes out of bounds without touching the playing surface or end zone, any player or goal post;
• The ball goes out of bounds by crossing the sidelines of the field of play after touching the playing field, but without touching a player or the goal post;
• An out of bounds kick-off brings a penalty (with options).
• 5.2Unless it is touched by a player on the receiving team, the ball must travel at least 20-yards (with or without any bounce) towards the opponent's end zone (if not, penalty for illegal procedure – 5-yards with options).

6. Kick Off Penalties

• 6.1Delay of game on a kick-off: no options
• Kicking line moved back 10-yards and re-kick by the team at fault
• 2nd consecutive infraction by the kicking team: lost of possession at the kicking line.
• 6.2Offside on kick-off: options for team not at fault
• Kicking line is moved 5-yards back towards the team at fault and re-kick;
• Penalty is declined and the possession of the ball is taken at the spot where the ball whistled dead.
• 6.3Kick-off out of bounds: options for the receiving team
• Kicking line is moved 5-yards back towards the team at fault and re-kick;
• Receiving team take possession of the ball 25-yards from the kicking line;
• Receiving team take possession at the point where the ball went out of bounds.
• 6.4No yard rule on a kick-off: options for team not at fault
• Kicking line is moved 5-yards back towards the team at fault and re-kick;
• 10-yard penalty starting at the point of infraction and ball possession for the receiving team.
• Penalty is declined and the possession of the ball is taken at the spot where the ball was whistled dead.
• 6.5Illegal substitution on a kick-off: options for team not at fault
• Kicking line is moved 10-yards back towards the team at fault and re-kick;
• Penalty is declined and the possession of the ball is taken at the spot where the ball was whistled dead.

7. Punting

• 7.1A punt is executed to give possession of the ball to the opponents by pushing them as far back as possible into their zone. A punt can be executed at any time, on any down and without being announced.
• 7.2A punt must be executed behind the line of scrimmage.
• 7.3A punt is executed by a player who receives the ball by the center, then releases the ball with the hands to kick it before it touches the ground. After the snap from the center, the punter is the only player allowed to touch the ball before the kick (if not, penalty for illegal procedure).
• 7.4During a punt, the procedures of punting the ball in play are the same as for a normal offensive play. Also, a minimum of 5 players must be on the LOS and no player of the kicking team is allowed to cross the LOS before the ball is kicked (if not, penalty for illegal procedure).
• 7.5If the kicked ball is falling in an area where there are many players, the official can whistle the play dead while the ball is coming down. The ball becomes officially dead at the spot where the ball made contact with the ground or a player. The "no yard"rule doesn't apply.
• 7.6If a punt goes off the field by crossing a sideline inside the playing surface, the ball will be spotted at the exact yard line where it went out. If it goes off the field inside the end zone, then the rules of a single will apply.
• 7.7During a punt, the receiving team cannot execute a forward pass.

8. Roughing The Kicker

• 8.1A judgment has to be made by the official when contact is made with the kicker. Voluntary and deliberately violent contact made with the kicker results in a roughing the kicker penalty. Accidentally contact or 1 that is made with the attempt to avoid contact by the defender will result in a penalty for contacting the kicker.

9. Punt that does not Cross Line of Scrimmage/ Goal Line

• 9.1The ball is dead when it touches the ground, a player or if it goes out of bounds. The "no yard" rule does not apply.
• 9.2Punt that does not cross the goal line: when a punt is executed from the team's own end zone and it does not cross the goal line, a safety will be awarded to the receiving team.

10. Tipped Punt

• 10.1A tipped punt is a kicked ball touched by a player (offense or defense) immediately after being kicked, before it crosses the line of scrimmage and still continues its path towards the opponent's end zone. A tipped punt is considered an untouched ball.
• 10.2If the ball crosses the LOS, all the rules of punting apply. If it doesn't cross the LOS, the ball will be dead the moment it touches the ground, a player, or goes out of bounds. The receiving team will then take over possession of the ball at the point where the ball was whistled dead. The "no yard" rule does not apply.

11. Blocked Punt

• 11.1A blocked punt is kicked ball touched by a player (offense or defense) immediately after being kicked, before it crosses the line of scrimmage and does not continue its path towards the opponent's end zone. The "no yard" rule does not apply.
• 11.2If the ball touches the ground or goes out of bounds, the play is dead. The receiving team gets possession of the ball at the point where it was blocked.

12. Blocked Punt Recovered

• 12.1When a blocked punt is recovered by the kicking or receiving team, the ball remains in play. When the kicking team recovers the blocked punt, continuation of the play is considered normal – the team may kick, pass or run the ball.
• 12.2If a punt is blocked or tipped by the receiving team inside the end zone of the kicking team, and the ball does not cross the goal line or goes out of bounds inside the end zone, the receiving team scored a touchdown.

13. Punt Penalties

• 13.1No yard rule: options for the team not at fault
• 15-yard penalty from the point of infraction and 1st down is awarded;
  • Penalty is declined and ball is spotted at the point where the play was stopped.
• 13.2Illegal procedure on a punt: options for the team not at fault
• Loss of 5-yards for kicking team and re-kick.
• Penalty is declined and ball is spotted at the point where the play was stopped.
• 13.3Contact with the kicker
• 10-yard penalty from the LOS and replay down for the kicking team; if the yards gained by the penalty are sufficient, a 1st down is awarded to the kicking team.
• Penalty is declined and ball is spotted at the point where the play was stopped.
• 13.4Roughing the kicker
• 15-yard penalty and automatic 1st down for the kicking team.

14. Free Kick

A kick executed by a player after the ball has crossed the LOS.

• 14.1The free kick is executed and is governed by the same rules as a punt.

Exceptions:

• All players can kick the ball;
• The rule of not crossing the LOS before the ball is kicked does not apply; the players of the kicking team are free to move, but the no yard rule for the returner is in effect.
• A free kick can be executed from behind the LOS only if the ball had previously crossed the LOS and came back behind it afterwards; otherwise the kick becomes a punt and punting rules apply.
• If a blocked free kick is recovered by the kicking team, forward passes are not allowed.
• A tipped free kick is a free kick touched by an opponent immediately after being kicked and still continues its path towards the opponent's end zone. The player who tipped the ball had to be within 5-yards of the kicker when he tipped the ball. A tipped free kick is considered an untouched free kick.

15. Punt/ Place Kick

• 15.1The ball is dead after a punt when it touches the ground behind the line of scrimmage or snapped, and there is no play on the ball by either team.
• 15.2The ball is dead after a punt when it touches the ground after being muffed in an offside direction by any player of the receiving team at any time. The ball is dead after a punt when it is downed by a player of the punting team. In all these cases, a ball touching any person or object out of bounds shall be considered to have touched the ground.
• 15.3The ball is dead immediately after a punt or place kick on a convert attempt.

16. Kick Off

• 16.1The ball is dead after a kick off when it is downed by the kicking team.