Kick From Scrimmage and Return Kick (Punt, Place or Drop Kick)

In the application of this section, the benefit of any doubt shall be given to the receiver.

Article 1 – Offside beyond Line of Scrimmage (Restraining Zone Foul)

This article does not apply to a dribbled ball, or to a kick which does not cross the LS.

When on a kick from scrimmage (ball crosses the line of scrimmage), return kick or on an open-field kick, a player is offside in relation to the kicker, such player:

a) shall not touch or be touched by the ball.

b) shall allow 5 yards to an opponent attempting to gain possession of the kicked ball. The five-yard zone is determined by a circle with a five-yard radius, with the centre point being the ball at the instant it is first touched.

If the ball strikes the ground before being touched by the receiving team:

c) If the kicking team player is making no effort to withdraw from the 5-yard zone, and is hovering over the ball or the receiving team player is about to take possession of the ball:

d) If the kicking team player interferes with a receiving team player attempting to gain possession of the kicked ball, with or without contact:

A player of the kicking team who invades the five-yard zone, and contacts a receiving team player, who is attempting to play the ball in an unnecessarily rough manner, will be subject to an additional 15- or 25-yard penalty, regardless of whether the ball had struck the ground.

Note: For players at levels of football lower than college or junior, league executives may wish to reduce the severity of the above penalty to 10 yards (10 metres). A penalty in the opponent's end zone may be awarded at the 10 yard (10 metre) line. Field officials should be notified in writing of any such variations in order to maintain consistency for the teams.

Article 2 – Miscellaneous

a) A scrimmage kick which travels only a short distance across the line of scrimmage, or a return kick (not including a dribbled ball) which is short, and thereby prevents players of the kicker's team from giving the required distance, shall be whistled dead as soon as the ball touches a player or the ground, with possession awarded to the receiving team. In obvious situations where the kick will clearly fall short into a group of players, the play may be whistled dead as soon as the ball begins to descend. No distance penalty will be assessed, but if the ball is whistled dead in this manner on the final play of a half, the receiving team shall be entitled to 1 play from scrimmage if they so elect.

b) The ball should NOT be whistled dead on any such short kick, if it is dropping into the end zone. A scrimmage kick from the end zone, which does not leave the end zone, shall not be whistled dead. A return kick from the end zone, which does not leave the end zone, shall not be whistled dead, and the non-offending team shall be awarded a score if a restraining zone foul is committed. In either case, the receiving team may recover the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

• c) An offside player who is within the restraining zone and contacts the receiver before he/she touches the ball, shall be penalized for UR or RP in addition to the restraining zone foul, unless in the opinion of the official, the contact was incidental and unavoidable.
• d) The kicker or onside player may be the first player to legally enter the restraining zone to recover the ball. No contact shall be made with the opposing receiver, except in a legitimate attempt to recover the ball, and all other contact by the kicker or onside player is illegal.

• e) If, under this article, the ball is motionless on the ground, and the receiver feints as if to pick up the ball.
  • i) The receiver may be tackled without penalty.
  • ii) If the receiver touches the ball first, whoever recovers the ball shall retain possession.
  • iii) If an offside player touches the ball first, possession awarded to the receiving team at that point, with no distance penalty.
  • iv) If an onside player touches the ball first, whoever recovers the ball shall retain possession
• f) If a scrimmage kick is in the end zone, and before it is touched by an opponent, a player of the kicking team illegally recovers or touches the ball without attempting to allow an opponent to recover it, the restraining zone violation shall be called, but the penalty will be:
  • i) no score.
  • ii) opponent's ball, 1D at the 35, or at the PLS if the ball entered the end zone as a result of a missed field goal, where the PLS was outside the 35.
• g) On any kick from scrimmage or kickoff, where the ball enters the end zone, the receiving team being able to successfully advance the ball legally out of the end zone and retain possession without returning the ball into the end zone, may choose to scrimmage at their own 20 yard (20 metre) line on or between the hash marks or where the ball becomes dead. Note: When the ball has been legally advanced out of the end zone, the point ball held will be classed the B 20-yard (20 metre) line until the ball is carried beyond the B20, for any penalties to be
• h) On any kick from scrimmage, where the ball does not cross the line of scrimmage and is not the result of being blocked, rule the same as for a dribbled ball

Article 3 – Goal Post Assembly

applied at PBH.

A kicked ball which strikes the opponent's goal post assembly in flight shall be dead immediately and awarded to the receiving team; 1st down, at any point on or between the hash marks on its 20 yard (20 metre) line.

A kicked ball which strikes the opponent's goal post assembly after striking the ground, a player, or an official, or a kicked ball which strikes the kicking team's goal post assembly shall remain in play.

Article 4 – Field Goal

On a field goal or convert attempt, if the ball strikes the goal post assembly, but still goes over the crossbar and between the uprights, the score shall count. If it does not score, the ball shall be put into play:

• a) after Missed Field Goal at any point between the hash marks on the 20 yard (20 metre) line.
• b) after Missed Convert normal kick off.