Free Kick

Coin Toss – 4 Man Mechanics Coin Toss – 5 Man Mechanics BJ U LM Umpire: About five minutes (or as directed by state association) before game time, escort to center of field the captain(s) of team whose team box is on side where line-to-gain indicator is located. Back judge observes team on linesman's side while linesman completes instructions to line-to-gain crew. Linesman (four person)/back judge (five person) bring an approved game ball from each team to the coin toss. Linesman gives instruction to line-to-gain crew. Coin Toss – 4 Man Mechanics Coin Toss – 5 Man Mechanics Linesman (four person)/ back judge (five person) and line judge remain at hash marks to observe team members not involved in toss and who shall not be on the field of play. LJ R PRESSBOX

About five minutes (or as directed by state association) before game time, escort to center of field captain(s) of team whose team box is on side opposite line-to-gain indicator. The actual coin toss should be at the three-minute mark. After umpire introduces captain(s), introduce captain(s) to each other and give them instructions, including emphasis on sportsmanship. If coin toss is held off field, results may be simulated at center of field three minutes prior to start of game or as directed by state association. Place captains in position facing each other with backs toward goal they will defend. Have captains face each other with their backs to sidelines. Dismiss captains. BJ LM . In the presence of the umpire: a. Instruct visiting captain to give "heads" or "tails" choice before the coin toss. b. Inform captains if coin is not caught, you will toss again. c. After making toss and determining winner, place hand on captain's shoulder and have captain choose one of following options: (1) Kick or receive. (2) Defend a goal. (3) Defer choice to second half. .., d. If winner chooses not to defer and makes a choice, give opposing captain choice of remaining option. e. If winner of toss defers, step toward press box and give toss option deferred Signal. Opposing captain then given choice of options followed by deferring captain's choice of remaining option U R While facing in same direction as the first choosing captain, signal choice in this manner: a. Swing leg simulating kick. b. Make catching motion simulating receiving. .. c. If first choosing captain elected to defend a goal, point With both arms extended toward that goal line, then move to other captains and give appropriate signal for choice of other captain. LJ PRESSBOX

LN U Take charge of the ball. Move onto field to kicker and after checking legality of the kicking tee hand the kicker the ball. Point out the referee and instruct him to wait for his whistle. Give signal to LJ and move to sideline to K’s free kick line. Count K players and place hand up to indicate ready. Position on 20 yard line opposite the LJ. Be sure players and coaches are clear of sideline. Count R players. Hold hand above head to indicate ready. Free Kick 4-Man Crew Position near R’s 5 yard line. Count R players. Check position of other officials. After ready signs have been received, sound whistle declaring ball ready for play. Move to center of field with LN. Remind R players to stay behind yard line until ball is kicked. Signal LN and move to sideline position on R’s free kick line. Ensure players and coaches are clear of sideline. Count K players and raise arm to indicate ready. R LJ

BJ LN Take charge of the ball. Move onto field to kicker and after checking legality of the kicking tee hand the kicker the ball. Point out the referee and instruct him to wait for his whistle. Give signal to LJ and move to sideline to K’s free kick line. Count K players and place hand up to indicate ready. Position on 30 yard line opposite Umpire. Be sure players and coaches Are clear of the sidelines. Count R Players and raise arm to indicate ready. Position near R’s goal line. Count R players. Check position of other officials. After ready signs have been received, sound whistle declaring ball ready for play. R Free Kick 5-Man Crew Position on 25 yard line opposite the LN. Be sure players and coaches are clear of sideline. Count R players. Hold hand above head to indicate ready. Move to center of field with BJ. Remind R players to stay behind yard line until ball is kicked. Signal BJ and move to sideline position on R’s free kick line. Ensure players and coaches are clear of sideline. Count K players and raise arm to indicate ready. U LJ

LN BJ Referee Kick-off Responsibilities R Deep kick: while standing on goal line, rule on touchback. If kick is caught inside 5-yard line and player is downed in end zone, or ball goes out of bounds there, rule on whether player's momentum took him into end zone and mark spot of catch with bean bag Mark out-of-bounds spot if kick goes out-of-bounds in your area and throw flag if un-touched by R. Kick outside opposite inbounds line: Move cautiously with play. Observe action of other players in vicinity of runner. Serve as clean-up behind, to side of, and around runner. Kick down the middle: Signal clock to start when kick is touched other than first touching by K. Pick up runner and follow until releasing to covering official U LJ

LN BJ Umpire Kick-off Responsibilities After ball has gone downfield, move deliberately along sideline in that direction while watching for fouls away from ball. Mark spot where kick goes out of bounds on your side of field with penalty marker if untouched inbounds by R. Be alert for first touching by K - mark spot with bean bag. Watch initial blocks in your area. If ball becomes dead in your area, sound whistle and give time-out signal. Cover 15 yards down sideline. Be in position to take over coverage of runner in your area on long return. R U LJ

LN BJ Line Judge Kick-off Responsibilities When kickoff goes to opposite side, move cautiously with play along sideline. Observe action of other players in vicinity of runner. Serve as clean-up behind, to side of, and around runner. Maintain position enabling coverage of your sideline at all times. Mark out-of-bounds spot if kick goes out of bounds in your area: Drop penalty marker if untouched inbounds by R. Kick to your side: Signal clock to start when kick is legally touched. Pick up runner and follow along sideline. When ball becomes dead, sound whistle and give time-out signal. R U LJ

LN BJ R Maintain position enabling coverage of your sideline at all times. Observe legality of blocks and action away from the ball when you are not covering the runner. When ball becomes dead, sound whistle and give time-out signal. Be alert for first touching by K, and mark spot with bean bag. Mark spot where kick goes out-of-bounds on your side of field: Drop penalty marker if untouched inbounds by R. Kick to your side: Signal clock to start when the kick is legally touched, only if ball is even or up field from you. Kick to opposite side of field: Move cautiously with play along sideline. Observe action of other players in vicinity of runner. Linesman Kick-off Responsibilities U LJ

LN BJ R Cover to opposite 45-yard line. After ball has gone downfield, move deliberately along sideline in that direction while watching for fouls away from ball. If there is a penalty for a foul before kick ends requiring re kick, administer penalty and place ball ready. Mark out-of-bounds spot if kick goes out of bounds in your area with penalty marker if untouched in bounds by R. Watch initial blocks by players near R's free-kick line and action against kicker and holder. Be alert for first touching by K-mark spot with bean bag. Back Judge Kick-off Responsibilities U LJ

BJ LN R1 K2 R2 K3 K1 Kick by K1 is muffed by R2 then touched by K3 then rolls out of bounds at R’s 10. The ball belongs to R at the in bounds spot. 6.1.8 B R U LJ

BJ LN R1 K2 K3 R2 K1 The ball bounces out of bounds on R’s 30 yard line untouched by anyone. R can take the ball at the inbounds spot, the 35 yard line or have a five yard penalty accessed and have K re-kick. R U LJ

BJ LN R1 K2 K3 R2 K1 Kick by K is touched by R1 at R’s 5 yard line and then goes out of bounds at R’s 8. The ball belongs to R at the in bounds spot. 6.1.8 B R U LJ

BJ LN Kick by K is muffed by R1 near his 20 yard line The muff is caught by K2 and advanced into the end zone. K2 R1 K1 It will be K’s ball 1st and 10 from the 18. K may recover the muff but may not advance it. Covering official should blow his whistle immediately after K recovers the muff. 6.1.5 A R U LJ

R1 BJ LN K1 Kick by K1 is possessed by R1 at his 26 yard line. Who is airborne and alights with one foot in contact with the sideline at the 26. or… Contacts the sideline after catching the ball at the 26. It will be R’s ball at the 26. In both cases R caused the ball to go out of bounds. 6.1.8 A R U LJ

R1 BJ LN K2 Squib kick by K to R’s 30 yard line. Where R muffs the ball out of bounds at the 28. or… R1 muffs the ball toward the sideline where K2 muffs the ball out of bounds at R’s 28. It will be R’s ball at the 28. 6.1.8 E R U LJ

R1 BJ LN K2 R1 is running near the sideline as he attempts to catch a free kick in flight. R1 has one foot on the sideline when he reaches through the plane of the sideline and the ball bounces off his hands and goes out of bounds. R1 has both feet inbounds as the ball bounces off his hands and lands out of bounds. The ball is not yet out of bounds until it touches the ground there. Since R1 touched it, he caused it to go out of bounds so R will have the ball there. 6.1.8 C Since R1 was out of bounds when he touches the ball, The kicker has caused it to go out. 6.1.8 C R can take the ball at the inbounds spot, the 35 yard line or have a five yard penalty accessed and have K re-kick. R U LJ

BJ LN K3 R1 K2 K tries an onside kick K2 muffs the ball at K’s 48, and the ball bounces off R1 and is muffed out of bounds by K3 at R’s 45. K did not force the ball into R. R can either choose to take the ball at the 48, the spot of first touching, or at R’s 45 where the ball went out of bounds. There is no re-kick option since the ball was touched by R. 6.1.8 F R U LJ

BJ A free kick from K’s 40 comes down over K’s 45 where it is muffed in flight by K2 after which it is recovered by K3 on R’s 40. LN K3 K2 This is first touching by K and also kick catch interference by K2. R may choose to take the ball at the spot of first touching, take the result of the play, or accept the 15 yard penalty for kick catch interference. If they choose the penalty it is enforced from the previous spot and requires K to re-kick. 6.1.6 A Covering official should drop bean bag at spot of first touching. R may choose to take the ball at the spot of first touching R U LJ The clock should not be started when there is first touching. This is to prevent the kickers from getting the clock started by first touching and possibly not allowing R the opportunity to put the ball in play.

The ball is free kicked from K’s 40 and In flight crosses the 50-yard line before A strong wind blows it back to K’s 45. BJ LN Where it is touched in flight by K1. It will be kick catch interference by K. 15 yard penalty from previous spot and re-kick 6.1.6 B K1 Where it touches the ground and is recovered by K1. It will be K’s ball first and 10 at the 45. 6.1.6 B The free kick lines marking the neutral zone for K and R are vertical planes When the free kick penetrates R’s free kick line in flight, it is considered to Have gone the required 10 yards. If it also has touched the ground before or After going 10 yards it can be recovered, but not advanced by K. R U LJ

K tries an on-side kick as the Ball bounces along the sideline BJ LN K2 K’s free kick is bouncing on the ground in the neutral zone where R1 and K1 are engaged in blocking one another. K3 muffs the ball which touches R1 on the leg and K1 recovers the ball. K tries an on-side kick as the Ball bounces along the sideline the ball is muffed out of bounds by K2 at R’s 49 K1 R1 K3 R could have K re-kick after a 5 yard penalty, (the ball is not dead when K touches it) or take The ball 1st and 10 on R’s 49 or R’s 35. The touching by R is ignored and R will be awarded the ball at the spot of fist touching by K. 6.1.5 B R U LJ