1. Any kick from
scrimmage must be made from behind the line to be legal.
2. Any punt or missed field goal
that touches a goal post is dead.
3. During a kick from scrimmage,
only the end men, as eligible receivers on the line of scrimmage at the
time of the snap, are permitted to go beyond the line before the ball is
kicked.
Exception: An eligible receiver
who, at the snap, is aligned or in motion behind the line and more than
one yard outside the end man on his side of the line, clearly making him
the outside receiver, replaces that end man as the player eligible to go
downfield after the snap. All other members of the kicking team must remain
at the line of scrimmage until the ball has been kicked.
4. Any punt that is blocked and does
not cross the line of scrimmage can be recovered and advanced by either
team. However, if offensive team recovers it must make the yardage necessary
for its first down to retain possession if punt was on fourth down.
5. The kicking team may never advance
its own kick even though legal recovery is made beyond the line of scrimmage.
Possession only.
6. A member of the receiving team
may not run into or rough a kicker who kicks from behind his line unless
contact is:
(a) Incidental to and after he had
touched ball in flight.
(b) Caused by kicker’s own motions.
(c) Occurs during a quick kick, or
a kick made after a run behind the line, or after kicker recovers a loose
ball on the ground. Ball is loose when kicker muffs snap or snap hits ground.
(d) Defender is blocked into kicker.
The penalty for running into the
kicker is 5 yards. For roughing the kicker: 15 yards, an automatic first
down and disqualification if flagrant.
7. If a member of the kicking team
attempting to down the ball on or inside opponent’s 5-yard line carries
the ball into the end zone, it is a touchback.
8. Fouls during a punt are enforced
from the previous spot (line of scrimmage).
Exception: Illegal touching,
fair-catch interference, invalid fair-catch signal, or personal foul (blocking
after a fair-catch signal).
9. While the ball is in the air or
rolling on the ground following a punt or field-goal attempt and receiving
team commits a foul only before or after gaining possession, receiving
team will retain possession and will be penalized for its foul.
10. It will be illegal for a defensive
player to jump or stand on any player, or be picked up by a teammate or
to use a hand or hands on a teammate to gain additional height in an attempt
to block a kick (Penalty: 15 yards, unsportsmanlike conduct).
11. A punted ball remains a kicked
ball until it is declared dead or in possession of either team.
12. Any member of the punting team
may down the ball anywhere in the field of play. However, it is illegal
touching (Official’s time out and receiver’s ball at spot of illegal touching).
This foul does not offset any foul by receivers during the down.
13. Defensive team may advance all
kicks from scrimmage (including unsuccessful field goal) whether or not
ball crosses defensive team’s goal line. Rules pertaining to kicks from
scrimmage apply until defensive team gains possession.
14. When a team presents a punt formation,
defensive pass interference is not to be called for actions on the widest
player eligible to go beyond line. Defensive holding may be called.
Fair Catch
1. The member of the receiving team
must raise one arm a full length above his head and wave it from side to
side while kick is in flight. (Failure to give proper sign: receivers’
ball five yards behind spot of signal.) Note: It is legal for the receiver
to shield his eyes from the sun by raising one hand no higher than the
helmet.
2. No opponent may interfere with
the fair catcher, the ball, or his path to the ball. Penalty: 15 yards
from spot of foul and fair catch is awarded.
3. A player who signals for a fair
catch is not required to catch the ball. However, if a player signals for
a fair catch, he may not block or initiate contact with any player on the
kicking team until the ball touches a player. Penalty: snap 15 yards.
4. If ball hits ground or is touched
by member of kicking team in flight, fair catch signal is off and all rules
for a kicked ball apply.
5. Any undue advance by a fair catch
receiver is delay of game. No specific distance is specified for undue
advance as ball is dead at spot of catch. If player comes to a reasonable
stop, no penalty. For penalty, five yards.
6. If time expires while ball is
in play and a fair catch is awarded, receiving team may choose to extend
the period with one fair catch kick down. However, placekicker may not
use tee.
Foul on Last Play of Half or Game
1. On a foul by defense on last play
of half or game, the down is replayed if penalty is accepted.
2. On a foul by the offense on last
play of half or game, the down is not replayed and the play in which the
foul is committed is nullified.
Exception: Fair catch interference,
foul following change of possession, illegal touching. No score by offense
counts.
Spot of Enforcement of Foul
1. There are four basic spots at
which a penalty for a foul is enforced:
(a) Spot of foul: The spot where
the foul is committed.
(b) Previous spot: The spot where
the ball was put in play.
(c) Spot of snap, backward pass or
fumble: The spot where the foul occurred or the spot where the penalty
is to be enforced.
(d) Succeeding spot: The spot where
the ball next would be put in play if no distance penalty were to be enforced.
Exception: If foul occurs
after a touchdown and before the whistle for a try, succeeding spot is
spot of next kickoff.
2. All fouls committed by offensive
team behind the line of scrimmage (except in the end zone) shall be penalized
from the previous spot. If the foul is in the end zone, it is a safety.
3. When spot of enforcement for fouls
involving defensive holding or illegal use of hands by the defense is behind
the line of scrimmage, any penalty yardage to be assessed on that play
shall be measured from the line if the foul occurred beyond the line.