NFL Video Rulebook Dynamic Kickoff

Rule Summary View Official Rule

SECTION 1 - PROCEDURES FOR A FREE KICK

ARTICLE 1. FREE KICK

A free kick is a kickoff, safety kick, or onside 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.

1. A kickoff puts the ball in play at the start of each half, after a Try, and after a successful field goal. A drop kick or place kick may be used for a kickoff.
2. A safety kick puts the ball in play after a safety. A drop kick, place kick, or punt may be used for a safety kick. A tee may be used for a safety kick.
3. An onside kick puts the ball in play in the fourth period by the team who is trailing in the game and declares that form of a free kick to the officials. A holder can be used for an onside kick. See 6-1-6 and 6-2-2 below.

Note: During a free kick, 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. Nothing, including a holder or designated holder, can 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 a designated holder during a kickoff or safety kick, or with a holder during an onside kick. The designated holder during a kickoff or safety kick shall be a uniformed member of the kicking team and may be the 12th person on the field, but he is a non-player, must leave the field on his team’s sideline immediately after the ball is kicked (5-2-8-e), and is also subject to the rules of non-player conduct in accordance with Rule 13. Only on a declared onside kick, the ball may be placed on the ground leaning against the tee, provided the tee is in its normal upright position.

Penalty: For illegal kick on a free kick down: Loss of five yards.

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