Non-Reviewable Play Situations on Free Kicks
16. Free Kick Out of Bounds
Team A kicks off and the airborne ball goes out of bounds untouched at the Team B l-yard line. Officials rule touchback. RULING: Not reviewable. B 1-10 on B-25. Where an airborne kick goes out of bounds is not reviewable. The play would be reviewable if the issue was whether the ball touched the pylon or sideline. An airborne kick is a ball that does not touch the ground, or any other object in the field of play.
17. Kick-Catching Interference
On a kickoff, A12 tries an onside kick. The ball hits the ground as soon it leaves the tee and bounds high in the air to the Team A 45-yard line, where B25 signals for a fair catch. Officials rule kick-catching interference when A20 appears to contact B25 before the ball arrives, and A30 recovers the ball at the A47. Replays show that A20 did not contact B25 before the ball arrived. RULING: Kick-catching interference is not reviewable. B 1/10 @ A-30.