On scrimmage kicks until the ball is legally possessed the replay official may review the touching of a kick, the ball hitting a boundary line (including the pylon) or recovery at the sideline or in the end zone. Once the kick is possessed it becomes a running play and the guidelines for runs apply.
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When recovering a kick at the sideline the same criteria should be used as for catching a pass. A player must maintain control of the ball when going to the ground out of bounds and survive the ground.
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Pointing at the shoulder level or below is not a fair catch signal. Any waving action negates the opportunity for the receiving team to return a kick.
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An airborne player (Team A or B) catching a kick and landing out of bounds causes the ball to be dead at that spot. Team B ball.
Line to Gain
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Replay can always review the position of the ball in relation to the line to gain.
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When replay reviews a spot in relation to the line to gain, the replay official should determine if the line to gain was reached. If the replay official is not able to make a determination, but has definitive evidence the spot is incorrect, then direct the on-field officials to place the ball at the adjusted spot and measure.
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When a ball carrier is airborne and crosses the sideline (from inbounds to out of bounds) including a striding runner the ball's forward progress in relation to the line to gain, is determined by the position of the ball as it crosses the sideline.
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The only time replay should move the ball after a line to gain review is when the down will change, or the spot is incorrect, and replay cannot determine whether the line to gain was reached without a measurement.
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A ball carrier's helmet coming off kills the play. Replay can rule on the location of the ball when the helmet came off if involving the line to gain or goal line.
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Forward progress of a sliding player is the point at which the slide starts (backside begins to drop).
