a. To trigger the option for a Fair Catch Kick, a fair catch must be completed of an opponent’s scrimmage kick or free kick.
b. Following the fair catch (or awarded fair catch), optionally the ball may be put in play by a Fair Catch Kick by the receiving team at the spot of the catch or the succeeding spot after penalties.
1. This selection for a fair catch kick must come from the before the dead ball is ready for play and the decision is irrevocable. Following the ready for play, there is no option to select a Fair Catch Kick.
If the catch is in the zone, the ball is transferred into the nearest hash mark. There is no option for Team A to otherwise relocate the ball.
c. The play clock is set to 25 seconds, and the game clock starts when the ball is legally kicked.
d. If the fair catch occurs as time expires in a half, the team is allowed to make the Fair Catch Kick as an untimed down.
e. The fair Catch Kick line for the kicking team is the most forward point of the ball at the spot of the fair catch (or awarded fair catch), or the succeeding spot after penalties.
f. The Fair Catch Kick line for the receiving team is the yard line 10 yards in advance of the kicking team’s Fair Catch Kick line.
g. The formation requirements for a fair catch kick will follow Free Kick rules (Rule 6-1-2a,6-1-2band6-1-2c).
h. The kick must be a field goal place kick with a holder (no tee) or a drop kick, and if the kick passes over the crossbar and through the uprights, a field goal is scored and 3 points are awarded to the kicking team.
i. If the Fair Catch Kick is unsuccessful, all rules pertaining to scrimmage kicks (Rule 6-3) and the Next Play provisions of an unsuccessful field goal apply (Rule 8-4-2b).
Approved Ruling 2-16-11 I Late in the 4th quarter, receiver B21 is in position to catch A96’s punt at the 50 and gives a valid fair catch Just before the ball is touched by B21, A80 makes contact with B21, the ball then touches B21 at the 50 and is recovered by A80 at the B-45. RULING: Kick Catching Interference and Team B has an awarded fair catch. Enforce the 15-yard penalty from the spot of the foul, and Team B will have 1/10 @ A-35. The Team B head coach can select a Fair Catch Kick at the A-35 if he informs officials of this option before the ball is next ready for play.
Approved Ruling 2-16-11 II 4/10 @ A-10. Late in the 4th quarter, Team A punts and receiver B21 completes a fair catch at the 50 after giving a valid fair catch signal. Team A: (a) was in an illegal formation at the snap; or (b) commits a dead ball personal foul after the catch by B21. RULING: The ball is dead when caught. (a) Team be can chose to enforce the 5-yard penalty at the previous spot and repeat 4th down, or they may enforce the penalty at the spot where the dead ball belongs to Team B and have 1/10 @ A-45; (b) The dead ball personal foul is enforced from the dead ball spot (50), and Team B will have 1/10 @ A-35. In both (a) and (b), if Team B is next to snap the ball, the head coach may elect a Fair Catch Kick at the succeeding spot.
Approved Ruling 2-16-11 III 4/10 @ A-10. Late in the 4th quarter, Team A punts and receiver B21 completes a fair catch at the 50 after giving a valid signal. The receiving team head coach does not elect a Fair Catch Kick, and after the ready for play, the offense comes to the line with 1/10 @ 50. While at the line and the QB calling signals, defender B55 jumps into the neutral zone and makes contact with the snapper. After the penalty is enforced and before the next ready for play, the head coach for the offense now requests a Fair Catch Kick. RULING: There is no option of selecting a Fair Catch Kick at this point. After the original ready for play after the punt play, there is no option for a Fair Catch Kick.
Approved Ruling 2-16-11 IV4/10 @ A-10. Late in the 4th quarter, Team A punts and receiver B21 completes a fair catch at the 50 after giving a valid signal. The receiving team head coach elects a Fair Catch Kick. As both teams get set for the Fair Catch Kick, the receivers put a return man back in their end zone. The Fair Catch Kick is short and: (a) lands 9 yards deep in the end zone and bounces over the end line; or (b) is caught by the return man for the receiving team and he advances out to the B-35. RULING: The kick is no good. (a) Since the kick was untouched by the receivers, Team B will snap the ball at the previous spot (50) if there is time remaining; (b) Following the return by Team B, they will next snap at their B-35.
