Re: Kick the ball out of bounds on the kick off! Why not?
Originally Posted by
IndyBison
Receiving team has 3 choices when a free kick goes out of bounds untouched by them:
Back up the kicking team 5 yards and make them re-kick
5 yard penalty from the spot where the kick went out of bounds and receiving team's ball
Take the ball 30 yards beyond where the ball was kicked (typically the 30)
If the ball goes out of bounds at the 36 or beyond they will usually take option 2. Most free kicks out of bounds are deeper than that so you often see the ball placed at the 40. Very rarely do you see a team have them re-kick. If a team is going to try to keep the ball away from a returner they are more likely to pooch kick it into the middle of the field. Intentionally kicking it out of bounds will give the other team the ball at the 40 at worst.
Whoops. Hell of a lot more complicated than I assumed.
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