RULE 5 — KICKING

SECTION 2 — KICKOFF

Article 1 — Points Of Kickoff

The ball shall be kicked off by a place kick from any point between the hash marks on Team A's:

35-yard line — at the start of the game, or any half, or after a touchdown. 35-yard line — after a score of three points by the kicking team, or the team scored against may elect to put the ball in play by kickoff from its own 35-yard line. If score occurs after the 3 minute warning in 4th quarter the scoring team must kickoff. 25-yard line — after a score of two points against the kicking team or the scoring team may elect to put the ball in play by kickoff or scrimmage from its own 35-yard line.

Article 2 — Legal Kickoff

The ball, unless touched by an opponent, must be kicked more than 10 yards towards the opponent's Goal Line before it may be legally touched by a member of Team A. PENALTY: L5 kickoff repeated or Team B may take possession at the point the ball was first touched by Team A or option. The ball, unless touched, shall not go Out of Bounds in the Field of Play. PENALTY: Team B will take possession either 30 yards in advance of where the ball was kicked or at the point where the ball went out of bounds. Should the ball be kicked Out of Bounds in the receiving team's Goal Area without being touched by a player of either team, there shall be no penalty and the ball shall next be put in play by the receiving team at its 25-yard line. Should the kicked ball strike the goal post assembly in flight, it shall be declared dead immediately and awarded to the receiving team at its 25-yard line. If the kicked ball is simultaneously recovered by players of both teams or is simultaneously touched by players of both teams before going Out of Bounds, the kickoff shall be repeated.

Article 3 — Offside On Kickoff - Team A

At the instant the ball is kicked off, no player of the kicking team shall be in advance of the ball except the player who may be holding the ball for such kickoff. The player holding the ball is deemed to be onside and is eligible to recover the kickoff in the same manner as any other Team A player.

PENALTY: L5 — kickoff repeated, or option.

Article 4 — Offside On Kickoff - Team B

Players of the receiving team must stand at least 10 yards on their own side of the line of kickoff when the ball is kicked.

PENALTY: L5 — kickoff repeated, or option.

Article 5 — Interference By Team B

On a kickoff, a player of the receiving team may interfere with an opponent anywhere within bounds, commencing from the moment the ball is kicked, provided that contact is made only above the waist of the opponent.

PENALTY: L15 PBH or PPG or PBD

Article 6 — Wedge Blocking

It shall be illegal for 3 or more players to align shoulder to shoulder within 2 yards of each other and move forward together in an attempt to block for a ball carrier.

PENALTY: L10 PBH or PPG

Article 7 — Interference By Team A

Before gaining possession: A player of the kicking team shall not be permitted to interfere with an opponent who is attempting to play or recover the ball until that team has gained possession. PENALTY: L10 — kickoff repeated, or option After gaining possession: If a player of the kicking team recovers the ball on the kickoff, that team may then interfere with opponents anywhere within bounds, provided that contact is made only above the waist of the opponent. PENALTY: L15 — PBH or PBD

Article 8 — Gaining Possession On A Kickoff

On a kickoff, a player who catches the ball must come down in bounds to gain possession. If the player was the last to touch the ball, either he or the ball must come down in bounds for possession to be awarded.