New 6 Man Kickoff rules

[Coach9423]

Currently, we are kicking off from the 30yd line. Move the line scrimmage to kick from back to the 25 line (if you want to make onsides matter to the kicking team). I do like the idea of Tbs starting on the 15yd. The fair catch rule, currently, is only on the first bounce you can wave for it (the one college was caught on the high bounce).
Another thought, what about widening (or shortening) the space between teams to 20yds (I know, "safety risks").
Last thought (Church league softball rule), can only kick 3 onsides a game. I do feel like this one is a little extreme; however, Everyone has a level playing field at that point, and the teams that have been T-ing off on the weaker opponents because "they can't kick far", will to figure it out. Those same teams tend to make a lot of PAT kicks....I'm sure everyone would be fine.

 

[dammitbobby]

This would be a pretty radical change, but what if we gave Team B the option to forgo the kick by A altogether, and take it at the 15, if not 20? Same as a touchback but no need to put foot to leather. If B wants the opportunity to score on the kick, then they must allow A to kick off, come what may.

 

[Blue Bird]

This is better.

 

[dammitbobby]

Actually I don't think this would work in practice, because it would deprive K of the opportunity to recover an onside kick.

4th quarter, 0:30 left, K scores to pull within one touchdown. If this rule were in effect, the game is essentially over as R would only have to kneel out, there is no opportunity at all for R to recover an onside kick.

Actually it could work... with a stipulation that inside of two minutes of each half (to match other timing rules) the ball must be kicked.

 

[oldfolks]

Actually it could work... with a stipulation that inside of two minutes of each half (to match other timing rules) the ball must be kicked.

Choice of kicking team and all of 4th quarter.

 

[ZeroRisk]

Why not allow a fair catch rule for any onside? I could swear I saw it happen in a CFB, granted the ball hit ground first and popped in the air. Similar to a pooch. Might as well make that a fair catch possibility. That way the player has an option to not potentially get killed

(FR-77 Rule 6-4-1-f) During a free kick a player of the receiving team in position to receive the ball has the same kick-catch and fair-catch protection whether the ball is kicked directly off the tee or is immediately driven to the ground, strikes the ground once and goes into the air in the manner of the ball kicked directly off the tee.

That is the rule in NCAA and Texas HSFB, including 6-man. So in the situation you are talking about, the receiving team is eligible to signal for fair catch and also has KCI protection regardless of a FC signal.

 

[Roach]

(FR-77 Rule 6-4-1-f) During a free kick a player of the receiving team in position to receive the ball has the same kick-catch and fair-catch protection whether the ball is kicked directly off the tee or is immediately driven to the ground, strikes the ground once and goes into the air in the manner of the ball kicked directly off the tee.

That is the rule in NCAA and Texas HSFB, including 6-man. So in the situation you are talking about, the receiving team is eligible to signal for fair catch and also has KCI protection regardless of a FC signal.

Thank you because I was told otherwise by a crew from EP. So does that mean if the ball rolls instead of pops up no fair catch is allowed. Thats what I was suggesting.

 

[ZeroRisk]

Thank you because I was told otherwise by a crew from EP. So does that mean if the ball rolls instead of pops up no fair catch is allowed. Thats what I was suggesting.

You're correct! There is only one way that the ball can strike the ground and FC and KCI protections still exist -- if you drive the ball immediately into the ground off the tee and it goes from the ground in the air basically in the same manner as if you just kicked it up from off the tee. If it bounces at any other time, no FC/KCI protection. Some kickers are truly excellent at kicking the ball such that it will bounce 2-3 times and go into the air about four yards from the restraining line. In that situation, no KCI/FC protection exists.