PIFL (Professional Indoor Football League)
Excerpts from rules and regulations pertaining to kicking
SECTION 1 - THE PLAYING FIELD
  • 6. Goal Posts: The crossbars are centered on each end line. The width must be 10 feet measured from the inside to inside of the uprights. The uprights extend 20 feet vertically from the crossbar. The crossbar must be 15 feet from the turf to the bottom of the crossbar. The diameter of each post shall not be less than 3 inches or greater than 4 inches. Goal posts shall be painted in bright yellow. Slack nets may be used behind the goalposts. The nets shall be attached in such a way that they cover the dimensions of the goal posts. The nets shall not extend past the uprights in any way. It is recommended that slack nets be installed in order to retain footballs.
  • 11. Game Balls: The home team will supply a minimum of 35 game balls. The game balls must be the league approved ball. The balls shall be presented to the Officials one hour prior to kickoff along with an air pump. The visiting team is not required to provide game balls, but will provide their own practice balls for warm up activities. Home team balls shall not be retained in any way by the visiting team.
  • 16. Shoes: Players are permitted to wear football shoes manufactured by the shoe company of their choice.
SECTION 3 - SCORING
  • Field Goal: A place kick or drop kick, from a scrimmage kick formation, that passes between the opponent’s uprights and over the crossbar before touching the ground or arena obstructions.
  • 2. Place Kick Field Goal: 3 points
  • 3. Drop Kick Field Goal: 3 points
  • 7. PAT By Kick: 1 point
  • 8. UNO (kicking the ball through the uprights on a kickoff): 1 point
    • One (1) point will be awarded to the kicking team if the kicker, on a kickoff, can kick the football through the uprights and over the crossbar.
    • If the kicker makes an UNO, the ball will be placed at the receiving teams’ 5 yard line.
    • If the kicker misses the kick and it proceeds through the end zone the ball will be spotted on the receiving teams 10 yard‐line.
    • If during kick off the ball is kicked over the side walls in flight anywhere in front of the goal line and is untouched the kick is ruled as an “Illegal Kick”. The ball is placed at the kicking team’s 20 yard line.
  • 9. Kickoff Downed In The End Zone ‐ Rouge: 1 point
    • One point is awarded to kickoff team if receiver does not advance ball out of his end zone (Rouge). Ball will be placed at the receivers 5 yard line.
    • If the kicking team commits a foul during the free kick down, the 1 point will not be awarded and the play will be ruled a touchback.
SECTION 4 - DEAD BALL SPOTTING AND OUT OF BOUNDS
  • 1. Dead Ball: The ball is dead under the following:
    • D. When a ball strikes the goal assembly. A field goal attempt that strikes the goal post will remain a live ball until it is ruled to be successful or unsuccessful.
    • K. Play will be whistled dead, at any point during the game other than on field goals and PAT when the football hits off any part of the goal post or overhead obstruction.
  • 2. Spotting The Ball:
    • C. For all scrimmage kicks (field goal) the ball will always be spotted on the nearest inside hash mark.
SECTION 6 - KICKS
  • Definitions
    • Kicked ball: A kicked ball is a ball that has intentionally been struck, by a player’s foot or leg below the knee.
    • Place kick: A legal kick made by kicking the ball after it has been placed in a fixed position on the ground. The following applies to a free or scrimmage kick:
      • 1) A place kick may be used for a free kick or scrimmage kick.
      • 2) The ball may be held on the ground by a teammate of the kicker, or, for a free kick, the ball may be placed on a one inch tee.
      • 3) No substance or device may be used to improve the kicker’s footing.
    • Drop kick: A legal drop kick is one where the kicker drops the ball to the ground and kicks it when it is rising or as it touches the ground. A drop kick may be used for a free kick or a scrimmage kick.
    • Punting: Punting the ball is not permitted. (Penalty is 10 yards or loss of down)
  • 1. Free Kick:
    • A. Spot of free kick: The ball shall be kicked by a place kick or drop kick from any point between the sidelines of the kicking team’s goal line at the beginning of each half of the game, after a successful field goal, after a successful or unsuccessful point after touchdown, and after a safety. All free kicks must occur from the goal line. Any penalty which otherwise would be enforced on the succeeding play will be enforced on the first scrimmage play following the free kick and multiple fouls will be stacked.
    • B. Kicking team restraining line: When the ball is kicked, no player of the kicking team shall be in advance of the ball except the kicker and player who holds the free kick. The receiving team will have the option of replaying the down and taking the penalty at the next succeeding spot.
    • C. Receiving team restraining line: All players of the receiving team must be a minimum of 10 yards from the Receiving teams restraining line. The receiving team will also have the option of replaying the down and taking the penalty at the next succeeding spot.
    • D. Illegal touching by kicking team: The ball, unless first touched by a member of the receiving team, must go at least 10 yards towards the opponent’s goal line before it may be legally touched by a member of the kicking team. Receiving team may elect to take the ball at the spot of first touching or the result of the play. ( Not a foul; no flag, just a bean bag at the spot of touching)
    • E. Ball touching the wall: If the ball touches the wall before going 10 yards and has not been touched by a member of the receiving team, the receiving team may elect to take the ball at the point it touched the wall. The ball remains live and can be played off the wall if it hits the ground before it makes contact with the wall. If the ball hits the wall in flight it is dead. The receiving team may take the ball at the spot the ball first touched the wall or result of the paly. (Not a foul; no flag, just a bean bag at the spot of touching)
    • F. Kicking team blocking restriction: Player of the kicking team may not block a player of the receiving team until the receiving team has touched the free kick or the kick has traveled 10 yards. (Penalty; 10 yards from scrimmage play following the kick. Receiving team also has option of replaying the down and taking the distance penalty at the next succeeding spot.)
    • G. Free kick recovery by kicking team: Once a free kick has traveled to the receiving teams restraining line the kicking team may recover and advance the free kick.
    • H. Receiving team kick recovery in their end zone: If the ball goes into the receiving team’s end zone untouched by the receiving team the ball remains live. The ball must be advanced out of the end zone by the receivers. If the ball is not advanced out of the end zone the ball will be put in play on the receiver’s 5 yard line and the kicking team will be awarded 1 point (Rouge). (If the kicking team commits a foul during the free kick the 1 point will not be awarded and the play will be ruled a touchback.)
    • I. Fair catch: No fair catches are allowed.
    • J. Kick catch interference: On all kicks the kicking team players shall allow a receiving team the opportunity to catch a kicked ball in flight. The receiving team player cannot be touched prior to the catch.
    • K. Fouls during a free kick play before the player possession: If a foul occurs during a free kick play before possession is gained the offended team will have the option of re‐kicking and taking the distance penalty at the next succeeding spot or taking the result of the play with penalty administered at that spot. (Exception – this Kick out of bounds (in flight or after touching field, wall or a player): would not apply to free kick out of bounds fouls).
    • L. Kick out of bounds (in flight ): If the kicked ball goes out of the receiving team’s end zone the ball will be spotted at the receivers 10 yard line. If the ball hits the back wall of the end zone in flight the ball will be spotted at the receivers 5 yard line.
    • M. Kick out of bounds (after touching field, wall or player)
      • Out of endzone- Ball is placed on 5 yard line
      • In the field of play- Ball is spotted where it goes over the wall
    • N. Free Kick strikes an overhanging object above the field of play: If the free kick strikes any overhanging object above the field of play such as a scoreboard, ceiling beam, wires, etc. the ball will be spotted at the receivers 20 yard line.
    • O. Blocking by the receiving team: During a free kick a player of the receiving team may block an opponent from the moment the ball is kicked.
    • P. Blocking by the kicking team: During a free kick a player of the receiving team may block an opponent after the kicking team has legally touched the ball.
  • 2. Kick out of bounds between kicking team’s goal line and receiving team’s goal line (sidewalls): untouched by the receivers and in flight over the sidewalls:
    • The kick is ruled an Illegal Kick and the ball is placed on the kicking
    • teams 20 yard line for scrimmage.
  • Scrimmage kick:
    • A. A scrimmage kick: A scrimmage kick is a kick by the offense during one of its scrimmage downs or plays from scrimmage. It can be used for a field goal attempt, point after touchdown attempt, or as a means to place an opponent at a disadvantage in field position. A team may also use a fake scrimmage kick formation. The ball may be place kicked or drop kicked, but it cannot be punted. (Foul; illegal kick. Penalty; 10 yards and loss of down)
    • B. Offensive scrimmage kick formation: a scrimmage kick formation must have five linemen, a place kicker, a holder and a personal protector. If a kicker intends to drop kick, a holder is not required. Only the personal protector may be in motion prior to and at the snap.
    • C. Defensive scrimmage formation: For field goals and point after touchdown attempts the defensive scrimmage formation must consist of four linemen. The defensive ends must line up head to head with the ends of the kicking team. The two Interior defensive linemen must line up head to head with the two offensive guards. All four defensive linemen must be in a three or four point stance at the snap. The center is left uncovered. (Foul; Illegal defensive formation. Penalty; live ball, 5 yards).
    • D. Remaining defensive players in scrimmage formation: The remaining four defensive players may line up anywhere, as long as they maintain daylight with linemen prior to snap. (Foul; Illegal kick rush. Penalty; 5 yards and automatic first down).
    • E. Kicker recovers a loose ball/made a motion to pass/run with the ball prior to kick: If prior to kicking the ball the kicker has recovered a loose ball, made a motion to pass or run with the ball he is not entitled to protection as a kicker.
    • F. Roughing the kicker vs. running into the kicker: This will be Referee’s judgment. (Roughing the kicker: Foul; 10 yards, automatic first down. Running into kicker: Foul; 5 yards)
    • G. Scrimmage kick out of bounds:
      • 1.) Out of bounds through the end zone belongs to the receiving team at the 10 yard line.
      • 2.) Out of bounds through the sideline before or beyond the 25 yard line, before touching the playing field or a member of the receiving team, the ball will be placed at the receiving team’s 20 yard line and a penalty will ensue. The ball will be placed at the kicking teams 20 yard line.
      • 3.) Out of bounds through the sideline after touching the field of play or a member of either team before possession is gained, it will belong to the receiving team at the spot the ball went out of bounds.
      • 4.) Kick out of bounds (after touching field, wall or player in the end zone): Ball is placed on receiving teams 5 yard line
    • H. Scrimmage kick‐blocked: A blocked scrimmage kick is a kick from scrimmage in which, after being kicked, the ball is prevented from crossing the defensive line of scrimmage because of contact with an opponent or a player of the kicking team.
    • I. Blocked scrimmage kick may be advanced: If the kick is blocked or fails to cross the LOS for any reason, it may be recovered legally and advanced by a player of either team. If a kicking team player recovers and advances the ball, it is considered as any other play from scrimmage. (Blocking below the waist in not permitted).
    • J. After the kick has crossed the LOS: The receiving team may gain possession of the ball and advance. The kicking team may also legally touch, gain possession and advance the ball after it has gone 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, gone into the end zone or has been touched by the receiving team beyond the NZ. It is illegal touching if the ball is touched by the kicking Team before it has gone 10 yards, has gone into the end zone or has been touched by the receiving team beyond the NZ. If a scrimmage kick is illegally touched by the kicking team, the receiving team will have the option of taking the ball at the spot of the illegal touching or take the result of the play. If the kicking team legally gains possession of the ball and makes the line to gain, the kicking team will be awarded a new series. If the kicking team gains possession of the ball and fails to make the line to gain, the ball will go over to the receiving team. LJ will mark the 10 yard point with bean bag prior to snap.
    • K. Illegal touching and advancement by the kicking team: If the kicking team illegally touches and gains possession of the ball, the ball remains live. The receiving team will have the option of taking the ball at the spot of the illegal touching or take the result of the play. If a foul occurs by either team during the kicking team’s illegal touch advancement of the ball, the penalty for any accepted penalty will be enforced from the spot of the illegal touching. Under no circumstance will the kicking team be allowed to retain possession of the ball after illegally touching the kick. The receiving team may decline any penalty for a foul committed by the kicking team and take the result of the play. The kicking team must accept the penalty for any fouls committed by the receiving team and enforcement will be from the spot of the illegal touching.
    • L. Blocked kick out of bounds in the end zone; Blocked scrimmage kick that travels out of Kicking teams end zone ( over the back wall or side wall in Kicking teams end zone) or is recovered by Kicking team in their end zone results in a safety.
    • M. Failed attempt: when a failed field goal attempt ends in the receiving teams end zone, the ball is live and may be recovered and advanced by the defense or recovered by the kicking team for a touchdown.
    • N. Blocking during a scrimmage kick play:
      • 1.) A player on the receiving team may block any player on the kicking team provided that contact is above the waist and from the front or side.
      • 2.) Once a scrimmage snap has been made on a scrimmage kick play, a player on the kicking team may block any player on the receiving team up to one yard in advance of the defensive line of scrimmage. After the ball has been kicked, kicking team players may use their hands and arms to ward off blockers of the receiving team. (Foul; Illegal block below waist or clipping. Penalty; 10 yards at succeeding spot or option provided).
    • O. Kick catch interference: On all kicks, kicking team players shall allow a receiving team player the opportunity to catch a kicked ball in flight. The receiving player cannot be touched prior to the catch. (Foul; kick catch interference with contact. Penalty; 10 yards
    • P. Untouched scrimmage kick: If the kicked ball is not touched and in the judgment of the officials, there is no effort by either team to recover the ball, the covering official may declare the ball dead and award possession to the receiving team at the spot of the dead ball.
    • Q. Place and drop kicked ball striking uprights:
      • 1.) If the kicked ball strikes the opponent’s upright in flight and returns to the field of play, the ball is dead and awarded to the receiving team at its 10 yard line.
      • 2.) If a kicked ball strikes the upright in flight and does not proceed through the uprights after touching an official or another player, the ball is dead and placed on the 10 yard line. If the kicked ball proceeds through the uprights above the crossbar, it is a successful kick.
    • R. Scrimmage kick striking ceiling or anything suspended from the ceiling: If the scrimmage kick strikes the ceiling or anything suspended from the ceiling the ball becomes dead and will go over to the receiving team. The ball will be placed at the receivers 20 yard line.