SPECIAL TEAMS - KICKOFFS
At the start of the game, and after every other touchdown, a kickoff is commenced. For kickoffs, the kicking team lines up 11 players (in white uniforms - defense) at its own 30-yard line. The receiving team lines up 10 players (in dark uniforms - offense) at the 50-yard line. A referee on a magnet is placed at the goal line in the center of the field. Once lineup is complete, the board is turned on and a timer is run for 4.0 seconds. Once the time runs, to simulate hangtime, the magnetic referee is replaced by the designated kick returner and angled as desired. Then, all unengaged defenders are pivoted as desired. Unengaged, for the purpose of this rule book, means no base contact between players of different teams. Body contact alone does not indicate engagement.
On kickoffs and in all other situations, if a defensive player is unengaged but out of bounds, he may not only be pivoted, but also brought back into the field of the play. If any kicking team player reaches the back of the end zone during the 4.0 seconds, the kickoff is a touchback.
Once all defenders are pivoted, the board is turned on and the returner is tackled once his base is touched by any part of any defender's base. The ball is then put into scrimmage at the last yard line completely gained by the returner. Thus, if the returner makes the 31 1/2 yard line, the ball will be put into play, 1st-and-10, from the 31. This standard exists in all situations, and is reversed when a ballcarrier loses yards. He must lose a complete yard to be given that negative yardage. Thus, if the line of scrimmage is the offense's 30-yard line, and the ballcarrier is tackled at the offense's 28-1/2 yard line, the line of scrimmage for the next play shall be the 29.
On kickoffs, the returning team must always use its offensive 11; while the kicking team must always use its defensive 11.
When a team receives a kickoff, even if that kickoff results in a touchback, the next kickoff return is not lined up, rather, the receiving team lines up 1st-and-10 at the 25-yard line to being the possession.
Ed
