Tonight when Poland kicked off Canfield's returner fielded the kickoff with a foot out of bounds, isn't this supposed to be illegal procedure? The official gave Canfield the ball at the point of recovery the 22 yard line.
The fouls that could occur on free kick going out of bounds could be either a free kick violations or illegal participation. The Rules Committee removed "illegal procedure" from our rule book well over 10 years ago. The signal (rolling the fists, ala traveling in basketball) remains the same.
If the play occurred just as described, then K caused the ball to go out of bounds. R's options are
- Take the ball 25 yards from the free kick spot (their own 35).
- Enforce a 5 yard penalty on K from the previous spot and re-kick (from K's 35)
- Enforce a 5 yard penalty on K from the out of bounds spot. (22+5 = ball on 27)
- Decline the penalty and the ball at the out of bounds spot. (their own 22).
A few things to consider.....
- If the R intentionally went out of bounds and then intentionally touched the ball while it was still in bounds, then R is guilty of Illegal Participation. R is penalized 15 yards from the previous spot and the ball is re-kicked.
- If R is touching out of bounds (unintentionally) and touched the kick that is still in bounds, then by rule K has caused the ball to go out of bounds.
- If R had one foot in bounds, secured the ball and then stepped out of bounds, then R caused the ball to go out of bounds and they would get the ball at the inbounds spot. (their own 22)
- If R was airborne, caught the ball, and returned to the ground out of bounds, then R caused the ball to go out of bounds and they would get the ball at the inbounds spot. (their own 22)