Football Blocking a Kicking Team Player Out of Bounds Penalty
Blocking a kicking team player out of bounds is a penalty given when a member of the receiving team blocks their opponent outside of the restraining lines of a free kick formation during a kickoff. It results in a penalty of 10 yards for the offending team.
Definition
Blocking a kicking team player out of bounds is a 10-yard penalty called when a player from the receiving team illegally blocks their opponent out of bounds during a kickoff.
To understand what makes a block from the receiving team illegal and out of bounds, it’s important to understand the restraining lines of a free-kick formation. Restraining lines are boundaries by which both the receiving and kicking teams have to abide.
During a kickoff, both the receiving and kicking team have to stay within a free-kick formation, which places both teams behind restraining lines. The kicking team’s restraining line is their own 35-yard line (and their own 20-yard line in safety kicks). The receiving team’s restraining line is 10 yards beyond the kicking team’s restraining line.
Behind their own restraining line, the receiving team has eight players in a 15-yard span of the field called the setup zone. Past the setup zone, only three players are allowed downfield to receive the kick. The area between the kicking and receiving team’s restraining lines is called the no-block zone. Neither team is permitted to make blocks in the no-block zone until the ball has been touched or has hit the ground.
When a player commits a foul for blocking a kicking team player out of bounds, it means they have made a block in the no-block zone before the ball has been touched or hit the ground after a kick. A penalty for blocking out of bounds is harsher than a penalty for going out of bounds without contact, which is only five yards.
The penalty for blocking a kicking team player out of bounds is in place to help enforce the restraining lines, which ensures a fair chance the kicker will not be blocked and for the receiving team to catch a ball at kickoff.
Result
| Penalty | NFL | NCAA | High School | CFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blocking a Kicking Team Player Out of Bounds | 10 Yards | 10 Yards | 10 Yards | N/A |
Penalty Signal
To signal a penalty for blocking a kicking team player out of bounds, referees will hold their arms in front of their chest and rotate their hands over one another in a circular motion.
Examples
A lineman from the receiving team blocks an opponent in the no-blocking zone before the ball is touched.
Helpful Links
Similar Penalties To Blocking a Kicking Team Player Out of Bounds
FAQ
What is blocking out of bounds in football?
Blocking out of bounds in football is physical contact that illegally happens outside of applicable boundaries. Blocking out of bounds penalties during most plays happen outside of the sideline and result in a personal foul. There is also an illegal blocking of a kicking team player penalty that prevents blocking inside of the restraining lines during a free kick play.
Why can't you block a kicking team player out of bounds in football?
You can’t block a kicking team player out of bounds because the restraining lines in kickoff plays must be respected for player safety and quality of play. During kickoffs, the kicking and receiving teams must line up 10 yards away from each other, behind their respective restraining lines. To allow the kicker to safely and fairly get the kick off, no blocking of the kicking team is allowed within the restraining lines until the ball has been touched by another player or has hit the ground.
Can the kicking team go out of bounds to avoid a block?
Players on the kicking team are not allowed to deliberately step out of bounds to avoid a block from the receiving team. If a player steps out of bounds inadvertently, they must re-establish themselves inbounds before contacting another player or playing the ball. Failure to comply with this rule results in a five-yard penalty. This rule was put in place to prevent high-speed blocks during kickoffs and their resulting concussions.