Isnt there a very seldom used rule that allows a team chose to do something wierd with a free kick choice at the end of the first half?
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Isnt there a very seldom used rule that allows a team chose to do something wierd with a free kick choice at the end of the first half?
I have not witnessed it in person but remember when it happened about 20 years ago in my neck of the woods. I've had a couple coaches ask me about it. I really want to see it happen.
There's one more really odd situation that arises from this rule. Consider the following play.
With 10 seconds to go in the game Blue team leads by 2 but has fourth down at midfield. They just want to get a punt off and hope the clock expires. The punt is away but the white team's receiver calls for a fair catch to prevent any more time running off the clock, preferring to run a play than to hope for a return.
The fair catch is made at the White team's 10 yard line with 3 seconds to go. While a free kick is an option, no one is going to make a 100 yard kick, so they run a pass play. The play exploits the prevent defense for a big gain to the Blue 40 where the ball carrier is tackled but there was a 5-yard facemask foul on the tackle.
Time expired during the down but because White will accept the penalty to the Blue 35, there will be one untimed down.
White's coach informs the referee he wants to free kick from the 35. Blue has to give 10 yards. No chance for a bad snap. Basically an unopposed chance for the game-winner. Is this allowed?
Sure is. When a live ball penalty on the defense is accepted the down shall be replayed. All options available to the offense before the play remain, so because there was a free kick option before White's first play, that option remains.
Let's take it one step further. Say White's long play ended at the Blue 10 yard line and the measurement for the facemask penalty puts it at the 5. White wants a free kick, so does Blue still have to give 10 yards? Will Blue's free kick line be 5 yards deep in the end zone? Yes and yes.
Can you imagine the scene if a game ended that way?
Guarantee most coaches wouldn't think to do that and most officials wouldn't allow it even if a coach asked for it. Gotta have a heck of an understanding of the rules to get that deep.