NFHS rule on kickoff

Question
QUESTION: Opening kickoff on the 40 yard line, ball goes 20 yards in the air, touches the ground on the opponents 40 yd line, nobody near the ball, kicking team recovers the ball and runs for touchdown, we signal TD. Holtville coaches start to run toward us and tell us that illegal, he can recover but not advance the ball. I do not change my call its a TD. Is there a situation that he can not advance a live ball. Later on he started to scream also that a 8 men in the scrimmage is illegal, he was kind of upset.

ANSWER: Ernesto

On this question, the coach was correct.  But it is a great learning opportunity. The lesson to be learned is that a kick can never be advanced by the kicking team.  Once the kick is possessed by thekicking team the ball is dead at the spot of possession by rule.  The officials covering the play should make sure the kicking team gained possession [firm control of the loose ball] once that occurs then the official should blow his whistle and signal time out - the play is dead and the kick is over because the kicking team cannot advance a kick.

You were correct that the ball belongs to the kicking team.  The Free kick [kick-off] went more than 10 yards [beyond R's restraining line (the 50 yardline)]. So the kicking Team got the ball fairly and legally.  They recovered the kick - at that point the kick is over and the play is dead with K retaining possession.  It should have been 1st and 10 from the spot of the recovery.

So look at rule 6-1-5, 4-2-2-f that is the rule that governs this play.

Ernesto,
I am glad to help.  When you teach this rule just emphasize that a "Kick" can never be advanced by by the kicking team. Take the officials through Rules 6-1-5, 4-2-2-f.  This is a great study and class topic.

You can then teach the definition of Kick (2-24) loose balls (2-1-3) then teach the officials that any kick [free kick or scrimmage kick - kick off or punt/FG] ends when dead by rule.  Then get the officials to tell you when that is.  This will help all understand when the kick or loose ball ends and there is possession [firm control of the ball].  Then once they realize that that will realize when the kick becomes dead by rule (4-2-2).

I hope this helps.
Best of luck

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Can an offense put more than 7 players in the line of scrimmage, , we had a a game where 9 players were on the line of scrimmage , the QB and a FB its that legal, and on that same game  they used a play where the offensive line were not in a straight line they were almost on a cup shape
both guards had there head on the centers waist and the tackles on the waist of the guards, and to make it worse, next play the use a similar formation , the guards and tackles were aligned with there heads with the centers waist, come on make my day.

Answer
Ernesto,

The offense can put 10 men on the  line of scrimmage [LOS] if they want.  The rule requires a minimum of 7 men on the line of scrimmage (Rule 7-2-5; 2-14-1) and five of the seven must be numbered 50-79.  They can have more than 7 if they like.  Technically they could put all 11 on the line if they wanted.

Rule 2-32-9 defines a lineman and he must have his head break the plane of the waist of the snapper.  The formation you describe is an illegal formation the Tackles are not on the LOS ["almost on a cup shape both guards had there head on the centers waist and the tackles on the waist of the guards"].  The next play formation was legal as all were on the LOS.

Take a look at Rules 2-14-1 7-2-5 and 2-32-9 that should help you with the follow up question.