on sides kick

Question
So what is the difference from kicking the ball down field and picking it up and it being your ball again and just kicking the ball a bit over 10 yards and it being your ball do you need to tell the ref that its going to be one and if not then aren't all kick offs a free ball ?

Answer
A free kick is a "free ball" once it goes ten yards from the previous spot.  The kicking team may NEVER advance a free kick but may recover it once it goes the ten yards.....If the kicking team touches the ball prior to it going ten yards, then the receiving team may take the ball at the spot of "first touching"...no matter who eventually recovers it.

So whether it goes ten or forty yards, it's a free ball, either team can recover, but only the receiving team may advance.....This rule is the same for both NFHS (high school) & NCAA (college).

It is a courtesy, but not a requirement to tell the covering official.  I personally always ask the kicker & I have a secret signal that I give to my crew so they know in advance if it's an onsides kick....Thanks for your question.