Balls used by kickers

[mijally]

Are there rules that allow or prohibit kickers from using or bringing their own dry  football to place kick?

[Rulesman]

It is up to the Referee to determine whether or not a ball needs to be replaced for any down.

[mijally]

So the answer is "no" correct?

[Rulesman]

The answer to the OP, in the context in which it was asked, is no.

[mijally]

Thank you. I've noticed some refs don't seem to care and some do so I was just curious if there was an actual rule about it.

[Busman]

No such thing as a kicking ball.  All balls that will be used should be checked in at the beginning of the game and will just be in the rotation, kicking down or not.

[chairz]

Are there rules that allow or prohibit kickers from using or bringing their own dry  football to place kick?

You can use any ball on the start of a new series or for a free kick.  So if the kick is on 1st down he could use any ball.  Also for free kicks (kickoff, kick after safety or fair catch) they can use any ball they want.

[football_referee]

No they can't use "any" ball they want.  The ball has to be approved by the officials before the game.   It has to be new or nearly new

[ricepig]

No they can't use "any" ball they want.  The ball has to be approved by the officials before the game.   It has to be new or nearly new

What about football's on cold nights placed in a "warmer"?

[Rulesman]

I don't see a problem with that so long as the ball(s) has/have been approved by the Referee and are inflated properly. IMO, invoking the "unfair acts" clause in Rule 9-9-1 would be a stretch.

[OB11]

No they can't use "any" ball they want.  The ball has to be approved by the officials before the game.   It has to be new or nearly new

What about football's on cold nights placed in a "warmer"?

I know we're talking about football here...but there is a rule in the baseball rule book that the bats cannot be warmed up in any way.  I've never heard of a rule that the footballs can't be but you never know.

[True Fan]

Let's say that the official on the field us satisfied with the ball. The offense decides to kick a FG and brings out their heated kicking ball. Wouldn't it be up to the official to decide if the ball needed to be changed, and if not, send the new ball back to the sideline?

Seems like I've seen that done.

[arreferee]

Let's say that the official on the field us satisfied with the ball. The offense decides to kick a FG and brings out their heated kicking ball. Wouldn't it be up to the official to decide if the ball needed to be changed, and if not, send the new ball back to the sideline?

Seems like I've seen that done.

If the officials on the field are satisfied with the ball, they shouldn't allow a new ball to come into the game just because the offense wants to kick a field goal. 

I actually had a similar situation this past weekend.  The kicking team punted, the receiving team caught the punt, ran a few yards, fumbled, and the kicking team recovered.  I got the ball after the recovery and threw it back in to be put down for the next play.  When I got back to the sideline, the ball boy said they wanted a new ball because that one was the kicking ball (it had been approved and marked by our crew before the game).  I just told him there was no such thing as a kicking ball and the one out there was fine. 

[mijally]

If there's no such thing as a kicking ball then why was your crew marking one as such before the game?

[Rulesman]

If there's no such thing as a kicking ball then why was your crew marking one as such before the game?

All approved game balls are marked before the game. Any one of those can be used on any down, including kicking downs. Except in the NFL, no ball is specifically a "kicking" ball.

[BigR]

Aaaaaaaagh!

All "marked" balls are kicking balls.

And passing balls, handing off balls, etc...

[arreferee]

If there's no such thing as a kicking ball then why was your crew marking one as such before the game?

We marked all of the balls the team gave to us and made sure they were new or nearly new and were properly inflated.  The team wanted to use a specific one as the kicking ball.  That isn't something we will work around when we don't need a new ball brought into the game. 

[mijally]

Ok. I understand. Thought you were marking "k" balls. Just marking them for play. Makes sense.

[arreferee]

Ok. I understand. Thought you were marking "k" balls. Just marking them for play. Makes sense.

That's exactly right.  The team can put a "K" on it if they want, but they aren't guaranteed to always get it in during kick plays.

[OB11]

Ok. I understand. Thought you were marking "k" balls. Just marking them for play. Makes sense.

That's exactly right.  The team can put a "K" on it if they want, but they aren't guaranteed to always get it in during kick plays.

So if a team wants to put a new ball (approved ball) in the game after every play, it is up to the referee to decide if they can or not?

[ricepig]

Ok. I understand. Thought you were marking "k" balls. Just marking them for play. Makes sense.

That's exactly right.  The team can put a "K" on it if they want, but they aren't guaranteed to always get it in during kick plays.

I've never seen a team not get to use one on their kickoff. The PAT is gathered up by the ball boys and the kicker is given a ball to kickoff with.

[chairz]

I actually had a similar situation this past weekend.  The kicking team punted, the receiving team caught the punt, ran a few yards, fumbled, and the kicking team recovered.  I got the ball after the recovery and threw it back in to be put down for the next play.  When I got back to the sideline, the ball boy said they wanted a new ball because that one was the kicking ball (it had been approved and marked by our crew before the game).  I just told him there was no such thing as a kicking ball and the one out there was fine.

You have to allow whichever ball they want at the start of a series or for a free kick. You were wrong to not allow the ball to be changed.

[chairz]

No they can't use "any" ball they want.  The ball has to be approved by the officials before the game.   It has to be new or nearly new

Really? Thanks for the tip! 

[arreferee]

I actually had a similar situation this past weekend.  The kicking team punted, the receiving team caught the punt, ran a few yards, fumbled, and the kicking team recovered.  I got the ball after the recovery and threw it back in to be put down for the next play.  When I got back to the sideline, the ball boy said they wanted a new ball because that one was the kicking ball (it had been approved and marked by our crew before the game).  I just told him there was no such thing as a kicking ball and the one out there was fine.

You have to allow whichever ball they want at the start of a series or for a free kick. You were wrong to not allow the ball to be changed.

Not quite.  Rule 1-3-2-g says "When the ball becomes dead in a side zone, is unfit for play, is subject to measurement in a side zone or is inaccessible, a replacement ball shall be obtained from a ball person".

[arreferee]

Ok. I understand. Thought you were marking "k" balls. Just marking them for play. Makes sense.

That's exactly right.  The team can put a "K" on it if they want, but they aren't guaranteed to always get it in during kick plays.

I've never seen a team not get to use one on their kickoff. The PAT is gathered up by the ball boys and the kicker is given a ball to kickoff with.

A kickoff is a natural time to get a new ball.  The old example of when not to get a new ball is when the team decides to kick a field goal on 3rd down.  They can't bring in a "kicking ball" just because they want to kick on that down...especially if the previous play did not end up out of bounds, was an incomplete pass, etc.

[Rulesman]

The old example of when not to get a new ball is when the team decides to kick a field goal on 3rd down.  They can't bring in a "kicking ball" just because they want to kick on that down...

...It's not that some won't try, though...

[True Fan]

Why not? Most of the time, it will be allowed.

[Rulesman]

Why not? Most of the time, it will be allowed.

And when it isn't, who do you think the bad guy is?

[True Fan]

Mean ole officials. Trying to show everybody who is in charge out there.

[chairz]

Not quite.  Rule 1-3-2-g says "When the ball becomes dead in a side zone, is unfit for play, is subject to measurement in a side zone or is inaccessible, a replacement ball shall be obtained from a ball person".

No one except you is talking about NCAA rules.  NFHS rules say, "Each team may use any referee-approved ball of its choice to free kick or start a new series of downs."

So if they just got awarded a first down or of it's a free kick then they can pick the ball that they want.

[arreferee]

Not quite.  Rule 1-3-2-g says "When the ball becomes dead in a side zone, is unfit for play, is subject to measurement in a side zone or is inaccessible, a replacement ball shall be obtained from a ball person".

No one except you is talking about NCAA rules.  NFHS rules say, "Each team may use any referee-approved ball of its choice to free kick or start a new series of downs."

So if they just got awarded a first down or of it's a free kick then they can pick the ball that they want.

Fair enough.  I was thinking the NFHS rule and NCAA rule was the same on this.  I guess it's not.

[Rulesman]

Not quite.  Rule 1-3-2-g says "When the ball becomes dead in a side zone, is unfit for play, is subject to measurement in a side zone or is inaccessible, a replacement ball shall be obtained from a ball person".

No one except you is talking about NCAA rules.  NFHS rules say, "Each team may use any referee-approved ball of its choice to free kick or start a new series of downs."

So if they just got awarded a first down or of it's a free kick then they can pick the ball that they want.

...so long as that ball has been approved by the referee. Let's be clear on that.