By definition, a lateral is a pass that is thrown sideways to or behind the passer and is legal anywhere on the field, behind the line of scrimmage or beyond the line of scrimmage.
Dropkicks can only be attempted on a play from scrimmage, not on a kicking play that restarts the game.
If you are behind the line of scrimmage it will just be recorded as a punt, and possession will change at the point it went out of bounds (although there may also be a penalty for ineligible downfield if you have receivers (other than the two men on the end of the line) beyond the line of scrimmage). If you punted it after you had gone beyond the line of scrimmage, that would be a penalty. It is also a penalty to deliberately kick a ball you are not in possession of (ie. a fumble).
Yes, as long as the player does not climb upon his own team's player.
Assuming the ball is not returned and rolls dead in the field of play, it depends: High school: The ball is spotted where it rolls dead. College: The ball is spotted at the previous line of scrimmage or at the 20-yard line. NFL: The ball is spotted at the spot of the kick or at the 20-yard line.
By rule, if you kick the ball during a scrimmage down, it's called a "scrimmage kick." If a scrimmage kick off the ground goes through the uprights, it's a field goal. Technically, there is no rule that defines a field goal "attempt." You don't necessarily have to "attempt" a field goal when placekicking on a scrimmage down, but if your kick doesn't go through the uprights, the same rules apply as would for a missed field goal.
I don't believe you have to be behind the line of scrimmage. This play is a holdover from rugby where a player can attempt a drop goal at any time during play. A player, often during a full sprint, will drop the ball in front of him and as it touches the ground will kick it through the uprights for three points. Doug Flutie used this technique to score the extra point in the last play of his career. Jim McMahon, the noted Chicago Bears quarterback, used to challenge kickers to drop goal contests. Rumor has it that they soon learned that that was a good way to lose money. * As long as you're behind the line of scrimmage and the ball hits the ground before you kick it. New Answer: No the ball must be kicked from the groung Not in American football, no. All kicks must be taken from behind the line of scrimmage. Drop kicks are still perfectly legal. They're just not attempted very often anymore, mostly because the shape of the football changed to accommodate forward passes. It used to be rounder like a rugby ball and give a more reliable bounce when it hit the ground. Canadian football still allows a team to kick and recover from beyond the line of scrimmage. Any player from the kicking team can recover the ball, as long as he was level with or behind the kicker at the time of the kick. I suppose this rule would allow for a dropkick to be taken from anywhere on the field, but it's usually used at the end of tie games to punt deep and force the other team to give up a 1-point rouge.
Where the offense left the line of scrimmage
Yes. There is no rule specifing how far behind the line of scrimmage the kick must take place. Seven yards is usually used as it is the shortest distance behind the line of scrimmage that the kick can take place without fear of it being blocked, if the blockers do their jobs.
Yes, that is the very definition of a drop kick in every sport that allows it. A drop kick is a type of kick whereby the ball bounces off the ground before kicking it. It is a legal play not only in the NFL but in the CFL, association football (soccer), rugby, Arena football, and Australian rules football.
an onside kick you try to kick it about ten yards and recover it, a punt you try to get it as far down field as you can. Also onside kicks have a tee, and punts you toss in the air and kick it
No. This distance is used because it is far enough from the line of scrimmage that it's difficult for the defense to interfere with the kick, but not so far that the kick is difficult to make.