NFHS 13-2-2c: Indirect kicks are awarded.... if a player fairly charges into an opponent when neither is within playing distance of the ball. Situation: A1 takes a corner kick. As the ball is on the way, B2 fairly charges A3 in the top of the penalty area, very early and causes A3 to be taken out of the play. What's the proper one/two-word ruling for this? "Charging" implies a direct (or penalty) kick, right? Interference, maybe? Something else?
Reading the NFHS rule book, charging does not clearly imply a direct kick. Based on my reading of the book "Charging away from the ball" will always be an IFK.
As far as I can tell, that's based on an old interpretation introduced by the USSF's Advice to Referees. Back in the day, it was an IFK offence to charge a player away from the ball... which always went kinda counter to the Laws, which stated that illegal charging was a DFK... and charging a player while not challenging for the ball... is an illegal charge.
I call it NFHS muddling things up. If it wasn't a foul with the ball there then it's not really one with it not there. Careless, reckless, or excessive force? If not one of those, move on.
A veteran official told me today to go with "improper charge away from the ball" or "improper charge." So, charging is a DFK; improper charge is an IFK.