The Fair Catch Kick rule

[stevestojan]

I have ALWAYS wondered about this damn "Rule" of the game. After some searching, I found the single easiest to understand explanation. Basically, after you fair catch a ball, EVEN IF TIME HAS EXPIRED WHILE THE BALL WAS IN THE AIR, you can, if you want, get a FREE (meaning undefended, the defense has to give you 10 yards, as if its a kickoff) and attempt a FG.

 

It's worth a read, as I'm sure most people don't know the entire rule, and as rare as its use would ever be, it's still kind of cool:

 

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The Fair Catch kick rule...

 

According the to official rules of football, after fair catch is made, the referee asks the team captain if, after the fair catch, he would like to run a play from scrimmage or attempt a free kick from the yard line of the catch. In the NFL, that must be either a drop kick or a placekick without a tee. To execute a drop kick, you drop the ball on the ground and kick it either as it hits the ground or as it begins to bounce back up.

 

Let's recap in plain language: You call for a fair catch. Rather than run a play, you may choose to execute a free kick from the line of scrimmage established by the fair catch. And by free kick, it means a kickoff-type kick in which the defense is not on the line of scrimmage.

 

 

So when would this little gambit ever be put into play? Here’s a possible scenario:

 

Team A has a one-point lead and possession of the ball at their own one-yard line. There are three seconds left in the game, but it’s fourth down and Team A is going to punt, fearing that a kneel-down will leave a second left on the clock and a ‘run-around-until-the-clock-runs-out’ strategy exposes the risk of a sack in the end zone.

 

Now, since the clock starts on the snap on a punt, the act of kicking the ball away is likely to take up the remainder of the game time. The receiving team, Team B, would be forced to run the punt back for a touchdown in order to avoid defeat, right?

 

Well, maybe not. Let’s say the punt comes down at the 40-yard line. If the return man executes a fair catch, Team B could elect to use the fair catch kick option. League rules specifically state that the receiving team can still try a kick after time expires, but they cannot run a play from scrimmage. And here’s the beauty of it: Team B can choose to kick from a kickoff formation, without a defense challenging them at the line of scrimmage. In addition, the kick would be from the spot the ball was caught, not from seven or eight yards back after the snap. So, if the return man caught the ball at the 40, we’re talking about a 50-yard field goal, without any potential blockers in the way.

[nodnarb]

interesting.

 

strange and interesting.

 

i don't think it's ever been done.

[billsfanone]

Punt it out of bounds.

[stevestojan]

interesting.

 

strange and interesting.

 

i don't think it's ever been done.

200977[/snapback]

 

For some reason, I think they were talking about it during one of the games this week (I thiiiiink the Jets game). The two crazy things are that 1) you can kick a FG with no one in your face (seems a good kicker could nail a 70+ yarder like that) and 2) there doesn't need to be any time left.

 

The obvious difficulties with ever seeing it are the fact that the punt would have to be from VERY deep and you rarely ever see a punt as the at play (even thought it doesn't HAVE to be the last play.)

 

I'd like to see it tried...

 

THEN have John Madden explain what happened... holy CRAP, could you imagine that?

[billsfanone]

Yeah Al Michaels talking about it during the Jets game.

[Nanker]

I remember Marv talking about that. I think it actually happened in a game he was involved in. It might have been the Redshins. I think he was the ST coach for George Allen. He might have actually tried that at one point. I remember when he was the coach of the Bills he talked about it but I don't think he had the chance to try it.

 

It's not as far-fetched as you might think. They say that Jim Thorpe once kicked an 80 yd drop-kick field goal. That would require a fair catch at the 30 yd line.

 

Thing is nobody does the drop kick anymore. It's a lost art, like Favre's accuracy.

[UConn James]

From the explanation of the mechanics, I'd rather have the punter (especially Moorman!) try it than a kicker.

 

I'll have to try this next time I'm kicking FGs at Memorial Stadium....

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Definetly been done before. I recall the Giants doing it one time around 30 years ago.

[DC Tom]

Thing is nobody does the drop kick anymore. It's a lost art, like Favre's accuracy.

201004[/snapback]

 

Doesn't Flutie practice drop-kicks? He used to as of a few years ago, but I'm not sure if he does anymore.

[Terry Tate]

Doesn't Flutie practice drop-kicks?  He used to as of a few years ago, but I'm not sure if he does anymore.

201050[/snapback]

Sure does, pretty good at it also. He's one of those players who knows ST rules like few do.

 

The drop-kick is still legal for kick-offs, PATs and FG attempts, and free-kicks (after a safety or a fair catch). It's not used anymore because the ball is less round-shaped than it used to be, and there's a lot more players on the roster (hence more specialists) than there was back in the 40's and 50's, when drop-kicks were common.

[Arkady Renko]

Can you fair-catch and kickoff and do this or can you just do it with a punt?

 

Also, I thought I remember reading that basically you can drop kick from anywhere on the field and kick a FG. I.e., you could be running around down the field and try one. Seems sort of like Australian Rules Football.

[Arkady Renko]

Sure does, pretty good at it also. He's one of those players who knows ST rules like few do.

 

The drop-kick is still legal for kick-offs, PATs and FG attempts, and free-kicks (after a safety or a fair catch). It's not used anymore because the ball is less round-shaped than it used to be, and there's a lot more players on the roster (hence more specialists) than there was back in the 40's and 50's, when drop-kicks were common.

201473[/snapback]

 

Am I right in always thinking that the college ball is at least slightly more round than the pro ball?

[Arkady Renko]

Also,while we're on this rules topic... this whole can't be the first person to touch the ball after being pushed out of bounds....

 

They call that the Steve Tasker rule whenever he's doing a game. Was it really his actions that made them add this rule?

[UConn James]

Doesn't Flutie practice drop-kicks?  He used to as of a few years ago, but I'm not sure if he does anymore.

201050[/snapback]

 

He does it before every game, during warm-ups. Helps him relax, sayeth he.

 

It was reported shortly after that the way he thought the rule was, was wrong.

[Beerball]

I remember Don Shula using this many many moons ago. Can't recall the particulars, but he gave it a shot once.

[aussiew]

Also, I thought I remember reading that basically you can drop kick from anywhere on the field and kick a FG. I.e., you could be running around down the field and try one. Seems sort of like Australian Rules Football.

 

Awesome game - lots of unbelievable kicking - real "foot"ball.

[stuckincincy]

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/columni...inder1013p1.asp

 

It's been a while. Occasionally, one sees a different thing, a quick kick, as a surprise.

[stuckincincy]

I have ALWAYS wondered about this damn "Rule" of the game.

200964[/snapback]

 

Here ya go, if you like to get info on the NFL rules.

 

http://www.supernfl.com/NFLRules.html

[stevestojan]

Here ya go, if you like to get info on the NFL rules.

 

http://www.supernfl.com/NFLRules.html

201534[/snapback]

 

 

cool. Thanks:

 

 

"6. If time expires while ball is in play and a fair catch is awarded, receiving team may choose to extend the period with one fair catch kick down. However, placekicker may not use tee. "

[Terry Tate]

Can you fair-catch and kickoff and do this or can you just do it with a punt?

 

Also, I thought I remember reading that basically you can drop kick from anywhere on the field and kick a FG. I.e., you could be running around down the field and try one. Seems sort of like Australian Rules Football.

201484[/snapback]

I'm not sure it ever was in the NFL, but it's not now. Maybe it is/was in the CFL, where Flutie got the idea that in a less-than-3 pt deficit with no time left, instead of a hail-mary pass, a team could pass forward enough to a receiver to have him attempt a drop kick for 3, or lateral back to someone like Flutie away from defenders to have him try it. Now that would be a play to watch.