Free kick following a fair catch

[Jim D]

I had it once - near the end of the half, R fair caught a short punt in good field postition with the wind at their back. It took a long time to set up - more for the receiving team than the kicking team. Since the kickers asked for the free kick, they had some idea what was going on. The receiving team was completely clueless and we almost had to take them by the hand to line them up (of course, getting the officiating crew lined up correctly was also a challenge!)

My thought is, since it hardly ever happens, why take it out of the rule book? It's not hurting anybody and it could help a smart team in the right situation.

[PSU213]

Originally Posted by Jim D

I had it once - near the end of the half, R fair caught a short punt in good field postition with the wind at their back. It took a long time to set up - more for the receiving team than the kicking team. Since the kickers asked for the free kick, they had some idea what was going on. The receiving team was completely clueless and we almost had to take them by the hand to line them up (of course, getting the officiating crew lined up correctly was also a challenge!)

My thought is, since it hardly ever happens, why take it out of the rule book? It's not hurting anybody and it could help a smart team in the right situation.

I guess I would also say that if it does happen (even if it is hardly ever), then the rule is not 'archaic,' and does not need to be taken out.

[Theisey]

It's an NFL rule as well.

If you want to watch a video, bring up this link and scroll down to the
third video.. the title is "Confusion Abounds in Playoff Game"

just listen to the TV commentators too,, they are a stitch!

http://www.footballfridaynight.com/

[Warrenkicker]

We just had one this year. It hardly took any more time than setting up for a standard scrimmage play after a turn-over.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Jim D

My thought is, since it hardly ever happens, why take it out of the rule book?

Fed's usual excuse for outlawing rare plays is that officials, not being practiced in administering such situations, might goof.

I believe that was also NCAA's & NFL's excuse for each, just within the past few years, restricting live kicks to being made only from in or behind the neutral zone and before any change of possession. NCAA had decades earlier outlawed the return kick, but not kicking from beyond the neutral zone. Up to about a quarter century ago, Fed had it the other way, outlawing kicks by A from beyond the neutral zone but keeping the return kick legal.

However, the free kick from a fair catch is nearly goof-proof because it's just a choice of another way to put the ball in play, and is administered almost identically to other free kicks. The only tricky part is knowing when that option applies after penalties intervene, as was discussed here recently.

Robert

[Matt-MI]

ljdave

We actually had a team do this in a state final about 4 or 5 years ago.

[hawkishowl20]

I had two outstanding soccer players practice this type of free kick in 2003. They were unbelievable for HS kids. Good from the 45 (which is a 55 yard kick !). They practiced a bunch of kicks and than said our legs are tired and started kicking them with their left leg! Unfortunately, we never had a situation to use it. It’s a great rule.