This is probably an awfully confusing thread to read.

Edited October 23, 200817 yr by offside

This is probably an awfully confusing thread to read.

 

:creepy: Yeah, I gave up already :confused:

That is correct:

 

Rule 6-5-4...The captain may choose to free kick or snap anywhere between the inbounds lines on the yard line through the spot of the catch when a fair catch is made, or through the spot of interference, when a fair catch is awarded. These choices remain if a dead-ball foul occurs prior to the down, or a foul or an inadvertent whistle occurs during the down and the down is replayed.

 

I've never seen a free kick after a fair catch. I'm guessing that coaches either forget about it, or don't even know it exists as an option.

 

We have employed this option on 4 different occasions -- once while at Oldham Co. against Moore HS in 1999 I think, and three times in one game while at Pikeville in 2005.

 

All were situations where the score was getting out of hand, our defense was allowing only negative yards on plays, and we were basically scoring TD's on every first down we had. We also had inexperienced FG kickers those years who really needed experience having to make kicks longer than PAT's in a game situation.

 

I mention to every crew in our pre-game meeting that we might do this and I've been VERY gratified to learn that -- despite how little it happens -- pretty much every crew knows of the rule and how to handle it.

We have employed this option on 4 different occasions -- once while at Oldham Co. against Moore HS in 1999 I think, and three times in one game while at Pikeville in 2005.

 

All were situations where the score was getting out of hand, our defense was allowing only negative yards on plays, and we were basically scoring TD's on every first down we had. We also had inexperienced FG kickers those years who really needed experience having to make kicks longer than PAT's in a game situation.

 

I mention to every crew in our pre-game meeting that we might do this and I've been VERY gratified to learn that -- despite how little it happens -- pretty much every crew knows of the rule and how to handle it.

 

I'll bet the PA announcer had a meltdown each time you tried it! "What in the...is this!?!"

 

Hope I get to see somebody try it someday. That, and having a team get scored on elect to kickoff. The two Holy Grails of football reffing.

So if a team fair catches a punt...say before the half...they can elect to attempt a feild goal from a kick-off formaton. Is the defense allowed to rush...?

So if a team fair catches a punt...say before the half...they can elect to attempt a feild goal from a kick-off formaton. Is the defense allowed to rush...?

 

Not really; just like any free kick, they cannot cross their restraining line until the ball is kicked. The restraining lines are 10 yards apart.

Wow, so it's essentially like kicking a field goal with a running start. Is there any stipulation in the rule as to when the fair catch has to be made...as time expires or after the horn has sounded?

Wow, so it's essentially like kicking a field goal with a running start. Is there any stipulation in the rule as to when the fair catch has to be made...as time expires or after the horn has sounded?

 

Seems wacky, but that's probably because it's just rare to see it attempted.

 

In the NFL, it appears that the period would be extended to make the kick if the clock ran out any time during the down in which a fair catch was made.

 

In highschool football, unless there was kick catching interference, the period would not be extended to attempt the kick.

Edited October 23, 200817 yr by offside

You are correct. I guess I need to bone up on my NFL rules:

 

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

 

I found it under Fair Catch in the NFL Rules Digest, here's a link:

 

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/digestofrules

 

In high school football, there's an interesting twist:

 

NFHS Rule 8-4-1a...A field goal attempt shall be...from a free kick following a fair catch or awarded fair catch.

 

That's right, it's a 3 point scoring attempt from a kickoff formation. But there is no provision to extend the period for this unless it's an awarded fair catch penalty from a kick catching interference foul which occurred on the last timed down.

 

NCAA rules do not allow for a 3 point free kick attempt after a fair catch, nor do they allow for an extension of the period after a fair catch.

 

Offside, have you ever had this happen in a game you were working? Or anyone talk about it happening in one of their games. Just wondering.

 

I have been around football in some capacity or other most of my life and I can never remember this happening.

I've never seen it, but Coach J has actually had his team do it several times. See post 18.

 

See the link in post 15 for some facts about it being done in the NFL.

Edited October 24, 200817 yr by offside

Offside, have you ever had this happen in a game you were working? Or anyone talk about it happening in one of their games. Just wondering.

 

I have been around football in some capacity or other most of my life and I can never remember this happening.

 

Kevin Wallace at Bowling Green has done it before too. I think it was right before the half and in a tight game where a FG might've proved to be the difference.

Ok I am checking to see if I understand this.

 

Team A punts the ball

Team B calls for a fair catch and time has expired. Team B is in a KO then allowed to kick a FG formation from where the ball was caught.

 

Is that correct?

 

I want to say during the late 80s/ early 90 I saw the 49ers (yes I understand the rule is/may be different for the NFL) do this against the Vikings or Giants in a playoff game. I remember them talking about it being a rule very few people either know about or take advantage of. If my question is correct it adds a new something, though rare, that could be very interesting.

 

Not correct! If time expires during the down, the period can only be extended in the three cases offside listed above, directly from the rulebook. If this occurs at the end of the 1st or 3rd quarters, the next play will be run in the next period after changing fields. At the end of the 2nd or 4th quarters, the half or the game ends. If overtime is required, the OT procedure is run next.

 

I cannot speak to NFL rules.

I've never seen it, but Coach J has actually had his team do it several times. See post 18.

 

See the link in post 15 for some facts about it being done in the NFL.

 

I've been officiating for 12 years, and I have never seen it! However, just in case it does take place, we ALWAYS cover the mechanics in our pre-game.

I've been officiating for 12 years, and I have never seen it! However, just in case it does take place, we ALWAYS cover the mechanics in our pre-game.

 

I think most people/Fans would be amazed if they knew what that really meant and all that went into it.