What's the actual rule? Doesn't the ball only come out to the 20 if the ball crosses the GL? Does it have to cross in the air or can it roll into the EZ and still come back to the 20?

 

Once it crosses the goal line it is dead and is brought out to the 20 whether it was in the air or ground when it crossed.

Our kicking game is weak this year. We onside kick alot. And our punting game isn't very good. If we are anywhere inside the 50 yard line we go for it.

There are a lot of teams with weak place kickers, but punt coverage has improved mightily among teams over the years. I don't see team's getting the great returns as much on punts as they used to.

 

Not sure I really care for the schools that simply refuse to kick off deep for fear of containing deep return men. Some of these "squib kicks" are giving opponents the ball on the 40-45 yard line. Might as well kick deep out of bounds...

 

I remember Joe Jaggers, the former North Hardin coach, never punted on fourth down on any distance if he was on the opponent's side of the field...there is actually a lot of statistical evidence to support this.

 

I haven't seen a quick kick in a long time - in fact, it was 1998 - but the team that did it was Oldham County, they were backed up deep in the shadow of their own goal line, it was 3rd and a million, and the quarterback - who was also the punter - took the ball in the shotgun and booted it from his own EZ. He was a pretty fair punter, got off a good kick, and it rolled a mile. The opposing team - not ready - never had a chance at a return. Great call.

 

As for PATs...I don't really care for teams going for two all the time. I haven't seen many successful two point conversions this season. Even schools with weak placekickers can find a pretty consistent PAT kicker... Saw one team also ALMOST pull off a two point conversion off with the old swinging ladder play, but everyone is pretty well-versed on stopping that anymore. I will say this, though... If the defensive team goes offsides on a PAT, I know of a number of coaches who will automatically switch from going for 1 to going for 2 if they get that call, and I do understand that. Your odds of success go up dramatically.

Does any one see the quick kick use much these days?

 

What about the swing or rugy style kick?[/QUOTE]

 

The rugby style punt is extremely effective at this level. Something that is helpful to have, is a soccer kid that is ahtletic and fast. This is a natural motion/kick for someone who plays soccer, if you get them out on the edge he can decide to run, pass or kick. It is also usually more difficult to field and gets a pretty decent roll. This also freezes one of the wide outs, he has to honor the run/pass first before blocking the "gunner." If a team is good at this style, it gives them more options on 4th down.

Does any one see the quick kick use much these days?

 

What about the swing or rugy style kick?

 

LaSalle pulled a rugby style kick against Cov Cath this year. I understand they pull that one out from time to time (meaning it wasn't a one-and-only kind of thing). Their QB tucked it to run around the end, Cov Cath brought pressure, and then he pulled up to kick on the run and was mauled by the Colonels.

 

The officials didn't call roughing the kicker, but as I understand it, since he wasn't "out of the pocket" and he did pull back up into kicking form (although it was still while on the run), it rightly should have been a penalty against Cov Cath.

LaSalle pulled a rugby style kick against Cov Cath this year. I understand they pull that one out from time to time (meaning it wasn't a one-and-only kind of thing). Their QB tucked it to run around the end, Cov Cath brought pressure, and then he pulled up to kick on the run and was mauled by the Colonels.

 

The officials didn't call roughing the kicker, but as I understand it, since he wasn't "out of the pocket" and he did pull back up into kicking form (although it was still while on the run), it rightly should have been a penalty against Cov Cath.

 

Once the player legally kicks the ball he is a kicker whether he runs first then kicks, drops the ball then kicks or fakes a pass then kicks. Now it is subject to the officials opinion as to whether the defense had time to react to the player establishing himself as a kicker. I know the actual rule is a little more complicated but that is the jist of it.

If you can't kick a place kick because you don't have the talent, I can see going for it on 4th down or going for 2 every time.

 

Punting is different. I would not want to put my defense in a position where they had to defend a short field because I wanted to go for it on 4th and long. If you teach kids, the technique for punting is actually something a lot of people can do. It is not that difficult to get a kid who is coached well to consistently get a punt 30 yards with decent hang time. You must also coach up the punt team on blocking and angles, but this is for another day.

 

I say you need to punt and carry a punter, but that is just one coach's opinion.

The problem with kicking fieldgoals all the time is coverage. Your DL cannot get into coverage as well as they can from a punt formation. A number of teams rugby kick. Someone in the last few years during a state title game was using it. If the kicker can run it can be dangerous.

 

Quick kick can be a very sound choice on 3rd down. If you are backed up where you could be punting from your own EZ it might be a good idea.