Cowboys - Free Kick (1 Viewer)

[Browns Rule!]

For some reason, I'm thinking you may have to make a fair catch, but can't a receiving team make a free kick if they would like from the spot of a kick return? Could the Cowboys have fair caught the kickoff and kicked a 60 yard field goal with no defense on the field? I swear this is a rule, but I'm not sure on the stipulations. Does anyone know?

 

[davidwb]

Digest of Rules

Fair Catch Kick

1. After a fair catch, the receiving team has the option to put the ball in play by a snap or a fair catch kick (field goal attempt), with fair catch kick lines established ten yards apart. All general rules apply as for a field goal attempt from scrimmage. The clock starts when the ball is kicked. (No tee permitted.)

 

[achemen]

For some reason, I'm thinking you may have to make a fair catch, but can't a receiving team make a free kick if they would like from the spot of a kick return? Could the Cowboys have fair caught the kickoff and kicked a 60 yard field goal with no defense on the field? I swear this is a rule, but I'm not sure on the stipulations. Does anyone know?

From NFL.com...Fair Catch Kick1. After a fair catch, the receiving team has the option to put the ball in play by a snap or a fair catch kick (field goal attempt), with fair catch kick lines established ten yards apart. All general rules apply as for a field goal attempt from scrimmage. The clock starts when the ball is kicked. (No tee permitted.)

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/fairkick

 

[Browns Rule!]

I was thinking the fair catch had to be made. I was at a bowling alley during the game so didn't see very close what was going on, but didn't the Seahawks kick the ball out of bounds and is this why? Thank you all for the rule clarification

 

[[scooter]]

Yes, you can kick a field goal from the spot of ANY fair catch. You don't even have to hike the ball -- just have your holder place the ball in the upright position and kick it like a kickoff.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Parcells knows that rule - I believe he attempted this once.

The ball is held by the holder and the kicker can take a running shot at it - the defense has to stay back 10 yards, just like on a kickoff.

From a practical sense this rarely happens as the fair catch has to be caught on the opponent's side of the field to have a realistic chance (under 60 yard field goal attempt).

 

[The_Man]

I thought this rule was in effect only after the 2:00 warning, but I could be wrong. That's the only time you'll ever see it tried, since nobody would attempt a free kick on first down from the 50 in anything other than the last seconds of a half or game.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

I thought this rule was in effect only after the 2:00 warning, but I could be wrong. That's the only time you'll ever see it tried, since nobody would attempt a free kick on first down from the 50 in anything other than the last seconds of a half or game.

No rule regarding play-calling has a time effect.The only reason that the rule would be USED is because of the lack of time on the clock. With under 10 seconds and/or no timeouts is when it would be used, as teams would otherwise try to advance the ball to get a closer kick. (Teams would need to pick up more than 7 yards to outweigh the benefits of no rush, no field goal formation and a runup at a free kick - I'd argue 10 or more yards would be the minimum to make it worthwhile).

 

[The_Man]

Now I remember why I was thinking of the 2:00 warning -- if the fair catch is called on the final play of a quarter, the free kick can still be attempted even though time has expired. I knew there was some clock-related thing.

 

[Weapon of Mass Instruction]

Titans did this last year. Fair caught a punt at the 50ish. Had the FG holder put it down right there and do it.