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Originally Posted by davy
Look what I found....
Can a kicker drop kick a field goal or does he have to have someone hold it for him?
Yes, a field goal kicker can at anytime drop kick a ball through the uprights for 3 points.
Now I know.  |
I do not believe a drop kick is the same as a punt in terms of style of kick. I think a drop kick involves dropping a ball and having it hit the ground and bounce at which time a kicker kicks the ball. If it goes through the uprights it is a field otherwise it is a missed field goal with the other team getting the ball where the player had initially dropped it. Essentially a field goal is the same accept it involves having someone catch the snap, "drop" the ball (place it) and hold it in place for a kicker to kick. Same mechanics with different parts. Simply dropping the ball and kicking before it hits the ground constitutes "punting" meaning giving possession to the other team.
Here's a good explanation:
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If a punt goes through the uprights, it is a touchback, as was explained in the previous response. Here's why: in order for a field goal to count, the ball must touch the ground just before it is kicked. I wonder if your question comes after seeing some film from an old game. If so, you may be thinking of a drop kick, which looks similar to a punt. In the early days of the NFL (into the 40's & possibly the 50's) the place kick was not used. Instead of hiking the ball to the holder as it is today, the snapper would hike the ball directly to the kicker. The kicker then bounced the ball off the ground either by dropping it (or more purposely bouncing it) so that he could get his foot underneath it and kick the ball throught the uprights. This obviously had a lot of skill associated with it. As a result, the field goal was not as routine as what we see today.
The main reason the drop drop kick isn't used anymore is because the shape of the official football changed - it used to be more rounded than it is today. And the odds of making a place kick are much better than a drop kick.
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