What is the rule for a fair catch in college football?
Explaining college football's fair catch rule In order to qualify as a fair catch, the ball must be caught within the return team's 25-yard line. When caught, the fair catch results in a touchback and the offense begins play on the 25-yard line.
What is the rule on a fair catch?
A Fair Catch is an unhindered catch of an airborne scrimmage kick that has crossed the line of scrimmage, or of an airborne free kick, by a player of the receiving team who has given a valid fair catch signal. Item 1.
Why is the ball placed on the 25-yard line?
The idea was to reduce the number of kickoff returns, and therefore the number of traumatic injuries that occur on a play in which high-speed collisions occur regularly. The thinking was a receiving team was more likely to take a touchback on a kick into the end zone knowing the ball would be spotted at the 25.
Where is the ball placed on a touchback in college?
In NCAA football, the ball will be placed either on the 20 or the line of scrimmage of the play in which the attempt was made; in the NFL, either the 20 or the place from which the ball was kicked.
How close can you get on a fair catch?
15 YardsResultPenaltyNFLNCAAFair Catch InterferenceLoss of Ball, 15 Yards15 Yards
What happens if you drop a fair catch in football?
What Happens if you Call a Fair Catch and Drop It? If a player calls for a fair catch and then drops the ball, the ball is up for grabs by either side.
What yard line does college kickoff from?
35-yard lineIt is placed on the kicking team's 30-yard line in six-man football, 35-yard line in college and professional outdoor football, 40-yard line in American high school football, 45-yard line in amateur Canadian football, and the goal line in indoor and arena football.
What yard line is the ball placed on a touchback?
25-yard lineWhat makes a touchback? If a kicked ball, either as a result of a punt, kickoff or missed field goal, touches the ground in the opposing team's end zone, rolls out of the back-end zone or touches the goal post, the play is ruled a touchback and the ball will be spotted at the 25-yard line.
What yard line does NFL kickoff from?
35-yard lineWe have you covered. Via the NFL rulebook: The kickoff team must have five players on each side of the ball and cannot line up more than one-yard from the restraining line. For example, the kicking team will line up at the 34-yard line for a kickoff from the 35-yard line.