Last updated: Dec 15, 2022
There are a number of rare play types in football, but one type that many fans may not be aware of is the drop kick. Since it is barely ever used in football, some people might think the drop kick is illegal if they see it used, but the technique is perfectly legal on plays such as punts, kickoffs, and even field goals or extra points. Read on to learn more about the drop kick, and how it was used in the past and is still rarely used today!
Table of Contents
- What is a Drop Kick in Football?
- Drop Kick History
- Drop Kick Rules
- FAQ
A drop kick is when a player kicks a dropped ball as it hits the ground or as it is in the air bouncing upward after hitting the ground.The risk of this type of kick is if the drop is not executed well, the ball couldbounce in the wrong direction, completely ruining the kick before it starts. Because of this risk, a placeholder, tee, or punting technique is used in all kicking plays in modern football. The accuracy and distance of the kick itself are also inferior to the other kicking strategies available today. However, drop kicks are still permitted, so in the rare case a football player attempts a drop kick, they have not committed a foul.
Drop Kick History
Drop kicks are extremely rare in the NFL today, but they were once popular enough that drop kicked field goals were their own category inrecord books. The last successful field goal that was drop kicked occurred in 1937.Chicago Bears kicker Earl Clark completed a 17-yard attempt in a game against the Lions.
Before Clark, the number of attempts was much higher due in part to the more rounded ends of footballs in the 1920s. Players such as Paddy Driscoll and Jim Thorpe would attempt drop kicks on a regular basis, with Driscoll holding the record for the longest field goal of its kind at 50 yards.
The most recent drop kick extra point that was converted was in 2005, in a game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins.In the play, quarterback Doug Flutie, who played for the New England Patriots from 1987-1989, and had returned to his former team from San Diego for his final season, completed the kick on the last play of his professional career.
Michael Dickson, the punter for the Seattle Seahawks, drop-kickedthe ball several times in his rookie 2018 season. His upbringing in Australia playing Australian football contributed to his ability to perform using this strange technique.
Drop Kick Rules
According to the NFL rulebook, a drop kick is a kick that is made as, or immediately after, a dropped ball has hit the ground. Although they are rarely employed in the modern game, drop kicks are technically still allowed to be used for punts, kickoffs, and extra point attempts.
FAQ
What is a drop kick in football?
A drop kick in football is a kick that is made as a dropped ball hits the ground or immediately after. Drop kicks are technically still permitted in American football, but they have fallen out of favor as a result of the greater accuracy and distance of other kicks. A similar fall from favor has happened in Australian rules football, but the drop kick is still commonly used in rugby union and rugby league.
Can you drop kicka field goal in football?
You can drop kicka field goal in football, as the NFL rulebook states that a legal field goal may be kicked using a place kick or a drop kick.Due to the greater accuracy of place kicking, a drop kick is never used to kick field goals in the modern game. Drop kicks are also technically allowed to be used in kickoffs and punt plays, but they are, likewise, never used for those plays today.
How do you drop kicka football?
Drop kicking a football is a technique that requires precision and skill.In order to successfully drop kick afootball, the player must hold the ball in their hands, angled downwards towards their foot.Then, they drop the ball towards their kicking foot, and make contact with it just as it hits the ground, or directly afterwards, on a small bounce.This is a difficult technique to master, as it is possible for the ball to bounce in an unusual way while being dropped, which may alter its trajectory.
