A kicker approaches a held fair-catch kick while opponents line up 10 yards away.

When Can an NFL Team Attempt a Fair Catch Kick?

Sep 20

2 min read

Updated: Oct 10

After a completed or awarded fair catch, an NFL team can choose a normal offensive snap or a fair catch kick. The special kick can score three points without a snap, with opponents held ten yards away.

Part of Football 101. Explore the guide to choose your next topic.

It must be the next play from the fair catch spot or the succeeding spot after enforcement. A fair catch does not create a scoring opportunity the team can save for later.

The setup

The kicker uses a drop kick or a place kick held by a teammate. A tee is prohibited. The formation follows the applicable restraining line rules, but the fair catch kick is a distinct play rather than an ordinary kickoff.

Because there is no long snap to a holder behind the line, the kick distance is the distance from its spot to the goal line plus the ten yard end zone. From the opponent's 42, that is a 52 yard kick.

The normal field goal scoring conditions still apply. A miss can be returned if the ball remains live, so the attempt is not risk free.

If the clock expires on the fair catch

When a completed fair catch ends a period, the team may extend the period for the kick. It cannot use that particular extension for a normal offensive snap.

An awarded fair catch after kick catch interference creates a different option: after enforcement, the offended team may extend the period for either a snap or the kick. The foul changes the available choices as well as the spot.

The decision to watch

A fair catch near midfield with almost no time left is the classic opportunity. Most fair catches are either too far away or occur when the offense prefers a normal possession.

Watch three things: was there a completed or awarded fair catch, where is the succeeding spot, and did time expire? A wave alone is not enough to establish every fair catch kick option.