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Place kick
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The place kick is a type of kicking play commonly used in American football, association football (soccer), Canadian football, rugby league, and rugby union. It was historically used in Australian rules football, but it was phased out of the game more than 100 years ago.
Gridiron football
[edit]Place kicks are used in American football and Canadian football for kickoffs, extra points, and field goals. The place kick is one of the two most common forms of kick in gridiron-based football codes, along with the punt. The punt, however, cannot score points (except in Canadian football where it counts as a single). The place kick is the most common kick used in most indoor football games, including the former North American Arena Football League (AFL); punting was not legal in AFL play. A specialist player named the placekicker is generally the only member of the team who attempts place kicks, and is generally not used for any other role on the team. In the USA's National Football League teams, placekickers are generally able to successfully kick a field goal from at least 50 yards away, although kicks from 60 yards or beyond are rarely attempted or successful.
Place kicking typically involves placing the ball either directly on the turf, a mound of sand, a hole in the turf, or a plastic tee is sometimes used to keep the ball in position. A player called a holder is required to hold a ball upright during field goal and extra point attempts, as the ball is placed directly on the turf. When weather conditions prevent the ball from standing on its tee by itself, a holder can be used during kickoffs (although this is uncommon).[1]
In most forms of gridiron football, a place kick during timed play that travels through the uprights is a field goal worth three points; on a free play following a touchdown, it is worth one point; most leagues (including the NFL) require the ball to be placed directly on the turf with a holder.
In a few indoor football leagues, a kickoff that travels through the uprights results in an award of one point, although this practice is becoming less common with the collapse of the AFL (formerly the largest indoor gridiron football league in the world).
In the comic strip Peanuts, Lucy frequently holds the football to allow Charlie Brown to place kick but invariably pulls it away at the last second, causing Charlie to fall on his back.
Association football
[edit]Place kicks in association football are the corner kick, free kick, goal kick, kick-off and penalty kick.
Rugby league
[edit]
The place kick is commonly used in rugby league for kick offs[2] and most kicks at goal (penalty goals and conversions).[2]
The lack of a consistently successful place kicker in a team can be detrimental to a team.[2] Anybody on the team can take a penalty or conversion kick although there is often a regular kicker. Sometimes teams will use different players to kick depending on what side of the field the kick is to be taken from.
Place of kick
[edit]Kick offs are taken from the centre of the halfway line.[3] A kick at goal from a penalty kick can be taken at any point along an imaginary line parallel to the touchline between the place the offence was marked by the referee and the kicker's goal line.[4] Conversion attempts may be taken at any point along an imaginary line parallel to the touchline from where the try was scored.[4]
Placing the ball
[edit]Most kickers use some form of aid to allow them to strike a preferred part of the ball. Popular aids used include kicking tees and mounds of sand on which to place the ball.[2] Players might also use their boot to mould the ground where the ball will be placed, making a divot behind the ball to allow greater access to the kicking foot.[2]
Kickers attempt to position the ball in a way that allows them to kick the ball's "sweet spot".[2] Kicking the sweet spot will result in the ball travelling further and is located about a third of the way up the ball.[2]
Kick
[edit]The most common kicking style is the round-the-corner kick, which tends to hook the ball to the left for a right footed kicker.
Kickers usually pace out their kick before taking it.[2] This begins with the kicker standing over the ball with their feet in kicking positions.[2] They then measure out a run up.[2] When the ball is kicked, usually with the instep of the foot, the kicker will follow through with their swing.[2]
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Most of the top kickers can kick a goal from approximately 55m, or just inside their own half.
Rugby union
[edit]In rugby union, the most common position for a goal kicker to play is fly-half as that position requires good kicking skills from hand. Slightly less commonly, the fullback will kick (another position which requires kicking from hand). If the goal kicker is neither of those two positions, the remaining three-quarter backs and scrum-half might kick. Goal kicking forwards are extremely rare, but not unknown, the most notable in recent years having been the Australian second row John Eales.
Australian rules football
[edit].jpg)
In the early decades of the sport of Australian rules football, place kicks were regularly used for taking set shots for goal after a mark or free kick, and occasionally for the purposes of kicking off after a behind.[5] The use of a place kick in these circumstances was not required by the laws of the game, nor was it used universally, and many players preferred punts or drop kicks.
To execute with the oval ball, a divot would be created with the heel in the direction of the goal; the ball would be placed at a slight upward angle in the divot with its long axis pointed at the goal.[6]
Place kicking was considered the longest and most accurate type of kick for a skilled practitioner,[7] but more erratic than a punt for a player who was less adept.[8] The laws allowed a player to place the ball for a place kick, take a run-up, and then regather the ball and play on instead of kicking it, in order to catch defenders off guard.[9]
The use of place kicking declined rapidly from as early as the late 1910s,[10] and it was considered a lost art by the late 1920s,[11] partly due to the increased speed of the game and stoppages of the game to execute one.[8] Aside from any of these time issues, another considerable factor in the eventual disappearance of the place kick was that the changes to the football's shape, design, and constituent materials — and, especially, according to ex-Melbourne player Les Rainey in the late 1930s, to a very significant reduction in the weight, the thickness of the soles, and robustness of the standard football boot.[12] Rainey surmised that it had made the once-standard place kick, especially over longer distances, a far more difficult kick to execute.
Rarely, some players continued to use place kicks until as late as the 1950s,[13][14] but the skill is entirely obsolete in serious modern football. There have been a couple of televised exceptions, but such uses were for comedic effect and are not attempted in professional football. For example, in the 1996 Centenary Legends Match, AFL Hall of Famer Don Scott performed a place kick in the general course of play; [15] and, Patrick Cripps, playing in the pre-season 2019 AFLX Grand Final, performed a place kick from a set shot (with a holder in the gridiron football style), successfully making the goal.[16][17][18]
See also
[edit]- Placekicker, a position in American football.
- Drop kick
- punt (American and Canadian football)
Notes
[edit]- ^ National Football League (2020-03-19). "2020 NFL Rulebook". NFL. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k BBC Sport (2005-09-15). "Kicking skills". BBC. Retrieved 2009-07-27.
- ^ RLIF, 2004: 18
- ^ a b RLIF, 2004: 14
- ^ Football: The Place Kick, The Age, Tuesday, 8 August 1944), p.4
- ^ How to Place Kick, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 30 April 1932), p.6.
- ^ Sharland, W.S., "Why McNamara's Kicking Was Good", The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 9 September 1931), p.1.
- ^ a b "Dearth of players who use the place kick". Westralian Worker. 21 May 1926. p. 8.
- ^ W.V.F., "Place kicking as a Lost Art", The Western Mail, (Thursday, 12 June 1947), p.17.
- ^ The "Vanishing Place-Kick": or Was it Ever Popular?, The Williamstown Chronicle, (Friday, 7 August 1942), p.2.
- ^ Sharland, W.S., "Is Place Kicking a Lost Art?: Its Value is Underestimated", The Sporting Globe (Wednesday, 20 April 1927), p.8.
- ^ Hopman, H., "Talking Sport", The (Melbourne Herald, (Friday, 3 September 1937), p.20.
- ^ Ainslie Football Club 1927 — 1987: Four First-Grade Championships, The Canberra Times, (Sunday, 23 August 1987), p.15.
- ^ Snapshots from League Grounds, The Argus, (Monday, 18 April 1955), p.4.
- ^ 1996 Centenary Legends Match (full game), April 2015, retrieved 2023-04-02
- ^ "A place kick from Cripps if you don't mind". afl.com.au. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
- ^ AFLX | Cripps with the place kick, 24 February 2019, retrieved 2023-04-02
- ^ "AFLX 2019: Jack Riewoldt sets up Patrick Cripps for rare place kick goal for Rampage team". Fox Sports. 2019-02-22. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
References
[edit]- RLIF (2004). "The International Laws of the Game and Notes on the Laws" (PDF). Rugby League International Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
- How To Goal and Place Kick
- NFL (2020). "2020 NFL Rulebook". National Football League. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
External links
[edit]- BBC: Rugby league - Skills - Kicking skills - Place kick (Includes animation)
Place kick
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Overview
Definition and Terminology
A place kick is a kicking technique used in various codes of football, characterized by the ball being positioned in a stationary manner on the ground, a peg, or a kicking tee prior to being struck by the kicker's foot. This contrasts with other kicking methods, such as punts or drop kicks, where the ball is either kicked while in flight or after being dropped and bounced off the ground. The ball must remain immobile at the point of contact to qualify as a place kick, allowing the kicker to approach and execute the strike from a controlled setup.[1][4][5] The terminology "place kick" emerged in the mid-19th century, with the earliest recorded use dating to 1845 in the context of early rugby football, combining "place" to denote the fixed positioning of the ball and "kick" for the action itself. In American English, particularly in gridiron football, it is commonly rendered as the single word "placekick," while in British English and rugby traditions, it is typically two words as "place kick." This etymological root ties back to the codification of football variants in 19th-century Europe, evolving from unstructured folk football games where stationary ball placements were informally used in local customs across England and Scotland.[6][7][8] Essential to the place kick are universal mechanical elements: the ball's stationary state ensures stability for precise alignment, and the kicker contacts it using the instep—the curved upper surface of the foot—or the laces of the shoe for optimal power transfer and directional control. These features enable greater accuracy and distance compared to improvised kicks, forming the basis for its application in scoring plays across sports like gridiron football field goals and association football penalties.[9][10]Historical Development
The place kick emerged in the early 19th-century English public school football variants, particularly at Rugby School, where games around 1823 were primarily kicking-based contests with goals scored by propelling the ball over a crossbar and between posts.[11] Players were prohibited from running with the ball and instead caught it, retreated, and either punted or placed it on the ground for a teammate to kick, making placed kicks a standard method for attempting goals in these rudimentary matches. This technique reflected the era's emphasis on kicking over handling, with the ball often positioned directly on the bare turf to facilitate accurate strikes. Key codifications in the mid-19th century formalized the place kick across diverging football codes. The 1863 Laws of the Game for association football defined a place kick as striking the stationary ball from the ground in any chosen position, using it to start matches from the center, restart after goals, and award free kicks from a marked spot following a fair catch, with opponents required to remain at least 10 yards away.[12] In emerging American football, influenced by rugby-style play, place kicks gained prominence during intercollegiate contests in the 1870s, such as Yale-Princeton games, where they served as primary scoring methods alongside touchdowns.[13] A notable early milestone occurred on November 30, 1882, when Princeton's J.T. Haxall successfully executed a 65-yard place kick against Yale, highlighting the technique's role in long-range field goals under rugby-influenced rules.[14] The 1895 schism in rugby football, which separated the amateur Rugby Football Union in southern England from the professional Northern Rugby Football Union, preserved the place kick's centrality for conversions and penalties in both codes while allowing rule evolutions that emphasized its strategic value in Northern Union games.[15] Technological advancements gradually enhanced place kick execution, transitioning from bare-ground placement to supportive aids. In American football, kickers initially relied on sod or natural holds, but by the 1930s, rubber tees were introduced for kickoffs to elevate the ball and improve consistency, though they faced intermittent bans before official NCAA authorization in 1948.[13] The global spread of the technique followed British colonists, with Australian rules football adopting place kicks in the late 1800s for goal attempts, drawing from English public school traditions like those at Rugby; however, it was largely phased out by the early 20th century in favor of drop and punt kicks.Gridiron Football
Rules and Field Positioning
In gridiron football, a place kick for a field goal or extra point must originate from on or behind the line of scrimmage during a play from scrimmage, with the ball legally held stationary on the ground by a teammate (the holder).[16][17] The kicking team snaps the ball to a holder positioned approximately 7 to 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage, who then places it for the kicker; any movement by offensive players other than the holder and kicker before the ball is kicked results in a five-yard penalty for illegal procedure.[16] In the National Football League (NFL) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the minimum practical distance for a field goal attempt from scrimmage is 33 yards, corresponding to the line of scrimmage placement on the field, though shorter extra-point attempts occur from the 15-yard line.[16][17] Field positioning for place kicks aligns with the field's hash marks, which in the NFL are spaced 18 feet 6 inches apart and located 70 feet 9 inches from each sideline to facilitate even goalpost alignment.[16] In NCAA games, hash marks are wider at 40 feet apart, centered on the field and positioned 60 feet from each sideline, allowing for more varied kick angles compared to professional play. The goal structure sits at the back of the 10-yard end zone, with the crossbar elevated 10 feet above the ground and uprights extending 35 feet above the crossbar, spaced 18 feet 6 inches apart; the official spot for measuring kick distance is from the line of scrimmage to the base of the uprights nearest the kicker.[16] Penalties for violations during place kick setups include a five-yard loss for illegal motion, such as any offensive player except the holder and kicker advancing before the kick.[16][17] Defensive encroachment, like crossing the neutral zone before the snap, also incurs a five-yard penalty and replay of the down.[16] A fair catch on a punt—signaled by the receiver extending one arm above the head and waving it—prevents tackling and allows the receiving team an uncontested place kick attempt (fair catch kick) from the spot of the catch, worth three points if successful, without defensive rush.[18][17] In the Canadian Football League (CFL), place kick rules share similarities but adapt to a longer 110-yard field with 20-yard end zones, where field goals score three points and a "single" or rouge—when the ball goes through the end zone untouched—awards one point, encouraging more kicking attempts.[19] Unlike the NFL and NCAA, the CFL permits tees no higher than one inch for place kicks and has no fair catch rule, allowing returns on all punts, though goalposts were traditionally at the front of the goal line until a 2027 shift to the back of the end zone on a shortened 100-yard field (with 15-yard end zones).[19][20] CFL hash marks are 9 yards (27 feet) apart, positioned 28 yards from each sideline to align with the 65-yard wide field, and penalties mirror U.S. codes with five-yard infractions for procedural errors like premature movement.[19][20][21]Execution Technique and Strategy
The execution of a place kick begins with the kicker's approach, typically consisting of three steps straight back from the ball and two steps laterally to the side, allowing for a smooth acceleration toward the target. The plant foot is positioned approximately 6 to 8 inches to the side of the ball, angled slightly toward the goalposts to guide the kicking leg's path. At contact, the kicker strikes the ball with the instep of the foot, aiming for a point just above the laces to promote a straight trajectory and accuracy, while the follow-through extends fully to maximize distance and control. The holder, positioned 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage, receives the snap and orients the ball with the laces facing upward or slightly rotated away from the kicker to minimize wobble during the kick. Adjustments by the holder, such as tilting the ball based on wind conditions, can influence the ball's flight path. The field goal unit comprises specialized roles to ensure reliability under pressure. The placekicker is responsible for the actual kick, focusing on power and precision from distances up to 60 yards or more. The holder, often the team's punter, catches the long snap and stabilizes the ball for the kicker, requiring quick hands and composure to prevent mishandled snaps that could derail the attempt. The long snapper, a dedicated specialist, delivers a precise, low-trajectory snap from the center position to the holder, emphasizing speed and accuracy to give the kicker time to approach. Training for consistency involves repetitive drills at specific ranges, such as practicing 40-yard field goals to refine mechanics and build muscle memory, alongside plyometric exercises like box jumps and medicine ball throws to enhance explosive power and flexibility, which NCAA place-kickers rate as highly effective for maintaining form across sessions. Core strength routines, including squats and dynamic stretching performed 3-4 times weekly, further support endurance and reduce injury risk during high-volume practice. Strategically, place kicks demand adaptations to environmental factors and game situations. Kickers and coaches assess wind direction and velocity, adjusting the target line—such as aiming slightly upwind for crosswinds—to compensate for drift, as south-facing field goals of 50 yards or fewer succeed at 80% compared to 88% for north-facing ones due to prevailing winds in certain stadiums. Fake field goal plays, executed from the kicking formation, surprise defenses by handing off to the holder or a blocker for a short gain, though they succeed only about 50% of the time and are typically reserved for short-yardage scenarios to avoid turnovers. In clutch moments, such as game-winning attempts, kickers like Justin Tucker have delivered under pressure, while teams weigh place kicks against two-point conversions, opting for the latter when trailing by 8 points after a touchdown to simplify tying the game with a field goal later, given the conversion's roughly 50% success rate versus the near-certain extra point. These decisions hinge on score differential and time remaining, prioritizing expected value in close contests. Notable achievements highlight the evolution of place kicking prowess. The longest field goal in NFL history is 68 yards, kicked by Jacksonville Jaguars' Cam Little on November 2, 2025, against the Las Vegas Raiders, surpassing Justin Tucker's previous record of 66 yards in 2021 against the Detroit Lions. Success rates vary significantly by distance, with kicks under 40 yards achieving approximately 90% accuracy league-wide, dropping to around 75% for 50-plus yard attempts, reflecting improvements in technique and equipment that have doubled long-range reliability since the 1980s.Association Football
Types of Place Kicks
In association football, place kicks are primarily categorized into direct free kicks, indirect free kicks, and penalty kicks, each governed by specific rules under the Laws of the Game to restart play after infringements or other stoppages.[22][23] Direct free kicks are awarded for direct fouls such as kicking, tripping, or handling the ball (except by the goalkeeper within their penalty area), allowing the ball to be kicked directly into the opponent's goal for a valid score.[22] Opponents must remain at least 9.15 meters (10 yards) from the stationary ball until it is in play, forming a defensive wall if desired, though attacking players must stay at least 1 meter from such a wall.[22] The ball is placed at the location of the foul, and it becomes in play once kicked and moved, with the kicker prohibited from retouching it until another player does so.[22] Indirect free kicks, signaled by the referee raising an arm vertically until the ball touches another player or goes out of play, are awarded for indirect offenses like dangerous play, impeding a promising attack without contact, or goalkeeping infractions outside the penalty area.[22] Unlike direct free kicks, a goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick; the ball must contact another player before entering the goal, or else a goal kick is awarded to the defending team if it enters their net.[22] Setup follows similar protocols to direct free kicks, with the ball stationary at the foul's location and the same 9.15-meter distance rule for opponents, ensuring fair execution without undue delay.[22] Referees may caution players for delaying the kick, but quick free kicks are permitted if opponents encroach, restarting play immediately to maintain game flow.[22] Penalty kicks represent a severe form of place kick, introduced in 1891 by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to deter deliberate fouls near the goal, following advocacy by William McCrum of Milford United F.C. who highlighted inequities in prior free kick rules.[24][25] Awarded for direct fouls committed by defenders within their penalty area, the kick is taken from the penalty mark, 11 meters from the goal line at its center, with no defensive wall allowed.[23] All outfield players must remain outside the penalty area and at least 9.15 meters from the ball, positioned behind the penalty mark, while the goalkeeper stays on or behind the goal line with at least one foot until the ball is kicked.[23] The ball must be stationary and touching or overhanging the mark, entering play upon clear movement forward, and a goal scores directly if it enters the net.[23] Referees signal the kick once positions are set, with additional time granted at match ends if needed, and infractions like encroachment leading to retakes or indirect free kicks depending on the offense.[23] Goal kicks are awarded to the defending team when the ball crosses the goal line last touched by an attacking player, without a goal being scored. The ball is placed stationary within the goal area (six-yard box) and kicked by a player from the defending team. Opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play, which occurs when it is kicked and clearly moves; the ball must also leave the penalty area before being touched by another player, or the kick is retaken.[26] Kick-offs restart play at the beginning of each half or after a goal, with the ball placed stationary at the center mark. The kicking team starts, and all players must be in their own half, with opponents at least 9.15 meters from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play once kicked and moves, and goals cannot be scored directly from a kick-off.[27] A hybrid form occasionally treated as a place kick is the corner kick, awarded when the ball crosses the goal line last touched by a defender without a goal being scored, with the stationary ball placed in the corner arc for execution.[28] Though typically delivered as an inswinging or outswinging cross into play rather than a direct shot, it shares place kick characteristics in its stationary setup and potential for direct goals, subject to the same 9.15-meter opponent distance.[28]Specialized Techniques
In association football, the basic mechanics of a place kick emphasize precision and power through targeted foot contact with the ball. The instep drive, involving the top of the foot striking the ball's center for maximum power, is commonly used for straight-on kicks such as penalties, where the kicker plants the non-kicking foot beside the ball and swings through with a follow-through to maintain a low trajectory. In contrast, the side-foot technique employs the inner side of the foot for controlled placement, ideal for curving or lofting the ball over defensive walls in free kicks, allowing for accuracy over distance. The typical run-up for free kicks consists of 4 to 6 steps, building momentum while aligning the body to approach the ball at an optimal angle, which helps in generating both speed and directional control. Advanced variations introduce spin and unpredictability to evade goalkeepers and walls. The knuckleball effect, achieved by striking the ball's valve with the instep at a slight angle to minimize spin, creates an erratic, wobbling flight path due to aerodynamic instability, as demonstrated by players like Juninho Pernambucano. For curving shots, the banana kick uses the outside of the foot to impart sidespin, causing the ball to bend in flight via the Magnus effect; a famous example is Roberto Carlos's 1997 free kick against France, which swerved dramatically around the wall from 35 yards. Penalty techniques vary between the high-power blast, directing force low and hard to the corners, and the Panenka chip, a delicate lofted placement down the center popularized by Antonín Panenka in 1976, exploiting goalkeeper uncertainty. Equipment for place kicks adheres to strict standards to ensure fairness. Unlike in gridiron football, tees are not permitted, requiring the ball to be stationary on the ground, placed stationary on the ground for free kicks. Balls must be FIFA-approved size 5, with a circumference of 68-70 cm and weight of 410-450 grams, featuring textured panels to influence aerodynamics in spin-based kicks. Training aids include rebound walls or mannequins simulating defensive walls, which help refine accuracy and timing without a goalkeeper. Notable innovations have elevated place kick artistry. David Beckham's bending technique, refined in the 1990s and 2000s using the outside instep for pronounced curves, influenced global coaching and was key to his 2001 free kick against Greece, securing England's World Cup qualification. Overall, penalty success rates in professional matches hover around 75-80%, underscoring the blend of technique and psychological pressure in these specialized kicks.Rugby Codes
Rugby League Variations
In rugby league, place kicks are primarily employed for conversions following a try, which are worth 2 points, and for penalty goals awarded due to infringements, also valued at 2 points. These kicks can alternatively be taken as drop kicks for penalties, though place kicks remain the standard method for precision. The ball must cross the goal line over the crossbar and between the uprights without touching any player in flight to count as successful.[29] Positioning for conversions allows the kicker to select any point along an imaginary line perpendicular to the goal line passing through the spot where the try was scored, with the distance from the goal line chosen at the kicker's discretion to optimize angle and distance. Penalty place kicks are taken directly from the site of the infraction, or from a point equidistant between the touchline and the spot if it would otherwise be out of play, ensuring the kick remains within the field. Kicking tees are permitted to elevate the ball, though in adverse conditions such as wind or hard ground, a teammate may hold the ball stationary, or it may be placed in sand for stability. During these attempts, the non-kicking team must remain outside the field of play for conversions or retire 10 meters back for penalties, preventing charges.[29][30] Compared to rugby union, rugby league's scoring system assigns 4 points to a try and 2 points to both conversions and penalty goals, fostering a strategy that emphasizes try-scoring over penalty accumulation due to the lower relative value of penalties. The six-tackle possession limit in league accelerates gameplay, often leading to more frequent territorial battles and try opportunities, thereby increasing conversion attempts per match relative to union's more prolonged possessions via scrums and lineouts. Sin-binning, which sidelines a player for 10 minutes, can disrupt kicking strategies if a specialist goal kicker is penalized, as seen in professional matches where backups must step in.[31][29] Place kicking originated within the broader rugby football tradition and was directly adopted by the Northern Union upon its formation in 1895, following the schism from the Rugby Football Union over player payments. Initially mirroring early rugby scoring—where goals from place kicks were central—the rules evolved separately; for instance, all goals including penalty goals were standardized at 2 points in 1897, while the value of a try was increased to 4 points in 1971 to promote more dynamic play. This culminated in the modern National Rugby League (NRL) format established in 1998, where place kicks continue to influence game outcomes in high-stakes professional contests, with success rates often exceeding 70% for elite kickers from central positions.[32][33]Rugby Union Variations
In rugby union, place kicks are primarily used for conversions and penalty goals, governed by World Rugby Law 8. A conversion, worth 2 points, follows a successful try and must be attempted within 60 seconds of the try being awarded; it can be executed as either a place kick or a drop kick, with the ball positioned on the ground, sand, sawdust, or a kicking tee.[34] The kick is taken from any point on an imaginary line drawn through the point where the try was scored, parallel to the touchlines, allowing the kicker to choose the distance for optimal angle and distance to the goalposts, which are perpendicular to the goal line.[34] Penalty goals, also under Law 8, award 3 points and are taken from the mark where the infringement occurred, provided it is within kicking range—often from the 22-meter line or further back—likewise within 60 seconds of indicating intent, and typically as a place kick for greater accuracy, though a drop kick is permitted if not pre-announced.[34][35] Place kicks are the preferred method in modern rugby union due to their superior accuracy compared to drop kicks, facilitated by the use of kicking tees that stabilize the ball upright for a consistent striking surface, a practice that has become standard in professional and international play.[34] Drop kicks, while allowed, are rarely chosen for conversions or penalties except in scenarios requiring speed, such as in rugby sevens or when time is critical.[36] The fly-half, positioned as number 10, typically serves as the primary kicker, leveraging their role as the team's tactical orchestrator to assess field position, wind, and opposition defense before executing the kick.[37] Weather conditions significantly influence place kicking; for instance, muddy or wet pitches can disrupt ball placement on the tee and cause slips during the approach, reducing accuracy and prompting teams to opt for shorter-range attempts or alternative plays.[38] These standards apply uniformly in international and professional rugby union under World Rugby regulations, with Law 8 ensuring fair execution by prohibiting the defending team from charging until the kicker's foot begins the forward motion.[34] Iconic examples include Jonny Wilkinson's place kicks during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, where his penalties and drop goal in the final against Australia contributed to England's 20-17 victory, alongside his record-setting drop goals in the tournament.[39]Australian Rules Football
Set Shots and Goal Kicking
In Australian rules football, set shots represent a critical scoring opportunity where a player attempts a kick at goal following an uncontested possession, such as a mark or a free kick. A successful goal, scored by kicking the ball between the two central goal posts from behind the goal line without it touching the ground inside the playing field, awards 6 points to the team. If the ball passes between one of the outer behind posts and a central goal post, or goes over the goal line outside the posts, it results in a behind, worth 1 point. These set shots occur after a player takes a mark—catching a kicked ball without being interfered with—or is awarded a free kick for an infringement, granting the kicker an unimpeded attempt from the spot of the mark or foul. The ball for a set shot is placed directly on the ground at the exact marking spot, with no tees or artificial aids permitted, distinguishing it from kicks in other oval-ball sports where elevation devices may be used. While the ball starts stationary, set shots are typically executed as drop punts rather than true place kicks: the player picks up the ball, takes a few steps back, drops it from chest height, and strikes it with the instep just before it touches the ground for optimal accuracy and trajectory. Historically, stationary place kicks were more common, but drop punts became standard in the mid-20th century. Opposing players must remain stationary until the ball is kicked, and any interference—such as encroaching within 10 meters or disrupting the kicker—results in a 50-meter penalty, advancing the ball 50 meters closer to goal from the original position. This penalty enforces discipline and protects the kicker's right to an uncontested attempt. There is no strict time limit for set shots, though umpires encourage prompt execution to maintain game flow. The field layout for goal kicking features two tall central goal posts spaced 6.4 meters apart, flanked by two shorter behind posts on either side, 6.4 meters from the goal posts, creating a total scoring area approximately 19.2 meters wide. The kick must clear the goal line entirely between the posts without the ball touching the ground or any player inside the boundary; otherwise, it may be deemed a rushed behind if touched by a defender or ruled out of bounds. This configuration ensures that set shots demand precision, as the ball must navigate the narrow goal opening from varying distances across the oval-shaped field, which measures up to 185 meters long and 155 meters wide. Set shots trace their origins to the inaugural Melbourne rules of 1859, where kicking for goal was established as the primary scoring method, evolving from earlier folk games in Victoria, Australia. The rules were formalized in the 1880s by the Victorian Football Association (VFA) and later the Victorian Football League (VFL), now known as the Australian Football League (AFL), with goal posts standardized and behinds introduced to differentiate minor scores. Unlike running plays, set shots have no strict time limits imposed on the kicker, though umpires encourage prompt execution to maintain game flow.Tactical Applications
In Australian rules football, set shots are strategically deployed to maximize scoring opportunities, with kickers emphasizing decision-making based on field position, pressure, and defensive alignment. The primary technique for long-distance set shots is the drop punt, where the kicker drops the ball from chest height and strikes it mid-air with the instep just before it touches the ground, promoting a stable end-over-end trajectory for accuracy over 30 meters or more.[40] For curved shots from acute angles, the torpedo screw punt—also known as the screw or barrel kick—involves spiraling the ball side-on with the side of the foot to generate spin and bend around defenders, though it sacrifices some control compared to the drop punt.[41] Kickers typically approach the ball from directly behind it, building momentum with a short run-up of three to five steps to align their body and ensure a clean contact point.[42] Tactical choices in set shot kicking revolve around balancing risk and reward, such as opting for a snap kick—a quick, low-trajectory punt from a grounded or short drop—when under immediate pressure from close range, versus a deliberate long set shot using the drop punt for straight-on attempts beyond 40 meters. In difficult angles, kickers may aim conservatively for a behind (a minor score worth one point) rather than forcing a goal attempt, prioritizing possession retention over a potential miss that could lead to a turnover. Full-forwards like Lance Franklin exemplify player specialization in this area, with their routines honed for high-pressure set shots; Franklin, a prolific goal kicker with 1066 career goals, often converted long-range set shots to exploit defensive lapses.[43] Set shots carry significant game impact, particularly in finals where clutch conversions can swing momentum; for instance, in the 2008 AFL Grand Final, Lance Franklin's set shots, including a long-range drop punt, helped Hawthorn secure a narrow victory over Geelong. Success rates underscore their reliability at shorter distances, with set shots under 30 meters achieving approximately 70% accuracy on average, dropping sharply beyond that due to increased task difficulty from distance and angle interactions.[44] Training for these skills has evolved since the 1990s, when clubs began incorporating video analysis to dissect kicking angles, foot placement, and ball flight, enabling data-driven refinements that improved consistency under fatigue.[45] This shift, supported by early biomechanical studies using high-speed cameras, marked a transition from intuitive coaching to empirical optimization.[46]References
- https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Laws_of_the_Game_%281863%29
- https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Laws_of_the_Game_(1863)