Free kick rule in football...?

Question

So this past weekend, my uncles state high school field goal record was "beaten" by a kicker whose team used a little-known rule: the free kick.

What this does is allow the receiving team of a punt to call a fair catch, then the place kicker is allowed to set the ball on a tee, and attempt a "field goal" from the yard marker where the ball was caught. There is no defense, and there is no place holder (its sets atop a tee).

My question is this: Should this new record have an asterisk by it, or should it be in a separate category all together? It seems to me that this situation is entirely different and wholy not comparable to a real field goal, where the kicker must deal with a rushing defense and a holder who may place the ball incorrectly.

What say you?

Answer 1

I agree that there should be two separate categories. It is much, much easier to kick a field goal using a tee with no defense in your face.

An interesting thing about this rule is that it is actually still legal in the NFL (or at least was within the past 2-3 years), but the kicker cannot use a tee. I find it interesting that some teams don't use it more often. For instance, Janikowski can really boot the ball, but when rushed, he is not very accurate. I think he could legitimately hit a 70 yard field goal if he were kicking in good conditions with no rush. I want to see a team do this.

Answer 2

I would agree that making a free kick with no interference and a tee is much easier than kicking a field goal facing a rush and using a holder. If it were my record that was broken I would feel cheated. Since they are really different game situations they should be separate records. I'm not a fan of asterisks by records but in this case if the state it happened in doesn't count them as separate records, I would not be opposed to putting an asterisk by it.

Answer 3

It's an offside when you receive a pass behind the defense of the opposing team but it's not an offside if you receive a pass before the last defender of the opposing team and you overtake that person. No, that's called a break-way and there's no referee blowing a whistle there, you're also one on one with the goalie. Which if I do say so myself, gives you a really high chance to score. Oh and there are no offsides in throw ins so therefore you can throw as far down the line to your teammates, preferably a striker but anyone who is open for the throw. A foul is when you intentionally trip, slide tackle, or get caught excessively shoving another player, resulting in a yellow card. A yellow card means you have to sit out for the game. You can also get a red card, benched out for the whole season, if you injure another player or if you don't listen to the referee. The rules are no different than a professional game and the only things that are would be the large fields and the huge goals. Hope that this introduction to soccer rules was helpful :)

Answer 4

It is a separate category. That rule isn't little known, just little used because in most situations the fair catch would make it a 75 + yard kick, a long way even for a tee and free kick.
I believe it is pretty universal at all levels as being available. Just not used often

Answer 5

Perhaps if USC could use this rule they wouldn't have been dominated by Oregon. That aside I agree that this "free kick" should be classified differently from a field goal. it is a completely different situation and should be treated that way.

Answer 6

In the words of Barry Bonds, "There are no asterisks in baseball." So I think that saying applies here. While you would like to have asterisks all over the place....who the hell cares about high school football? (Aside from the people of that town/school)

Answer 7

I would say a rule is a rule if it is a legal play in the state High school rules then sorry they win

Answer 8

a seperate category would be ok. :) lol