Yes, You Can Kick a Field Goal in Football! Here‘s Everything You Need to Know

Field goals are an iconic part of football, with kickers booting the ball through the uprights to score crucial points. If you‘ve ever wondered whether you could kick one of these signature plays, the answer is yes – provided you meet some conditions.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about kicking field goals, from the rules and scoring to the technique and skills involved. You‘ll see that while field goals require immense precision and practice, they can be within reach with the right training.

What Exactly is a Field Goal in Football?

Let‘s start by defining what a field goal is in American football. A field goal is worth three points. It involves a player on the special teams unit, typically the kicker, kicking the ball over the crossbar and between the uprights of the goalpost behind the end zone.

This usually occurs on a fourth down when the offense is close enough to have a chance to score by placekicking or dropkicking the ball. But it can potentially occur at any point during a play from scrimmage. We‘ll get more into the scenarios where teams attempt field goals a bit later.

First, it‘s helpful to visualize what‘s involved in the process:

• The kicker and holder line up several yards behind the long snapper, who snaps the ball back to the holder positioned on one knee.

• The holder catches the snap and places the ball on the turf or a tee for the kicker.

• The kicker then approaches the ball and kicks it towards the target of the goalpost crossbar and uprights.

• The field goal is successful if the ball sails above the crossbar and between or directly over the uprights.

If the ball misses wide or fails to clear the crossbar, the attempt is no good. Now let‘s look at how these kicks translate to points.

How Many Points is a Field Goal Worth?

A made field goal is worth three points in American football at all levels, from high school to the NFL. This consistent scoring value helps incentivize teams to attempt field goals within their kicker‘s range rather than risk turning the ball over on downs.

So whether you‘re booting a game-winning kick or hitting a 30-yard chip shot, any successful field goal will increase your team‘s score by three points.

When Can You Legally Attempt a Field Goal?

The rules around when teams can kick field goals are more particular in American football compared to other codes like Canadian football. Here are the key conditions that must be met:

• Field goals can only be attempted during scrimmage plays, with the line of scrimmage established.

• The major exception is a "fair catch kick" after a fair catch of a punt or kickoff. We‘ll explain this special scenario shortly.

• Teams typically attempt field goals on fourth down when they are in field goal range but unlikely to gain a new first down.

• However, a field goal can also be attempted on any down at the team‘s discretion. For example, taking an early 3rd quarter lead with a field goal rather than risking a turnover by continuing the drive.

• Theoretically, field goals could even be attempted repeatedly in succession if a team recovered each kickoff and got back in range.

Now let‘s look at the unique fair catch field goal exception.

The Fair Catch Kick Loophole for Field Goals

The fair catch kick rule is an obscure provision that allows teams a free field goal attempt in a special scenario.

Here is how it works:

• On a punt or kickoff, if the receiving team makes a fair catch before the ball touches the ground or a player, they gain possession at that spot.

• The fair catch allows the team to attempt a free kick on the next play with defenders lined up at least 10 yards away.

• This creates an opportunity to attempt a long field goal from wherever the ball was caught.

While incredibly rare today, some of the longest field goals in history were fair catch kicks. Ove Johansson hit a 69-yarder this way in 1976, the longest in the NFL for decades. Others like Phil Dawson have used the rule to try 50+ yard kicks at the end of halves. So it remains a unique loophole to exploit with the right field position and timing.

How Close Do You Need to Be to Have a Chance?

Field goal range varies significantly depending on the level. In the NFL, anything beyond 55 yards is challenging even for the strongest kickers. Meanwhile, high school kickers may struggle to hit reliably beyond 40 yards.

Here are the benchmark field goal ranges to be considered at different levels:

Level	Typical Range	Strong Kickers Range
High School	25-40 yards	45-55 yards
College	40-50 yards	55-65 yards
NFL	45-55 yards	60-70 yards

So while NFL kickers like Justin Tucker can hit reliably from 60+, the average high school or recreational player will want to be within 40 yards or less for their best chance. Coaches decide when to attempt field goals based primarily on their kicker‘s effective range.

The Longest Field Goals Ever Kicked

Hitting from 60+ yards is incredibly rare – only around a dozen NFL kickers have ever done it. Here are some of the longest field goals ever kicked:

• NFL: Justin Tucker – 66 yards (2021)
• College: Martin Gramatica – 65 yards (1998)
• High School: Dirk Borgognone – 69 yards (1985)

Tucker recently set the NFL record with his 66-yard game-winner. Before that, several kickers shared the 63-yard mark for decades, like Tom Dempsey and Jason Elam.

At the college level, Gramatica‘s 65-yarder stands as the record. Borgognone‘s 69-yard high school kick is considered the national scholastic record.

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Justin Tucker‘s 66-yarder is the longest field goal in NFL history. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

While these milestones rely some on luck with the right conditions, they show some elite kickers can make from almost unimaginable distances. Tucker estimates his maximum range could extend to around 75 yards with a clean hit and friendly conditions.

Famous Field Goals in NFL History

Some of the most memorable moments in NFL history have come down to crucial field goals. Here are a few legendary kicks that defined championships and careers:

• Adam Vinatieri‘s 48-yarder – His kick as time expired delivered the Patriots their first Super Bowl win in 2002, launching a dynasty.

• Justin Tucker‘s Double Doink – His clutch kick in 2018 improbably hit the upright and crossbar before bouncing through to beat the Bears.

• Blair Walsh‘s 27-yard miss – He shockingly missed a short playoff kick that cost the Vikings a win over the Seahawks in 2016.

• Gary Anderson‘s 38-yard miss – The Vikings kicker was perfect all 1998 season before missing his only postseason kick, costing them a Super Bowl trip.

These examples underscore how even routine kicks can provide some of the most dramatic and memorable moments in NFL history.

Could You Attempt Unconventional Kicks?

Some other unique kicking plays are legal but rarely seen:

• Punting a Field Goal: Field goals cannot be scored directly off a punt. But a punt could be blocked and returned for three points.

• Drop Kicking: Using the old-school drop kick technique is legal but tough to control. The last successful drop kick field goal was in 2006.

• One Point Safety: If the defense returns a blocked extra point or two-point conversion the length of the field, they score one point for their team.

So while not their primary purpose, punts, kickoffs, and defensive returns could technically result in field goal scoring plays if the stars aligned perfectly!

Is an 80-Yard Field Goal Possible?

With today‘s elite kickers launching 60+ yard shots, could we ever see field goals approach 80 yards? While highly unlikely any time soon, it may be possible someday under perfect conditions.

Based on Taybor Pepper‘s analysis, an 80-yarder would require a kickoff that:

• Travels 75 yards through the air
• Has a hangtime over 4.9 seconds to allow for the optimal trajectory
• Is launched at a launch angle of 45 degrees for maximum distance

Only a handful of kickers today have shown the raw leg power to potentially reach 80 yards. But actually doing it in a live game adds many more variables that make anything beyond 70 yards extremely difficult for now. The odds are we won‘t see an 80-yarder for some time, if ever. But it‘s fun to imagine how exciting it would be!

How Do You Start Kicking Field Goals?

Here is some basic guidance if you want to learn to kick field goals:

• Work on kicking fundamentals like contact and follow through. Aim to make smooth, consistent contact.

• Slowly increase distance as leg strength and accuracy improve. Move back 5 yards at a time.

• Focus on accuracy over max distance at first. Nail technique on shorter kicks before moving back.

• Use field goal posts whenever possible. This allows you to practice proper trajectories.

• Consider working with a holder and getting fitted for a kicking shoe if serious about improving.

With regular practice and sound technique, 40-yard field goals can be within reach. While 60+ yard bombs may be reserved for elite kickers, don‘t let distance stop you from working on this iconic football skill.

Key Takeaways on Kicking Field Goals

Hopefully this guide gave you a comprehensive overview on executing this classic football play. Here are some key points we covered:

• Field goals are worth 3 points when kicked through goalpost uprights.

• They can be attempted during scrimmage plays or after fair catches.

• Kickers typically reach 40-55 yard ranges, with elite pros at 60-70+ yards.

• Many historic NFL moments have come down to clutch field goals.

• Unconventional kicks like punt or drop kick field goals are legal but extremely rare.

• 80+ yard field goals would require immense power and perfect conditions.

• With practice and solid technique nearly anyone can work towards kicking 30-40 yard field goals.

So while it requires some skill, you really can kick a field goal in football if you find yourself in scoring range during a game!