He attended Warren High School in Downey, California. The fair catch kick has its origins in rugby football's goal from mark, which has since been abolished in both major rugby codes; a similar rule, the mark, is a major part of Australian rules football. Both major codes of rugby have eliminated the rule; rugby league abolished the goal from mark in 1922, and rugby union removed it in 1977. "Safetyman blitz shackles Tittle". Carl Cheffers is the referee for Super Bowl LV. Usually high school rules are closer to college rules. At the professional level, the last successful fair catch kick was made by Ray Wersching of the San Diego Chargers in 1976. Crusinberry, James (Nov. 9, 1925). Ray Wersching : biography August 21, 1950 – Raimund "Ray" Wersching (born August 21, 1950 in Mondsee, Austria) is an Austrian former placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). 1x All-Pro selection (1986) Raimund "Ray" Wersching (born August 21, 1950 in Mondsee, Austria) is an Austrian who is known for having been a professional placekicker in the National Football League ( NFL) for a span of 15 years, stretching from 1973 through 1987. For Panthers kicker Joey Slye, it was an opportunity to convert the first fair catch kick since Chargers kicker Ray Wersching in 1976, who made a 45-yarder at … They managed to turn a fair catch into three points, thanks to placekicker Ray Wersching. "Giants defeated by Steelers in seesaw contest at Polo Grounds". He attended Warren High School in Downey, California. The Fair Catch Kick is one of the most discussed and debated obscure rules in the NFL Rulebook. 29, 1972). Upon crossing the out of bound line onto the field to kick a field goal or extra point, he always looked down, never raising his head until after he kicked. "Bears upset Packers, 13 to 10, on free kick in final seconds". Raimund "Ray" Wersching (born August 21, 1950) is an Austrian former placekicker in the NFL. Raul Allegre attempts a 61-yard fair catch kick after the Colts fair catch a short Patriots kickoff. He played in the NFL for a span of 15 years, from 1973 through 1987. [25] Out of the 26 recorded fair catch kick attempts in regular season and postseason games, six were successful; all five known attempts in exhibition games were unsuccessful. Similarly, the kicker does not have to worry about a low snap because the ball is not snapped. [21] A unique set of circumstances is required for a fair catch kick to be a viable option. "Giants topple Redskins, 14-6". [12] The National Football League (NFL) rulebook specifically states that the fair catch kick is not a free kick,[4] instead considering the fair catch kick to be a distinct type of kick. [25] Accordingly, most fair catch kick attempts occur when a team has fair-caught a ball from a punt from deep in their opponent's territory but there is not enough time left in the half to go for a touchdown. He was the twelfth player in NFL history to score 1,000 points in a career, and was the most recent player to have scored from a fair catch kick. He was the twelfth player in NFL history to score 1,000 points in a career, and was the most recent player to have scored from a fair catch kick. "Rout of Chicago led by Hornung". "Color Rockingham grey". Upon crossing the out of bound line onto the field to kick a field goal or extra point, he always looked down, never raising his head until after he kicked. None have been made since 1976. But here is a video of attempted fair catch kick with rule explanation from Dean Blandino the NFL's Vice President of officiating. "Giants turn back Green Bay by 17-6". In 1977, Wersching joined the San Francisco 49ers. "Pro football patter". How It Happens The reason the play is so rare, it takes a certain set of circumstances for a coach to choose to … Most recently, Mason Crosby of the Green Bay Packers attempted an unsuccessful 69-yard fair catch kick against the Detroit Lions on December 28, 2008. The last successful fair catch kick was made by Ray Wersching of San Diego Chargers. He played in the NFL for a span of 15 years, from 1973 through 1987. White, Gordon S., Jr. (Sep. 14, 1964). (Aug. 31, 1986). The kick seems to be so old that a footage of it can't be found easily online. "Oilers 17, Cowboys 14". At the professional level, the last successful fair catch kick was made in 1976 by San Diego Chargers's Ray Wersching who kicked it 45-yards past the Buffalo Bills. The drop kick. Early career He attended Warren High School in Downey, California. Was it a great achievement? Since then, kickers … The last successful attempt was made in 1976 by Ray Wersching of the San Diego Chargers (45 yards), and the longest successful attempt was made in 1964 by Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers (52 yards). [24] Art McNally, who led the officiating department of the National Football League from 1968 to 1990, said that even in the event a fair catch is made within field goal range, most teams would attempt to score a touchdown unless there is not enough time left to score one. (Jan. 10, 1966). The kick on Sunday (Oct. 13) was the first fair catch kick attempt in the NFL since Sept. 26, 2013, when the 49ers’ Phil Dawson attempted one. [1], Wersching had a unique kicking style. Raimund "Ray" Wersching (born August 21, 1950) is an Austrian former placekicker in the NFL. [19] The fair catch kick is not legal in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) football; the NCAA abolished the fair catch in 1950, but re-added it a year later. Damer, Roy (Jul. NFL fair-catch kick attempts After a fair catch, an NFL team has the right to take a free kick from the line of scrimmage on the next play. The last time a kicker actually made a fair catch kick came back in 1976 when Ray Wersching hit one from 45-yards out for the Chargers in a game against the Bills. [2], Wersching holds an inactive public accountant's license. Florence, Mal (Nov. 25, 1967). [4], In 2006; Wersching along with business partner Mary Ann Locke were indicted on embezzlement charges of $8 million in insurance premiums. The last kicker to make the rare kick was the San Diego Chargers’ Ray Wersching, who made one from 45 yards in 1976. Had Slye made it, it would have been the first successful conversion of a fair catch kick since Ray Wersching nailed one for the Chargers in 1976. At the professional level, the last successful fair catch kick was made by Ray Wersching of the San Diego Chargers in 1976. He won another Super Bowl ring with the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX, defeating the Miami Dolphins 38-16. Because the defense is required to be ten yards beyond the spot of the kick, the kicker can take a running start before kicking as opposed to the typical two steps taken on regular field goal attempts. Kicker Joey Slye attempted the first fair-catch kick in the NFL since 2013. Since then, seven fair-catch kicks have been attempted. At least 10 fair catch kicks have been tried unsuccesfully since Wersching’s successful effort from 43 years ago, with all but one of them longer than Slye’s 59-yard try. The last converted fair catch kick was a 45-yarder by San Diego’s Ray Wersching against Buffalo in 1976. "Matte's passing paces Colts to 35-to-3 upset of Cowboys in Playoff Bowl". The fair catch kick would also be of a shorter distance than a normal field goal attempt from the same spot, because the fair catch kick is taken from the spot of the catch, while a typical field goal is taken seven yards back from the line of scrimmage.[22]. Fair catch was made on a botched squib kick. [3][11], In the NFHS rulebook, the fair catch kick is specifically defined as a free kick. Wallace, William N. (Sep. 14, 1964). [14][15][16], The fair catch kick found in American football originated in rugby football. This page was last edited on 16 January 2021, at 13:19. "Old-timers Perry, McElhenny, Tittle star in 24-21 rally". Mitchell, Fred (Aug. 9, 1993). "Wanted three points". National Federation of State High School Associations, National Collegiate Athletics Association, "Bears shocked Packers with last-minute free kick", "Rare free kick leads to huge, last-minute win in Miami", "Fair catch kick would add old-time pizzazz to playoffs", "Bill Belichick passed up an opportunity to end Super Bowl 51 in the weirdest possible way", "Monolithic Packers-Bears Rivalry Evokes Numerous Memories", http://www.packershistory.net/1921PACKERS/GAME3.html, "McNair guides Titans past winless Texans", "49ers pull in front of Rams 14-3 at the half", "Official Playing Rules and Casebook of the National Football League", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fair_catch_kick&oldid=1000737045, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. 4 Possession After A Touchdown The fair catch kick rule states that, after a player has successfully made a fair catch or has been awarded a fair catch as the result of a penalty such as kick catch interference, their team can attempt a kick from the spot of the catch;[1][2] the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rulebook also allows a kick to be made if the down following the fair catch or awarded fair catch has to be replayed. "L.A.'s special teams cost win in Baltimore". [10][11] The opposing team can also return the kick if it does not go out of bounds. The fair catch kick is a rule at the professional and high school levels of American football that allows a team that has just made a fair catch to attempt a free kick[A] from the spot of the catch. (Oct. 6, 1969). There hasn’t been a successful fair catch kick in over 40 years. [1] Prior to the kick, the opposing team must be lined up at least ten yards beyond the spot of the ball. "Morton leads pro kings". from 1977 to '87", "Ray Wersching - kicking around for work", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Wersching&oldid=1000241325, Players of American football from California, NFL player missing current team parameter, Infobox NFL biography articles with old NFL.com URL, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 January 2021, at 08:04. (Nov. 3, 1958). [5] Wersching was eventually exonerated of the charges (while Locke served time in prison) but would lose his business as a result. It is also known as a “free kick field goal.” The defense is not able to block the kick, allowing the kicker to give the ball a lower trajectory than usual. [8][9] If the attempt fails, the opposing team is awarded control of the ball from the spot of the kick. Katz, Michael (Nov. 26, 1979). Undrafted after his career at Cerritos College and the University of California, Berkeley, Wersching was signed by the San Diego Chargers, where he played for four years. Sarah Thomas becomes the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl. A similar rule in rugby, the goal from mark, allowed a player who had fair caught a ball to attempt an uncontested free kick from the spot of the fair catch. When he retired, Wersching held 49ers records for points, field goals and extra points. The fair catch kick we just saw in Panthers-Bucs, explained. When he retired, Wersching held 49ers records for points, field goals and extra points. The most recent successful "fair catch kick" came on Nov. 21, 1976 when San Diego's Ray Wersching made a 45-yard attempt. "Colt 'free kick' no consequence". When the fair catch returned to the rulebook, however, the option to attempt a kick after the fair catch was removed. (Nov. 14, 1984). [3] He was a contestant on the original version of the game show High Rollers in 1975. "Vikings stay alive". The kick must be either a place kick or a drop kick, and if it passes over the crossbar and between the goalposts of the opposing team's goal, a field goal, worth three points, is awarded to the kicking team. This happens during a kickoff. Roberts, Ernie (Jan. 21, 1981). The record in … With one exception, all fair catch kick attempts were made within the last 30 seconds of either the 2nd or 4th quarter. … "Redskins tie 49ers, 17-17". [13] Despite this, reporters at both levels describe the fair catch kick as a free kick. The NFL does not keep a record of fair catch kick attempts, so the exact number of attempts is unknown. The kick has been executed 4 more times in the NFL; the last successful fair catch kick was performed on Nov. 21, 1976, by Ray Wersching of the … Wersching had a unique kicking style. The last time a free kick was used in the NFL was by Ray Wersching in 1976. like October 13, 2019 11:17 am. For example, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, known for his knowledge and utilization of obscure football rules, declined the opportunity to attempt a 75-yard fair catch kick at the end of Super Bowl LI; although kicker Stephen Gostkowski was able to kick the ball that far and the game was tied, Belichick felt the risk of a return touchdown by the opposing team off a failed kick outweighed the opportunity to score from the kick. 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