Free Kick rule

[blushrts]

It was also more common when players were still wearing leather helmets. The ball was rounder back then and it was easier to do.

I remember when John Madden was still doing broadcasts, he often mentioned some obscure rule that he was always looking for an opportunity to use during a game but never found it. This may have been the one.

yeah, a rugby ball is considerably fatter and rounder than a football

 

[JAYBLAZE]

 

[JAYBLAZE]

 

[No_Fly_Zone]

Apparently, it does not exist in college football. The NCAA abolished the fair catch in 1950, then brought it back a year later. When the fair catch was added back into the rule book, the fair catch kick wasn't. At least that's what Wikipedia says. TIFWIW.