Returning a missed (or blocked?) field goal attempt

[The Old School JPS]

I saw where today the San Diego Chargers put a guy back on a long FG attempt by their opponent. The kick came up short and the Chargers' player caught the ball and ran it back 109 yards for a touchdown.

A few questions about this:

1) Is this the rule in the NFL, NCAA, high school football and the CFL?

2) Does the CFL have some twist on this rule, perhaps that even a successful field goal can be returned for points or something like that?

3) Could a drop kicked field goal attempt be returned just the same?

4) Does this rule apply also on extra point attempts, where one that was shanked or came up short or otherwise missed could be returned by the defense for two points?

5) Must the missed field goal be caught on the fly, or can it hit the ground first and then be fielded and run back?

6) If the missed field goal attempt hits the uprights or crossbar and misses can it still be run back for points?

[gerntz]

I saw where today the San Diego Chargers put a guy back on a long FG attempt by their opponent. The kick came up short and the Chargers' player caught the ball and ran it back 109 yards for a touchdown.

A few questions about this:

1) Is this the rule in the NFL, NCAA, high school football and the CFL?

2) Does the CFL have some twist on this rule, perhaps that even a successful field goal can be returned for points or something like that?

3) Could a drop kicked field goal attempt be returned just the same?

4) Does this rule apply also on extra point attempts, where one that was shanked or came up short or otherwise missed could be returned by the defense for two points?

5) Must the missed field goal be caught on the fly, or can it hit the ground first and then be fielded and run back?

6) If the missed field goal attempt hits the uprights or crossbar and misses can it still be run back for points?

Excluding the CFL, 1 - yes except HS may say that if the ball crosses the goal line that it's a TB, 3- yes, 4- ? 5- it can hit ground because blocked FG's can be returned, 6 - yes.

Returning failed FG attempts used to occur several/many times per season in the NFL when the goal posts were on the goal line such that misses were frequently in the endzone or even in the field of play. Forget when they moved the goal posts back but I'd say in the 70's as they were on the GL in the 60's.

Also with the GP's on the GL, punts from deep in your own territory at the end of first half were fair caught & free kick FG's were attempted if fair caught on your own 45 or so or closer to the kicking team's goal.

[lighthouse]

I saw where today the San Diego Chargers put a guy back on a long FG attempt by their opponent. The kick came up short and the Chargers' player caught the ball and ran it back 109 yards for a touchdown.

A few questions about this:

1) Is this the rule in the NFL, NCAA, high school football and the CFL?

2) Does the CFL have some twist on this rule, perhaps that even a successful field goal can be returned for points or something like that?

3) Could a drop kicked field goal attempt be returned just the same?

4) Does this rule apply also on extra point attempts, where one that was shanked or came up short or otherwise missed could be returned by the defense for two points?

5) Must the missed field goal be caught on the fly, or can it hit the ground first and then be fielded and run back?

6) If the missed field goal attempt hits the uprights or crossbar and misses can it still be run back for points?

Sorry this has taken so long but my contact forgot to call me back.

In the NCAA, a missed field goal that is ungrounded, can be returned for a TD. If it hits the ground, it's dead. If it hits anything, it's dead.

In HS, a missed FG try is dead either way.

[The Old School JPS]

Thanks again, both of you.

1974 was the first NFL season with goal posts moved to the back of the end zone, I think.

I'll try to find the CFL rule somewhere; my recollection is that it allows more action in these situations than American rules.