Fair catch the ball touches the ground. A fair catch may be followed by a snap or a type of free kick — the fair catch kick — at his team's choice, and an expired playing period may be extended if the free kick is chosen. The NCAA abolished the fair catch from its version of American football in 1950, but restored it in 1951, minus the option of kicking from the mark of the catch, which is retained in rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations and the National Football League. If the kicking team commits kick catching
Comparison of American football and rugby union dimensions of rugby union fields can vary up to a maximum size that is larger than the fixed size of American football fields. Rugby union fields are limited to a maximum length of long ( between goal lines) and width of , while American football fields have a fixed length of ( between goal lines) and a width of . The scoring "end zone" in American football has a fixed depth of whilst in Rugby Union the goal area must be between a minimum depth of and a maximum of between the goal line and the dead ball line at