What is a punt in American football?
A punt in American football is a kick used to give the ball to the other team on purpose, usually on fourth down when a team does not think it can gain the yards it needs. Instead of trying to score or get a first down, the offense kicks the ball as far down the field as possible to push the opponent into a difficult starting position.
Why do teams punt?
Each offensive possession gives a team four attempts, called downs, to move the ball ten yards forward. If a team reaches fourth down and still has a long way to go, it faces a difficult choice: go for it and risk turning the ball over in a bad spot, attempt a field goal if close enough, or punt.
Punting is the safe option. By kicking the ball deep into the opponent’s half, the team makes sure that even if they give up possession, the other side has to drive a long way to score. Field position matters a great deal in football, and a good punt can swing the game.
How does a punt work?
A specialist called a punter lines up several yards behind the line of scrimmage. The center snaps the ball directly to him. The punter drops the ball and kicks it before it hits the ground. This is what separates a punt from other kicks: the ball is kicked out of the hand, not from a tee or off the ground.
The goal is to kick the ball as far as possible, ideally inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Getting the ball inside the 20 without it going into the end zone is considered a very good punt, because it forces the other team to start their drive with very little room to work with.
What happens after a punt?
The receiving team has a returner waiting downfield who can catch the ball and try to run it back toward the punting team’s end zone. A good return can quickly cancel out a strong punt and shift the field position back. The returner can also call a fair catch, which means he signals that he will not run and in exchange the covering players must give him space to catch the ball safely.
If the ball lands in the end zone and the returner does not bring it out, it is ruled a touchback and the receiving team starts their drive from their own 25-yard line.
Can a punt go wrong?
Yes. A blocked punt is one of the most dangerous plays in football. If the defense breaks through the line fast enough, they can get a hand on the ball before it is kicked. The kicking team can then recover the ball or the defense can pick it up and score, which makes it one of the highest-value special teams plays in the game.
A bad snap, a muffed catch by the returner, or a kick out of bounds can also all change the outcome and the field position battle.
Watch punts live in the AFLE
Special teams plays like the punt can decide games in ways that do not always show up in the box score. In the American Football League Europe, eight teams compete across two conferences in a full season of professional European football. Follow the action and see the strategy of the punt play out in real time at afle.com.
