fair catch
No-return punt reception
A fair catch is a football play where a punt returner signals (by waving one arm overhead) that he will not advance the ball after catching it.
In exchange, defenders cannot tackle him.
The play stops where he catches it.
A fair catch is often the safest option when defenders are closing in too quickly to risk a return.
- returnerOne who comes back
- ball carrierPlayer with the football
- puntKick before landing
- special teamsKick and return squads
- referee signalsStandardized officiating motions
gunner · receiver · unimpeded · rush · end zone · kickoff · protection · neutral zone · signal · tackle · no return · safety · blocking · back · bobble · football · sideline · hash marks
- footballfootball, touchdown, field goal, quarterback, end zone
- football rulesdowns, first down, first downs, touchdowns, field goals
- special teamskickoff, punt, field goal, extra point, punter
- game callsfoul, offsides, offside, traveling, travel
- football officiatingreferee, penalty flag, yellow flag, false start, offside
- football returnspunt return, kickoff return
fair catchpunt return
Advancing a caught kick
kickoff return · runback · return · advancing the ball · house call
fair catchfumble
Handle with clumsy fingers
turnover · muff · dropped ball · touchback
fair, catch, unfair, fairness, fairly, catching, caught, unfairly, unfairness