Ball Position on Try

[TxSkyBolt]

Generally, rules are there for a purpose.  What is the purpose of allowing the kicking team to put the ball between the hash marks on or behind the opponent’s three-yard line?

Best regards,

Brad

[Atlanta Blue]

Well, anywhere BETWEEN the hashes is easy - teams trying a scrimmage play often want a wide side of the field.

As for anywhere BEHIND the three yard line - I can only guess it's for kickers.  A kick from slightly farther back is actually easier from one that is too close, because of the lift angle needed on the kick.  But in reality, the difference isn't THAT great, it's just a mental thing.

But when was the last time you saw a team request the ball farther back than the three yard line? 

[RedTD]

Could also be field conditions at the spot of the kick. Back when the game was played on "real grass" the spot of the try got pretty chewed up near the end of the season (and on some fields the beginning of the season).  Just a guess on my part.

[TxSkyBolt]

That's the only thing I could come up with Red.  Perhaps it's a hold over from long, long ago.  I think Mike Wise has a history book on the game and it's rules, wonder if it's in there.

Best regards,

Brad

[JasonTX]

If I'm not mistaken, I am thinking that this was a change in the rules within the last 10 years.  I don't think this was a "hold over" rule.  I seem to recall this same discussion when it was added to allow teams to move further back.

[El Macman]

If I'm not mistaken, I am thinking that this was a change in the rules within the last 10 years.  I don't think this was a "hold over" rule.  I seem to recall this same discussion when it was added to allow teams to move further back.

Sorry. This rule goes back to at least 1972. That's the oldest book I have, and it is there. Probably a lot older than that.

[jg-me]

From what I can gather the original rule for 'Try for point' (1922) was written so that the ball could not be placed less than five yards from the GL but it could be a greater distance if so desired. It seems this was so the kicker could have the ball placed at his most comfortable distance (as long as the ball was no closer than 5 yards from the GL). Although the yard-line has been changed a couple times, I could not find anywhere that language allowing the ball to be placed behind the minimum yard-line was eliminated.
  FYI, in 1924 the try moved from the five to the three. In 1929 it moved again, this time to the two. The biggest change to the try rule came in 1958 when the 2-point conversion was added and the try went back to the three. This rule change also brought about the one point safety possibility during a try.

[Osric Pureheart]

So that's why the NFL goes from B's 2, because they split the books while it was the 2 and never changed it back.

[JasonTX]

Sorry. This rule goes back to at least 1972. That's the oldest book I have, and it is there. Probably a lot older than that.

That's not the first time I have been mistaken.