Football 101: Punting

"When in doubt, punt."
-Knute Rockne, famous football coach and player

A punt is a kick which, unlike a field goal, does not touch the ground before it's kicked, and cannot score any points. It's a strategic tool meant to force the other team back deep into their own territory.

The punter catches the snap, then drops the ball and kicks it while it's still in the air. In American football once the punt goes over the line of scrimmage it has officially changed possession. A punt cannot be recovered by the kicking team (unless it accidentally bounces off a player of the receiving team first.)

About to punt.

Punting is an important strategic play used when the team with the ball is in a bad field position and is willing to sacrifice possession of the ball for better field position. You see this in rugby and in soccer as well. In soccer a fullback will sometimes clear the ball by kicking it as far as possible into the other team's territory as possible. Same basic concept with American football. If the team with the ball decides that they have too far to go to realistically advance the ball the needed yardage for a new first down, they will punt the ball away. Heck, if you're going to give the ball back to the other team anyway, you might as well have them start as far back as possible.

Punting is almost always done on fourth down, although a surprise punt on third down can be effective. Either way, a good punt can radically change a game.

For the other team (receiving the punt,) a punt is similar to a kickoff -- they goal is to catch the ball and try to run it back as far as they can before being downed.