American football / Rule 10
Fair catch
NFL · 2026In short
Protection when receiving a kick and the options after a fair catch.
Signal and protection
A receiver may signal a fair catch by extending one arm above the helmet and waving it sideways while the kick is airborne. A valid fair catch ends the play immediately: the receiver cannot run with the ball. Even without a signal, opponents must respect the opportunity to catch a catchable airborne kick.
Restart options
After a completed or awarded fair catch, the receiving team may restart with a snap or attempt a fair catch kick, using a drop kick or a place kick without a tee. Kick-catch or fair-catch interference normally costs 15 yards. If time expires on a completed fair catch, the period may be extended for the kick, not an ordinary snap.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Independent summaries of the supplied NFL 2026 rulebook; NCAA and IFAF rules may differ. The comparison covers standard 15-a-side rugby union.
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