what is a drop kick in football

A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of football, including American football and rugby. In American football, a drop kick involves a player dropping the ball and then kicking it as it touches the ground. Drop kicks are used as a method of restarting play and can be used for field goals, extra points, and fair-catch kicks. According to the NFL rulebook, a drop kick is a kick that is made as, or immediately after, a dropped ball has hit the ground. Although they are rarely employed in the modern game, drop kicks are technically still allowed to be used for punts, kickoffs, and extra point attempts. In rugby union, a drop kick is used for the kick-off and restarts and to score a drop goal (sometimes called a field goal). The drop kick was often used in early football as a surprise tactic, but it has fallen out of favor as a result of the greater accuracy and distance of other kicks.