Fair catch A fair catch is a feature of American football and several other codes of football , in which a player attempting to catch a ball kicked by the opposing team – either on a kickoff or punt – is entitled to catch the ball without interference from any member of the kicking team . A ball caught in this manner becomes dead once caught , i . e . , the player catching the ball is not entitled to run with the ball in an attempt to gain yardage , and the receiving team begins their drive at the spot where the ball was caught . A player wishing to make a fair catch signals his intent by extending one arm above his head and waving it while the kicked ball is in flight . The primary reason for the fair catch rule is to protect the receiver . A receiver directs his attention toward the incoming punt and cannot focus on the defenders running towards him . He is quite vulnerable to injury and is also at risk for fumbling the kick if the punter intentionally makes a high short kick to allow defenders time to hit the receiver . The XFL removed the fair catch rule in an effort to make the game more " extreme . " Canadian football and Arena football also do not have fair catch rules , with XFL and CFL preferring a five yard " no - yards " rule instead . In rugby union and Australian rules football , a loose equivalent to a fair catch is called a " mark " ; see mark ( rugby ) and mark ( Australian football ) for more information . Fair catches featured in some extinct forms of football , and they have been abolished in other modern codes . American football . In American football , a member of the team receiving a punt or kick , may signal for a " fair catch " . To signal fair catch the receiver must raise one arm fully above his head and wave it side to side while the ball is in flight . After the signal is made , no opponent may interfere with the fair catcher , the ball or his path to the ball , and the receiver may not attempt to advance the ball . If the receiver fails to give a proper signal ( arm not fully extended ) the receiving team is penalized five yards for an invalid fair catch signal , marked from the spot of the signal . It is also illegal for the offense to signal a fair catch from an on - sides kick . The offending team is charged with a 5 yard penalty . A player signaling for a fair catch is not required to catch the ball ; however , after making the signal , he may not initiate contact with any member of the kicking team until the ball is touched by another player . If he does he will be penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct . If the ball hits the ground or a member of the kicking team , the fair catch signal is off and rules for kicked balls apply . If the receiver " muffs " the ball ( touches it , but then fails to field it cleanly ) , then the ball can be recovered by the kicking team once the ball touches the ground . A " personal foul " for kick catch interference and a 15 yard penalty is called against the kicking team if a member violates the fair catcher ' s right to the ball . If the interference is deemed flagrant , the kicking team member can be ejected from the game . If the receiver attempts to advance the ball after signalling for a fair catch he is penalized five yards for " delay of game " . A fair catch may be followed by a snap or a type of free kick — the fair catch kick — at his team ' s choice , and an expired playing period may be extended if the free kick is chosen . The National Collegiate Athletic Association ( USA ) abolished the fair catch from its version of American football in 1950 , but restored it in 1951 , minus the option of kicking from the mark of the catch , which is retained in rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations and of the National Football League . The fair catch signal can be used as a legal form of deception : If the receiver has no intention of actually fielding the ball , but wishes it to roll into the end zone for a touchback , he may signal for a fair catch in front of where the ball will land , making the kicking team think it will not reach the end zone . Other games . Various forms of football descended from certain English school football games of the 19th century have had a fair catch . It was abolished early in the development of soccer , then in the middle of the 20th century by Canadian football , and slightly later by rugby league . Forms of football retaining a form of fair catch ( also called " mark " ) include American ( outdoor ) , rugby union , and Australian rules . The American - invented intramural games speedball and speed - a - way have some of the flavor of the original fair catch , which was to allow handling of the ball in games where handling was otherwise forbidden . Australian rules , speedball , and speed - a - way do not require that the kick be from an opponent . American football requires that the catcher signal in advance , as did Canadian football before that game abolished the fair catch . Rugby union requires a player to signal a fair catch by catching the ball and shouting " Mark ! " . In some forms of football a player fielding an opponent ' s kick must be given a certain circular unobstructed space around him in which to do so by either some or all opponents . In rugby union , rugby league , and Canadian football this applies only against members of the kicking team who are offside , and applies whether the ball is in the air , bouncing , or rolling . In Arena Football , there is no fair catch ; however all members of the kicking team must refrain from penetrating the five - yard line in coverage , but only while the ball is in the air . The various games differ as to the conditions under which a fair catch will be awarded — for example , whether the ball must be caught " cleanly " , i . e . without juggling . Rugby union requires a clean catch . American football allows the ball to be juggled , but not to be intentionally batted forward to improve the position of the catch ( as for a free kick at goal ) . Australian rules is most generous , allowing unlimited hand play with the ball before it is caught , and allowing the kick to be from any other player , regardless of team ( however , the ball must have travelled 15 metres ) and the ball can even be dropped so long as the player was deemed to have sufficient control of its fall . In the 19th century in rugby and into the 20th in American and Canadian football , a fair catch was allowed from certain kicks of a teammate - - a punt - out or punt - on . Until very late in the 20th century in rugby union , a fair catch was allowed from an opponent ' s throw - forward ( knock - on ) .