At 6′ 10″, Morris Stroud is one of the tallest players in NFL history. He played his entire career on the Kansas City Chiefs. Stroud was so tall that he was used on special teams as a field goal blocker from under the goalposts. When the NFL decided to make goaltending illegal, it was known as the Stroud Rule. Let's learn all about goaltending and why it is a penalty in American football.
Goaltending in American football is defined as a player jumping and attempting to swat or deflect the other team's kick as it goes through the goal post. In some situations, if it was clear the ball was going through the posts, the referee will just count the field goal as good, similar to goaltending in basketball. Because it is an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the most likely situation is that the offense will gain 15 yards and an automatic first down. The offense then continues their drive. The field goal does not need to count if your offense can continue driving for a touchdown. Teams would rather try for seven points than settle for three. Worst case scenario, the offense can always try a shorter field goal later in the drive.
Penalty | NFL | NCAA | High School | CFL | AFL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goaltending | 15 yards and an automatic first down. Possible chance to count the field goal | N/A | N/A | N/A | 10 yards and an automatic first down |