It’s extremely rare that a fair catch kick will one day win you a game.

Some coaches aren’t even aware of the rule, but it exists at the high school and NFL levels of the sport.

Article 10.2.4(a) of the NFL rule book spells it out: “After a fair catch is made or is awarded as the result of fair catch interference, the receiving team has the option of putting the ball in play by … a fair-catch kick (drop kick or placekick without a tee) from the spot of the catch.”

The last time it was attempted in the NFL was in 2008. The last time it was successful was in 1976, when Ray Wersching lifted the San Diego Chargers the Buffalo Bills. Before that, it was Chicago in 1968 against Green Bay.

It’s a rare play.

But one worth rehearsing and one my teams practice every week.

In my second year as a head coach, I almost called for it, but we were just out of range. Still, it was important to have the team prepared for this scenario in the case you one day use it.

The video below is a good example of what needs to be covered with your team in order to pull it off. We’ll discuss each point.

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Obviously, the plan can’t unfold without the right conditions. You need pin your opponent deep and force a punt with time expiring or near to expiration.

This is the time to call a specific return call. We simply called it “fair catch for free kick.”

From a strategy standpoint, you still want at least one rusher in the case of a bad snap. You also should consider putting two returners back.

Through scouting and film study, you should have an idea of what type of punter the opposing team has and where to place the returners. Space them properly so at least one of them can get to the ball and make the fair catch. If the punter likes to kick it straight away, consider setting the returners deep and short.

After you have successfully executed the fair catch, now you have the opportunity to align for a free kick. The ball can be placed anywhere along the line of scrimmage, so your kicker does have the opportunity to line his kick up wherever he wants it. Use your kick-off unit to do this because the ball is live after the kick and can be returned by the opposing team.

In high school, the kicking team is allowed to use any legal tee, including the one for kick-offs. We always stress to not go offside. Because the distance they cover is less than a typical kick-off, we have them stay back and see the kick instead of trying to time it up to be as close to the line as possible. The “receiving team” must be at least 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, just like in a kick-off.

If you are on defense during this type of free kick, the important thing to remember is the ball is live. If for some reason it is short or shanked, the kicking team can recover and get the ball at the spot where they recovered it. Obviously, if there is time left on the clock, this is something you do not want to happen so be sure to recover all free kicks. Any ball caught or recovered in the end zone by the receiving team will be ruled a touchback in high school. If the ball goes through the uprights, it is worth the same as a field goal, 3 points.

If you find yourself on the punting end of this scenario, be absolutely sure your players do not interfere with the fair catch. If the team fair catching is interfered with, they will march off 15 yards and the fair catch is still awarded, which means they may attempt a free kick even if there is no time left.

You don’t want to make the kick any easier.

Keith Grabowski has been a football coach for 26 years, currently serving as an offensive assistant and technology coordinator at Oberlin College in Ohio. He previously was a head coach at the high school level for eight years and the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Baldwin Wallace University. Grabowski serves as an advisor for several sports technology companies. He is a columnist for American Football Monthly and writes his own blog at thecoachesedge.com/blog. He’s the author of “101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays” and five other books available on thecoachesedge.com and operates Coaches Edge Technologies. Follow him on Twitter @CoachKGrabowski.