When the ball leaves the punter's foot, it is moving with a given      velocity depending upon how much  force he kicks the ball with.      The ball moves in two directions, horizontally and vertically.      Because the ball was launched at an angle, the velocity is divided      into two pieces: a horizontal component and a vertical component.      How fast the ball goes in the horizontal direction and how fast the      ball goes in the vertical direction depend upon the angle of the      kick. If the ball is kicked at a steep angle, then it will have more      velocity in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction --      the ball will go high, have a long hang-time, but travel a short      distance. But if the ball is kicked at a shallow angle, it will have      more velocity in the horizontal direction than in the vertical      direction -- the ball will not go very high, will have a short hang      -time, but will travel a far distance. The punter must decide on the      best angle in view of his field position. These same factors      influence a pass or field goal.                                                                                       NEXT