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Message: <blockquote data-quote="smartcooky" data-source="post: 347300" data-attributes="member: 20605">OK, here is the definitive answer (thanks to OB of the referees forum for the dates of the changes)Prior to 1992, all kick-offs and restarts were place kicks, except a restart after an unconverted try, which was a drop kick.* In 1992, this was changed to place kicks for the kick-off and the restart after half time, and drop kicks after all scores.In 2002, the place-kick was abandoned altogether and drop-kicks were used for all kick-offs and restarts.There were a few reasons for changing the type of kick.1. It was at about this time that the practice of bringing on buckets of sand to make a mound was started. This wasted a lot of time. 2. Also, in order to protect playing surfaces, kicking tees were introduced. Fine for shots at goal, but at kickoff time, the kicking tee remained on the ground unless someone took responsibility for removing it.3. The kicking tees were becoming very tall in order to allow the kicker to get a lot of height on the ball. * steamdonkey, sometimes a "stupid question" isn't a stupid question at all, and in researching the answer, you come across a whole raft of fascinating information. This question is no different. There is a interesting story behind the reasons why a drop-kick was used after an unconverted try. It relates to the historical "punt out" which what was done back in the 1800's when a try was scored. Originally, there were no points awarded for a "try". In fact, the act of touching the ball down in the in-goal is called a "try" because it allowed the attacking team "try-at-goal". The practice was that when a try was made, the attacking team would "punt out" from the point where the try was scored, to a team-mate who could mark the ball. (in those days, a mark could be taken anywhere in the field from a kick by either side, an aspect of the game that still survives in Aussie Rules and may be re-introduced back into Gaelic Football). That player would then take a place kick at goal.The catch with this was that if the "try-at-goal" missed, the ball was "live" and play continued. If the attacking team were able to get possession they could make another try, and have another punt out. If the try at goal was successful. the defending team restarted from half way with a place kick.This ended up with teams being stuck for long periods on defence, so they changed the procedure after an unsuccessful try-at-goal to a restart with a punt-out on half-way (later changed to a drop kick). Of course the "try-at-goal" has become what we call a "conversion" and  the taking of the punt-out" from where the try was made has also  survived in the fact that the conversion is taken along a line parallel  to the touch line, opposite where he try was awarded.And so began the tradition of drop kicking the restart after an unconverted try and place-kicking everything else; a tradition that remained for over 100 years before it was changed in 1992.</blockquote>

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