He was the team's quarterback and also handled drop kicking responsibilities.
Drop kicks are also optional for a penalty kick to score a penalty goal.
Drop kicks are most importantly used as a method of restarting play and scoring points in rugby union and rugby league.
Drop kicks are optional for a conversion kick after a try has been scored.
Thorpe had a history of repeatedly drop kicking footballs through the uprights from midfield.
Such a kick is called a "drop kick" as distinguished from a "punt" where the ball is released from the hands and immediately kicked before touching the ground.
In a free kick his opponents may not come within ten yards of where the ball was caught and some member of his team may kick either a drop kick, punt or place kick as he sees fit.
I remember being extremely angry at the time because I was not looking at the side lines for any signals and had decided on a drop kick anyhow.
