Maximizing the kicking angle.

Look up the official dimensions for a regulation NCAA football field. Try googling something like "NCAA football field dimensions." You should be able to find a page at the NCAA's web site, www.ncaa.org (some other sites also exist.)

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Adjust the sliders to reflect the actual width of the goal posts, and the locations of the hash marks. Notice that the units are in feet. When you're thinking about the spot of the ball, you'll want to think of "yard lines." Then slide the spot of the ball back and forth, looking for the greatest value of the angle, alpha.

Dave Matthews, March 21, 2007, Created with GeoGebra