Expert: Vic Winnek - 11/21/2011

Question
what determines when a field goal attempt is good when the ball goes directly over the top of the goal post.  does a certain part have to be over and that makes it good or does all of the ball have to be clear of the post?

Answer
Jason
Under NCAA rules for a Field Goal to be good, the ball must travel between the uprights and over the cross bar of the goal post.  The key is "between" the uprights or the upright extended. Said another way: the ball must travel inside the upright, not over the upright or outside of it, but over the crossbar, between the uprights The Uprights.  Therefore the entire ball must be between the uprights.  To answer your question, all of the ball has to be clear of the post and inside the uprights [or between them].

When the kick is high and above the upright pole, the upward plane of the upright pole is extended straight up as if the pole itself was at that height.  Therefore the ball must travel inside the upright and upright pole extended.  This is different from the NFL rule.  I believe the NFL rule requires part of the ball to travel on the inside edge off the upright. So under NCAA rules if the scrimmage kicked ball travels over the upright it is not a field goal, but under NFL rules it would be a field goal if part of the ball was inside the upright plane.  

As you know the points scored for a field Goal is 3 points and a 1 point if it is a field goal on a Try/PAT (point after Touchdown).

Here is the actual rule - Rule 8-4-1(a)and(b):
A field goal shall be scored for the kicking team if a drop kick or place kick passes over the crossbar between the uprights of the receiving team’s goal before it touches a player of the kicking team or the ground. The kick shall be a scrimmage kick but may not be a free kick.

If a legal field goal attempt passes over the crossbar between the uprights and is dead beyond the end line or is blown back but does not return over the crossbar and is dead anywhere, it shall score a field goal. The crossbar and uprights are treated as a line, not a plane, in determining forward progress of the ball.

Here is the rule regarding the Goal post itself- Rule 1-2-5
Each goal shall consist of two white or yellow uprights extending at least 30 feet above the ground with a connecting white or yellow horizontal crossbar, the top of which is 10 feet above the ground. The inside of the uprights and crossbar shall be in the same vertical plane as the inside edge of the end line. Each goal is out of bounds  
Above the crossbar, the uprights shall be white or yellow and 18 feet, six inches apart inside to inside.
The designated uprights and crossbar shall be free of decorative material (Exception: 4-inch-by-42-inch orange or red wind directional streamers at the top of the uprights are permitted).
The height of the crossbar shall be measured from the top of each end of the crossbar to the ground directly below.
Goal posts shall be padded with resilient material from the ground to a height of at least six feet. Advertising is prohibited on the goals. One manufacturer’s logo or trademark is permitted on each goal post pad. Institutional and conference logos are allowed.
The home team is responsible for the availability of a portable goal if original goals are removed during the game for any reason.

The phrase "The inside of the uprights and crossbar shall be in the same vertical plane as the inside edge of the end line" is the area or plane in which the ball must travel for a score.