Why is it called an onside kick?

In rugby, while the forward pass is prohibited, a team in possession may legally kick the ball downfield and recapture possession, provided that the receiver of the kick was onside when the kick was made (i.e., abreast with or behind the kicker.)

What makes it an onside kick?

An onside kick in American football occurs when the kicking team purposely kicks the ball a short distance (usually kicking the ball directly into the ground to bounce) via the kickoff to the receiving team.

What is the difference between an onside kick and a regular kick?

Typically, onside kicks take place when the kicking team needs a score late in the game. A regular kickoff eliminates the possibility for a quick recovery of possession for the kicking team. The entire point of an onside kick is to receive another possession right after scoring.

When was the onside kick invented?

The first reference to an onside kick appears to have taken place before there was the SEC, which was founded in 1932. Vanderbilt, then a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, is credited with the first successful onside kick on Nov. 12, 1921.

Does onside kick have to go 10 yards?

If a kicking team member recovers the ball before it travels 10 yards, then a penalty will be called, and the receiving team will take possession of the ball. Once it travels beyond the 10 yards, the ball is free game -- up for members of either the kicking or receiving team to recover it.

Onside Kick

Can you drop kick an onside kick?

Justin Tucker's weird, rugby-style onside drop kick is now illegal in the NFL. That was short lived. although, What percent of onside kicks are successful? Onside kicks in 2018 were successful 6 percent of the time as opposed to 21 percent the year prior, though the rate recovered to 12.7 percent last season.

Can you recover your own punt?

Simply put, a punt is a scrimmage kick. Therefore, any member of the punt team is allowed to catch or recover a punt as long as it is behind the neutral zone, basically the line of scrimmage, and then advance that ball.

What is the point of a squib kick?

The Squib Kick objective

The objective of a squib kick is to prevent a good return by the opposing team. The kicker attempts a squib kick by kicking low and short, forcing anyone other than the two return specialists to place the ball.

How many times has an onside kick worked?

In 2017, teams recovered 12 of 57 onside kicks, a success rate of 21 percent; the Miami Dolphins alone recovered 4 of 5 onside kicks. In 2018, the first year after the kickoff rule changes, teams recovered 4 of 52 onside kick tries.

What is considered an onside kick in football?

The rules of football dictate that a fair catch can only be called while the ball is in the air, prior to its first contact with the ground. In the case of an onside kick, the kicker will kick the ball directly into the ground.

Does onside kick have to touch ground?

While any free kick is in flight in or beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line or any scrimmage kick is in flight beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line, K shall not touch the ball or R, unless blocked into the ball or R or to ward off a blocker, nor obstruct R's path to the ball.

Can you onside kick a safety punt?

Can a team attempt an onside kick as a safety kick? Yes. The rules are just the same as any free kick. The ball must travel 10 yards before being touched by the kicking team.

How many onside kicks are there in 2021?

So far in the 2021 NFL season, just six onside kicks have been recovered out of 39 attempts.

How many onside kicks were successful 2020?

This new rule was created in part due to a shortage of onside kicks recovered in 2020. During the 2020-2021 season, there were a total of 71 onside kicks attempted in the regular season, with only 3 of them being successful returns. This is a rate of success of just over 4% — the lowest in NFL history.

What is a pooch punt?

A quick kick made relatively close to the opposing goal line is often executed by a technique called a "pooch punt", which is a more controlled kick. A typical last down punt or a punt taken as a free kick is done with the emphasis mostly on maximizing distance.

Can a QB punt?

Called a “quick kick” in football parlance, the quarterback punt is designed for a specific situation to surprise the defense, usually on third down, but sometimes on a mid-to-long range fourth down after a bluff. There was a time several decades ago when the thrower would double as the kicker far more often.

Who invented the squib kick?

10. Squib Kick. The squib kick, like the "pooch kick" and the "onside kick," is another kicking variation that spices things up when the ball has to be kicked. Bill Walsh credits Mike Squib (now a kicking consultant for the San Diego Chargers) for creating the squib kick.

Can you punt twice in the NFL?

If you look at the NFL rulebook, there's a specific note within the kick from scrimmage section that should make this punt legal. To review and clarify from last night: 1. You CAN punt twice if the ball remained (and remains) behind the line of scrimmage after the first one.

What happens if a punt goes through the uprights?

It turns out that, after a punt or a kickoff that was fielded by fair catch, the team receiving the kick actually has two options: they can run a play from scrimmage (also known as “doing normal football things”) or they can attempt a type of free kick called a “fair catch kick.” If the kick goes through the uprights, ...

What is the longest punt in the NFL?

Broncos | This Day In NFL History. On September 21, 1969, Jets rookie punter Steve O'Neal booted the longest punt in NFL history--a 98-yard blast against the Broncos.

Can a quarterback kick a field goal?

Fair-Catch Kicks

The NFL also allows drop kicks under a rarely used rule that allows the receiving team of a kickoff or safety kick to attempt a field goal. After signaling for a fair catch, if the ball is caught before it hits the ground, the team may attempt a field goal from that spot on their next play.

Can you punt on a kickoff?

A dropkick, placekick, or punt may be used for a safety kick. A tee cannot be used for a safety kick.

Can you rugby kick in the NFL?

Justin Tucker's weird, rugby-style onside drop kick is now illegal in the NFL.

What percentage of onside kicks are recovered in college football?

Onside kicks are wonderful when they work, of course, but they also have a notoriously low success rate. According to data from the football think tank The 33rd Team, onside kicks were successfully recovered by the kicking team 23.8% of the time in college football games between 2014-2020.

Why do they punt after a safety?

Teams have utilized elective safeties to gain field position for a punt when pinned deep in their own territory and, when ahead near the end of a game, to run down the clock so as to deny the other team a chance to force a turnover or return a punt.