Hey there, I’m sure you’ve noticed onside kicks in NFL games and you’re probably wondering what all the hype is about. Well, I’m here to tell you all about it, so let’s get into it.
Onside kicks are football plays typically used when a team is trailing late in the game and needs a quick score to tie or take the lead. In an onside kick, instead of kicking the ball downfield as far as possible, the kicker kicks the ball a relatively short distance towards one side of the field. This gives the kicking team a chance to recover the ball and retain possession.
To give the kicking team the best chance of recovering the ball, the ball is kicked as low and as hard as possible towards one side of the field. The ball is allowed to travel ten yards before any of the opposing team can touch it, giving the kicking team time to swarm and recover the ball. If the kicking team recovers the ball before it has traveled ten yards, they retain possession and the play is considered successful.
In addition to kicking the ball low and hard, the kicker can also angle the ball towards the sidelines, giving the kicking team better positioning. This is known as a squib kick, and can help to limit the opponent’s ability to gain possession of the ball.
Another way the kicking team can improve their chances of recovering the ball is by using double team blocks. This means two players from the kicking team block the same player, giving them an extra blocker and therefore giving them an advantage. However, double team blocks can be very risky as they can easily be called for a penalty.
And finally, the players on the kicking team must be well-positioned when the ball is kicked. They must also be aware of how far the ball has traveled when they attempt to recover it. If the ball has traveled beyond ten yards, any attempts to recover it will be in vain, and the receiving team will take over possession of the ball.
So, that’s how onside kicks work in the NFL! It’s a risky play for the kicking team but with the right kicker, good blocking, and strategic positioning, an onside kick may be the difference between winning and losing a game.