In gridiron football, an onside kick is a kickoff (under American and Canadian rules) or punt (under Canadian rules only) deliberately kicked short in an attempt by the kicking team to regain …

At certain times in a football game, one team may not want to kickoff the football deep to the other team -- opting instead for an onside kick. This gives the kicking team the opportunity to …

So, what is an onside kick in football? An onside kick is a high-risk, high-reward kickoff where the kicking team attempts to recover the kick by kicking the ball a short distance.

Jun 5, 2024 · An onside kick is a strategic maneuver usually called for when a team is trailing and needs to regain possession quickly—think of a late fourth-quarter gasp or last-ditch effort. The …

5 days ago · The onside kick was already extremely tough to pull off before the new rules and has since turned near-impossible. Fans react to league’s potential pivot “Stop changing traditions …

Sep 18, 2025 · An NFL onside kick is a short kickoff attempted by the kicking team to regain possession of the ball, typically as a last-ditch effort in the fourth quarter when a team is behind.

May 24, 2023 · An onside kick is a kickoff in which the kicking team intentionally kicks the ball a short distance, typically about 10 yards, in an attempt to regain possession.

Sep 21, 2025 · An onside kick is a type of kickoff in American football where the kicking team deliberately drives the ball a short distance, typically no more than 10-15 yards, with the …

Oct 25, 2024 · For an onside kick, the kicking team kicks the ball directly to the ground to make it bounce, so the ball doesn’t count as “airborne.” For that reason, you cannot invoke a fair catch …

Sep 4, 2025 · Here is how the NFL kickoff rules have evolved into what they are for the new season and beyond.