What are the rules for recovering an onside kick?

What are the rules for recovering an onside kick?

General rules A player of the kicking team (at any kick, not just a free kick) who is “onside” may recover the ball and retain possession for his team. This includes the kicker himself and anyone else behind the ball at the time it was kicked, other than the holder for a place kick.

When can the kicking team recover an onside kick?

If the receiving team touches the ball prior to the ball traveling 10 yards, then an exception occurs. If this happens, the kicking team can recover the ball once a member of the receiving team touches the ball. The play can also be redone if there was a penalty that was committed before the play by the receiving team.

What percentage of onside kicks are recovered in college football?

23.8%
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.

How many onside kicks have been recovered this year?

Through 8 weeks in the 2021-2022 season, there have been 24 onside kicks, in comparison to year’s past: 2020 (32), 2019 (26) and 2018 (22).

Can you recover an onside kick before 10 yards?

The ball does not become live and legal for the kicking team to recover until it travels 10 yards downfield from the kickoff line or until it touches someone on the receiving team. Hands team members should not touch onside kick attempts that are short and clearly are not going to travel the required 10 yards.

Does an onside kick have to go 10 yards?

Under the rules of the onside kick, the ball has to travel at least 10 yards before the kicking team can recover it. Since Zuerlein kicked off from the 35-yard line, that means the Cowboys weren’t allowed to touch the ball until it reached the 45-yard line.

Can you return kickoffs in college football?

Every time the ball is kicked off, returners have three options – run it out, take a knee (if they’re in the end zone), or call for a fair catch. Why do teams call for a fair catch on a kickoff? In college football, calling for a fair catch will automatically start the drive on the 25-yard line.

How many onside kicks were successful in 2021?

Success of The Onside Kick As of this writing in 2021, 18.6% of attempted onside kicks have been recovered, making special teams plays even more interesting down the stretch.

Has anyone ever returned an onside kick?

The last time a player recovered an onside kick and returned it for a touchdown was December 19, 2010, when Indianapolis Colts linebacker Tyjuan Hagler did it against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Is recovering an onside kick considered a fumble recovery?

Once the ball is kicked it is then considered a live ball. Therefore, it is treated as a fumble until a player successfully recovers or the ball goes out of bounds.

Does onside kick have to touch ground?

Onside Kick Strategy The onside kick formation, on the other hand, puts players in the best position to recover the ball, but the receiving team will know the attempt is coming. The kicker will normally hit the ball directly into the ground with topspin to one side of the field.

What percentage of kickoffs are touchbacks?

Two points that need to be made. In 2020, the league set a record for touchback percentage at 61.2 percent. That means that three out of every five kickoffs resulted in a touchback. Compare this to 2003 when only 7.3 percent of all kickoffs resulted in a touchback.

What is a squib kick in football?

Definition of squib kick : a kickoff in football in which the ball bounces along the ground.