The onside kick has been a staple of football for decades, but its usage has declined in recent years. With the NFL changing the rules around kickoffs to increase player safety, recovering an onside kick has become more difficult than ever before.
To discuss this topic further, we have brought together a panel of experts: former NFL kicker Jay Feely, current XFL special teams coordinator Tom Quinn, and sports journalist Jenny Vrentas.
Moderator: Let’s start with you, Jay. As a former kicker in the NFL, can you explain why it’s becoming harder to recover an onside kick?
Jay Feely: Absolutely. The biggest reason is that the NFL changed the kickoff rules in 2018 to promote player safety. One change was that they eliminated running starts for players covering kicks. This makes it harder for them to get downfield and make plays on the ball carrier.
Another change was that they required eight players from each team to be within 15 yards of where the ball is kicked until it’s received by someone on either team or goes out of bounds. That means there are fewer players available to block or tackle after an onside kick attempt.
Moderator: Tom, as someone who currently coaches special teams in the XFL, how do you approach teaching your players about executing an effective onside kick?
Tom Quinn: Well first off I think it’s important for everyone involved – not just my special teams unit but also our defense – to understand what kind of situation warrants attempting an onsides try. You don’t want to go for one too early and give your opponent good field position if you don’t convert.
When it comes specifically to kicking technique though there are different ways teams can approach it based on personnel and game situation. Some might opt for a “pop-up” style of kick where they try to get height and hope their coverage unit can swarm around whoever catches it while others may have a kicker who’s able to execute more of an “onside dribble” that bounces off the ground and makes it harder for defenders to recover.
It really comes down to being in sync as a unit, knowing your responsibilities and executing them correctly when you’re on the field.
Moderator: Jenny, how do fans feel about the decline in onside kick attempts?
Jenny Vrentas: There doesn’t seem to be a ton of widespread concern or outrage over it. It’s not like we’re seeing protests outside NFL headquarters demanding they bring back onside kicks. But I do think there are some fans who appreciate the strategy involved with attempting one and wish teams would go for them more often.
There was also some debate last year after the AAF (Alliance of American Football) experimented with a rule that allowed teams – if trailing by 17 points or more – to attempt an onsides conversion instead of kicking off. That led to some exciting moments and potential comebacks which I’m sure resonated with viewers at home.
Moderator: Jay, what can be done to make onside kicks more viable again?
Jay Feely: One idea is something that’s been discussed before which is allowing kicking teams more freedom in terms of running starts. If players were able to get up to full speed before the ball was kicked then that could help create more separation between themselves and blockers/tacklers from the return team.
Another option might be expanding what Tom mentioned earlier about alternate styles of onsides kicks. Maybe kickers could experiment with different approaches or techniques depending on field conditions or game situation, sorta like how baseball pitchers have different pitches they can use based on batter tendencies or count situations.
Ultimately though it may just come down to coaches being willing to take risks and try things out even if they don’t always work out perfectly every time. You don’t want football becoming too predictable or boring for fans after all.
Moderator: Tom, do you think there’s a chance the XFL could implement something like what the AAF tried last year and allow trailing teams to attempt onside kicks instead of kicking off?
Tom Quinn: I’m not sure if that’s something we’ve discussed yet as a league but it’s an interesting concept for sure. The idea of giving teams more opportunities to get back in the game is always appealing from an entertainment standpoint.
I will say though that even with our kickoff rules being different from the NFL – where players start closer together and can’t move until the returner catches the ball – we’re still seeing relatively few onsides attempts compared to traditional kickoffs. So maybe there are other factors at play besides just rule changes.
Moderator: Jenny, any final thoughts on this topic?
Jenny Vrentas: Just that I think it’s important for fans and stakeholders alike to remember that football is always evolving. Rules change, strategies change, personnel changes too. If onside kicks aren’t as common or successful now as they used to be then maybe something else will take their place down the road.
But regardless of how things shake out I think it’s good for people like us here today to have these conversations about what makes football exciting or interesting or worth tuning into week after week. So thanks again for having me!