A kickoff starts every football game, opens the second half and follows each scoring drive, signaling a change of possession. The kicking team typically opts to drive the ball high and deep into the opposition's end of the field. The ball must stay in the air long enough to give defenders a chance to run down the field and tackle the player who catches the ball before he can gain too much yardage. Teams employ a number of kickoff techniques to limit the opposition's ability to orchestrate an effective return.
The Kick
On kickoffs, the kicker attempts to strike the ball with power, launching it as high and far as possible. Everyone on the kickoff team must be in perfect timing with the kicker, since no one is allowed to advance ahead of the ball. The kicker will typically line up about 10 yards behind the ball and roughly five yards to the side opposite his kicking leg. This extra space provides enough room to approach the ball with speed and to generate power. The kicker will take long strides to the ball and strike it just below center, swinging his leg in a fluid, arcing motion. The follow-through should lift the kicker completely off the ground, allowing him to land on his kicking foot.
Directional
Kickers often sacrifice accuracy for power on kickoffs, yet being able to kick to a specific area of the field can be invaluable for coverage teams. Instead of kicking the ball down the middle of the field, the kicker will attempt to pin the receiving team to the left or right sideline. The technique of directional kicking helps the kickoff team focus its attention to one half of the field, limiting the receiving team's return options. Directional kicking does come with a risk. If the kicker boots the ball out of bounds, the receiving team takes possession 30 yards from the spot of the kick, according to National Football League rules.
Fast Break
While the kicker approaches the ball, most kickoff teams opt to merely run in straight lines, timing their arrival with the kick of the ball and then streaking down the field to fill gaps and attack blockers. However, some kickoff teams favor a technique called the fast break, which sees the players bunching up in a huddle behind the kicker. Just before the ball is kicked, the players break free from the huddle and race down field. Huddling helps disguise the kickoff coverage and doesn't give the receiving team a chance to recognize blocking assignments.
Onside Kick
An onside kick is a trick play that gives the kicking team a chance to steal possession. Once the ball travels 10 yards, the kicking team can recover it and claim possession whether or not it touches an opposing player. Teams will often overload to one side of the kicker, increasing their chances of recovering the short, bouncing kick. The surprise onside kick is the better technique. The kickoff team takes a regular alignment only to have the kicker dribble the ball straight forward or weakly to one side.
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