In the game of football, a return comes in several forms, including a kickoff, punt, fumble and interception, and always involves a player attempting to advance the ball closer to the opposing team’s goal line. Returns always happen when possession of the ball has changed hands, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally.
Kickoff Return
A kickoff involves a player kicking the ball off a tee. Kickoffs occur at the beginning of and immediately following halftime during a football game. They also take place following each score during the game. A kickoff return takes place when a player on the receiving team catches the ball and attempts to return the ball as close to the opposing team’s goal line as possible. As the kick returner attempts to advance the ball, teammates block would-be tacklers, attempting to open gaps for the ball carrier to achieve his objective.
Punt Return
Punts take place when an offensive unit opts to relinquish possession of the ball after three failed attempts to gain a first down. From a spot about 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage, a punter kicks the ball from his own hands toward the opponent’s goal line. Similar to a kickoff return, a punt returner then catches the ball and attempts to return the punt as close to the punting team’s goal line as possible. The punt returner is not obligated to return the ball on a punt. He can opt to perform what’s known as a “fair catch,” after which his team receives possession of the ball at the spot the catch is made.
Interception and Fumble Returns
An interception return occurs when a forward pass by an offensive player, such as the quarterback, is caught by a player from the defensive unit, who returns the intercepted pass as far as possible without being tackled. A fumble involves a ball carrier losing grip on the ball and releasing it into the air or dropping it onto the ground, where the ball is up for grabs. A fumble return takes place when a player from the defensive unit grabs hold of a fumbled ball while on his feet and attempts to return the ball toward the opposing team’s goal line.
Considerations
Following a safety, a situation in which the offensive unit’s ball carrier is tackled in his own end zone, the defensive unit gets possession of the ball following what’s known as a “free kick.” This kick is performed like a punt, but from a kickoff formation. This type of kick return is the same as a kickoff return. If an offensive player gains possession of a teammate’s fumble and advances the ball, it is not called a fumble return. Returns can only take place when the ball is being returned in the opposite direction as the result of a kick, punt, fumble or interception.
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