What is an onside kick in football?

An onside kick in football is a play in which the kicking team attempts to recover the ball after kicking it to the receiving team. This type of kick is typically used in situations where the kicking team is trailing and needs to regain possession of the ball quickly.

To execute an onside kick, the kicking team lines up as if they were going to kick the ball deep down the field, but instead, the kicker kicks the ball in a shorter, low-trajectory manner, aiming for it to bounce off the ground and be recovered by one of their own players.

Onside kicks are typically higher risk plays as they are often unsuccessful and can give the receiving team favorable field position if they recover the ball. However, when successful, an onside kick can give the kicking team a chance to regain possession and potentially score points quickly.

In recent years, the rules surrounding onside kicks have been modified to reduce the risk of injury for players, making it more challenging for the kicking team to recover the ball.