ORLANDO, Fla. — Kickoff returns are returning to the NFL.
Crew homeowners on Tuesday accepted a brand new rule that may take what primarily had turn out to be “a useless play” and make it an integral a part of the sport once more, an individual conversant in the choice advised The Related Press. The particular person spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity as a result of the league hasn’t introduced the change.
The most important overhaul to particular groups — which has been within the works for years — takes parts of the kickoff guidelines used within the XFL and tweaks them to be used within the NFL starting in 2024. The rule shall be in play for one season on a trial foundation after which be topic to renewal in 2025.
For the standard kickoff, the ball can be kicked from the 35-yard line with the ten kick protection gamers lined up on the opposing 40, with 5 on both sides of the sector.
The return group would have a minimum of 9 blockers lined up within the “arrange zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line, with a minimum of seven of these gamers touching the 35. There can be as much as two returners allowed contained in the 20.
Solely the kicker and two returners can be allowed to maneuver till the ball hits the bottom or was touched by a returner contained in the 20.
Any kick that reaches the tip zone within the air might be returned, or the receiving group can go for a touchback and possession on the 30. Any kick that reaches the tip zone within the air and goes out of bounds or out of the tip zone additionally would end in a touchback on the 30.
If a ball hits a returner or the bottom earlier than the tip zone and goes into the tip zone, a touchback can be on the 20 or the play might be returned. Any kick acquired within the area of play must be returned.
Beneath present guidelines, any touchback — or if a returner requires a good catch within the area of play — leads to the receiving group getting the ball at its 25.
“That is our probability to maintain particular groups within the sport,” NFL Competitors Committee chairman Wealthy McKay mentioned Monday, calling the present kickoff now a useless play. “Particular groups has been part of the sport perpetually. And, in case you lose the kickoff, in our thoughts, you actually just about eradicated particular groups and put it on a punt play.”
The proposal wanted 24 of 32 votes to move.
