Onside Kick Instructions

The onside kick is a football strategy where a team gives its players the best possible chance of recovering its own kickoff. An onside kick can be attempted after a score -- either a touchdown, field goal or safety -- or at the start of either half. A legal onside kick has to travel 10 yards before being touched by the kicking team. The ball is usually kicked diagonally and as close to the kicking team as possible.

Instructions

    • 1

      Your kicker should act like he is going send the kickoff all the way to the far goal line.

    • 2

      Line up the rest of your team as if you are going to make a normal kick, too, so that the opposition is taken by surprise.

    • 3

      The kicker runs forward at the ball as his teammates stay even with him. He will slow down only in the last two steps.

    • 4

      Kick top of the ball so that it bounces down into the ground. Hit it forward at least 10 yards, at an angle of around 45 degrees, and follow through completely. Try to get the ball to bounce as early as possible so it is harder for opposing players to recover.

    • 5

      During an onside kick, the kicker acts as a safety in case the opposition recovers the ball. He hangs back and resists chasing the ball.