Normal kickoffs will proceed to start out on the 35-yard line however the remainder of the set-up appears to be like fairly completely different, involving an space known as the “touchdown zone” between the receiving staff’s finish zone and 20-yard line. You might need seen this zone highlighted by a rectangle in preseason broadcasts.
The ten gamers on the kicking staff will line up on the receiving staff’s 40-yard line and can’t transfer till the ball hits a participant or the bottom within the touchdown zone or the top zone.
The returning staff can have a most of two returners wherever within the touchdown zone, whereas at the very least 9 gamers line up between their 30- and 35-yard strains (or the “setup zone”) with at the very least seven gamers touching the 35. Solely the kickers and two returners can transfer till the ball hits a participant or the bottom within the touchdown zone or the top zone.
By bringing groups nearer collectively at first and limiting their motion, gamers have much less area and pace for high-force collisions which have plagued the league previously.
Listed below are the important thing modifications to touchbacks and returns:
If the ball reaches the top zone within the air, the receiving staff can return it or go for a touchback and possession on the 30.
If the ball hits the touchdown zone after which goes into the top zone, the receiving staff can return it or go for a touchback and possession on the 20.
Any kick that hits the touchdown zone (however doesn’t go into the top zone) have to be returned.
Any kick out of bounds or wanting the touchdown zone locations the ball on the 40.
This might incentivize groups to kick the ball simply wanting the top zone, forcing a return and creating extra room for an thrilling play. However kickers would possibly nonetheless kick the ball deep to place it on the 30, though it offers the receiving staff a greater beginning place than in earlier seasons.
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