When this subject came up on the radio I had no idea formed on the subject. My interest was peaked however so I asked Jay if he could get on the internet and find the definition of an onsides kick. The hour was over, enough said.

I have been researching this for the last few days; I do not think we will EVER see a backwards kick. I have also come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as an onsides kick. It may be a term in the NFL but not the NCAA, it is not found in the rule book. What we know as the onside kick is nothing more than the name of a play that squeezes the limits of the term “free kick.”

A “free kick” is defined by the kicking team’s restraining line and the receiving team’s restraining line 10 yards down field. The kicking team cannot touch the ball till it crosses the plane of the receiving teams restraining line.

There are exceptions but the main rules shows that until the ball has crossed the receiving teams restraining line it is illegal for the kicking team to even block access to the ball. The only reason you see the kicking team block receiving players from access to the free ball –before it crosses the restraining line- is because they would rather get a “illegal blocking” penalty than allow the receiving team access to their free kick.

The very term free kick has to do with one team getting the ball for free. A backwards kick goes against this rule that says” A ball from a free kick formation must be kicked legally”

There was talk about the kicking team huddling to prevent access to the ball. Until the ball goes beyond the opponents restraining line this would be considered blocking.

Here is the real reason you will never see a backwards kick. “If a free kick comes to rest inbounds and no player attempts to secure it, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the receiving team at the dead-ball spot.”

If I was able to prepare a team for this sort of play and it actually happened in a game (opponent kicked the ball backwards) I would have my players turn and face the other way. Since the kicking team can’t touch the ball and my team made no attempt to secure it, the ball is dead. We take over on downs kick a field goal and win.

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