NFL house owners voted to approve adjustments to the league’s kickoff construction for the 2024 season at their annual assembly in Orlando, Florida, introducing a system that they hope will produce extra returns.
The league introduced the change Tuesday, saying the brand new construction would resemble a scrimmage-style kickoff “by aligning gamers on each groups nearer collectively and proscribing motion to cut back house and pace.”
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 all sides of the sector.
The return group may have at the least 9 blockers lined up within the “arrange zone” between the 30- and 35-yard strains, with at the least seven of these gamers touching the 35. As much as two returners can be allowed contained in the 20.
Solely the kicker and two returners can be allowed to maneuver till the balls hit the bottom or is touched by a returner contained in the 20.
Due to the decreased house and time, gamers will not be going at full operating pace and are much less prone to incur critical accidents once they collide with their opponents.
It is a one-year rule change, and it may be modified, saved or discarded by the beginning of the 2025 season. The fashion originated within the XFL, a competing skilled soccer league, and it has resulted in additional returns.
As scrutiny round participant security and concussions has elevated lately, the NFL has made quite a few adjustments to attempt to cut back accidents on the sector. The league mentioned in February that concussions sustained throughout kickoffs dropped however that the variety of returns had additionally decreased.
Based on ESPN, greater than 90% of kicks had been returned throughout two seasons of the XFL following the brand new fashion’s adoption.
League officers mentioned they do not need to get rid of kickoff returns, that are an thrilling component of the sport. Jeff Miller, the NFL’s govt vp overseeing well being and security, mentioned in February it was necessary to design a method of play that preserves the return charge with out compromising on participant security.
“I feel we share the identical perspective because the committee, which is to say that is the purpose,” Miller mentioned. “And we need to make that an thrilling, enjoyable play … and but extract the items of that play that present essentially the most danger.”
The kickoff change was adopted amongst different guidelines, together with a ban on hip-drop tackles. Gamers who use the swivel approach will danger incurring fines whereas their groups are hit with 15-yard penalties.