How to Kick a Football for an Onside Kick

An onside kick is used in football when the kicking team wants to retain possession of the ball after a kickoff. The football must travel at least ten yards before a member of the kicking team can touch it, unless it is touched by a member of the other team first. Onside kicks are usually attempted near the end of a game, when the kicking team is behind and needs the ball back. It is occasionally attempted by surprise to catch the other team off-guard.

Things You'll Need

• Kicking Tee

Instructions

1. Line up for the onside kick. If you are attempting a surprise onside kick, line up similar to a normal kickoff. You can try to cheat a little bit away from the side where you will be kicking, but don't make it obvious. If the other team knows the onside kick is coming, you can angle away from the kicking side even more. Your approach should roughly line up with the sideline 12 yards downfield.

2. Start your approach. If it is a surprise onside kick, it should start as a normal five-step approach at normal speed. Slow down in the final two steps and angle yourself for the onside kick. If it is an expected onside kick, the approach can be slower. Some kickers prefer to use a three-step approach for an expected onside kick.

3. Kick the football down into the ground so that it bounces up into the air. Do this by making contact at the top of the football just below the point and driving into the turf. Because of the shape of the football, it should spring up into the air about 10 or 15 feet. If your alignment is correct, it will fly toward a spot about 12 yards down field near the sideline. Your teammates should be converging on this point trying to recover the football.

4. Follow through. Continue your kicking motion into the ground and in line with the direction of your onside kick. This is important to ensure the ball travels the way you want it to. Do not raise your head or shift the alignment of your body until your follow through is complete. When you do look up, take note of who has the ball. The kicker becomes a safety during an onside kick, since most of the other players are trying to get the ball. If the other team gets the ball and is running with it, you may need to make a tackle.

5. Adjust your onside kick depending on field conditions. A football bounces higher and travels farther on artificial turf. If the field is muddy and wet, the football will be heavy and bounce lower. It's a good idea to practice a few onside kicks before the game begins to help you make adjustments. If you have an unsuccessful onside kick in a game, figure out what went wrong so you are better prepared to kick another one.