When Can the Kicking Team Recover an NFL Onside Kick?

Sep 10

2 min read

Updated: Oct 10

The kicking team can legally touch and recover a live NFL onside kick after it reaches the receiving team’s restraining line or after a receiver touches it first. The usual distance between those restraining lines is ten yards.

Part of Football 101. Explore the guide to choose your next topic.

Grambling State lines up to attempt an onside kick against Prairie View A&M at the 2019 State Fair Classic in the Cotton Bowl.

On a kick from the kicking team’s 35, the receiving line is the kicking team’s 45, not midfield. A distance penalty can move the reference lines.

Ten yards is one route to eligibility

If nobody on the receiving team touches the ball, the kick must reach or cross that receiving line before the kicking team can legally touch it. If a receiver touches it at seven yards, a legally eligible kicking player can recover before ten.

That touch need not be a catch. A muff can change recovery eligibility without establishing possession. But a ball batted or illegally kicked into an opponent is not treated as that opponent’s voluntary touch for the onside provision.

Possession ends a kicking team recovery

A legal kicking team catch or recovery makes the ball dead. The recoverer cannot run for a touchdown. A receiving player who secures the ball may advance unless another dead ball condition applies.

An untouched attempt cannot continue indefinitely: crossing the far edge of the setup zone kills it and awards receiving possession with the specified penalty.

Early touching and the sideline

If the kicking team touches first before either recovery trigger, the receivers may choose a five yard penalty or possession at the illegal touch spot. A pile won by the kicking team does not erase the earlier touch.

A kicking player who has gone out during the kick also faces special touching restrictions. Returning inbounds is necessary but not always enough: after leaving, he cannot touch or recover beyond the receiving line until a receiver has touched first. Touching before reestablishing can make it a free kick out of bounds.

What to watch

Locate the two lines, follow the first touch, then identify who actually controls the live ball inbounds. Finally check whether blocking occurred legally. Recovery eligibility and permission to block are related, but they use different triggers and field areas.