The drastic adjustments to the NFL’s kickoff caught the eye of former President Donald Trump on Friday, as he blasted the change in a put up on Reality Social.
“I can’t believe the NFL is effectively getting rid of the always exciting Kick Off Return. Such an exciting part of football. What are they doing? BEGINNING OF THE END!” Trump wrote.
The NFL’s new kickoff rule has dramatically modified the operate and aesthetic from what old style followers are used to, inflicting some confusion early within the season.
The new guidelines have modified the alignment of each groups, whereas additionally incorporating numerous zones that play a key function in what gamers are allowed to do.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders gamers line up for the kickoff within the second half of the preseason recreation at U.S. Financial institution Stadium on August 10, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The NFL is debuting a brand new rule on kickoffs this season. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Photos)
Now, all kicking crew gamers should line up with a foot on the receiving crew’s 40-yard line, in comparison with once they needed to line up all the best way again at their very own 35-yard line. The kicking crew’s gamers should additionally wait till the ball hits the bottom or the participant is within the “landing zone” or finish zone to begin working. The “landing zone” is from the receiving crew’s 20-yard line to the aim line.
In the meantime, the receiving crew has a chosen “setup zone” which is a five-yard space from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line, the place not less than 9 gamers should line up going through the kicking crew.
JETS’ AARON RODGERS HAS LOFTY EXPECTATIONS AHEAD OF RETURN TO GAME ACTION: ‘I EXPECT GREATNESS’
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Inexperienced Bay Packers line up for the opening kickoff at Area Corinthians on September 06, 2024, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Wagner Meier/Getty Photos)
There, not less than seven of these 9 gamers will need to have a foot on the 35-yard line. These not on the 35-yard line will must be within the setup zone outdoors the hash marks. Moreover, just like the kicking crew, the receiving crew gamers can not transfer till the kick has hit the bottom or a participant within the touchdown zone or the tip zone.
The aim of the adjustments was to scale back the chance of accidents, because the kickoff has historically been probably the most harmful play in soccer whereas additionally encouraging extra returns. The earlier rule concerned gamers working at each other at excessive speeds from lengthy distances, leading to frequent high-speed collisions.
Kickoff guidelines have been adjusted a number of instances earlier than in response to the excessive threat of harm from play.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell attends a Tremendous Bowl Host Committee handoff information convention on the Mandalay Bay Conference Heart on February 12, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Photos)
In 2011, the league moved kickoffs ahead 5 yards to the 35-yard line, making it simpler to kick the ball deep into the tip zone and resulting in extra touchbacks with groups beginning on the 20-yard line. In 2016, touchbacks positioned groups at 25, which additional inspired them. Then final season, returners may name for a good catch anyplace, not simply ultimately zone, for a touchback, ensuing within the lowest return charge in NFL historical past.
So, now the league is utilizing this new rule to make sure security whereas selling returns.
This new rule is impressed by the kickoff guidelines from the XFL – a now-defunct lower-budget competitor to the NFL. Nonetheless, the XFL merged with the USFL to create the UFL this yr, and that league mockingly makes use of the standard kickoff.
Comply with Fox Information Digital’s sports activities protection on X, and subscribe to the Fox Information Sports activities Huddle publication.
