What is the restraining line in football?

The restraining line in football is an imaginary line that players are not allowed to cross during kickoffs until after the ball is kicked. The restraining line is often used to align the players of each team. The line runs parallel to the sideline.

At what yard line is the restraining line?

The restraining line for the kicking team shall be its 35-yard line for a kickoff and its 20-yard line for a safety kick. The restraining line for the receiving team shall be the yard line 10 yards in advance of the kicking team's restraining line.

What is the line of scrimmage in football called?

Also known as the scrimmage line, the line of scrimmage is used to align players at the start of a down. The line of scrimmage can be seen as a blue line on television.

How do football kickoffs work?

A kickoff in football is when the place kicker, a kicker on the special teams, kicks the ball to the opposing team. Kickoffs are performed behind restraining lines and must go 10 or more yards to count or be touched by the receiving team. On a kickoff, the ball is placed on a tee.

What is a touchback in football?

Definition of touchback

: a situation in football in which the ball is down behind the goal line after a kick or intercepted forward pass after which it is put in play by the team defending the goal on its own 20-yard line — compare safety.

Do you have to kneel for a touchback?

No need to kneel

If a ball gets to the end zone and touches the ground, it's an automatic touchback. There's no need for a player to pick it up and kneel, or even catch a ball if it's headed for the end zone and they don't intend to return it.

What's the difference between a touchback and a safety?

A touchback is not a play, but a result of events that may occur during a play. A touchback is the opposite of a safety with regard to impetus since a safety is scored when the ball becomes dead in a team's end zone after that team — the team whose end zone it is — caused the ball to cross the goal line.

What's the difference between punt and kickoff?

is that kick is to strike or hit with the foot or other extremity of the leg or kick can be to die while punt is (nautical) to propel a punt or similar craft by means of a pole or punt can be (rugby|american football|australian rules football|gaelic football|soccer) to kick a ball dropped from the hands before it hits ...

Can you punt twice NFL?

If you look at the NFL rulebook, there's a specific note within the kick from scrimmage section that should make this punt legal. To review and clarify from last night: 1. You CAN punt twice if the ball remained (and remains) behind the line of scrimmage after the first one.

Where do NFL kickoffs start?

The NFL voted to move kickoffs back by five yards during the 1974 season in order to decrease the number of touchbacks. The 35-yard line was the official placement for all kickoffs for 20 years, until 1994, when the NFL voted to move the ball back another five yards to the 30-yard line.

What is it called when the defense catches the ball?

Interception- when the defense catches a ball that was meant to be caught by the offensive. Lateral: A backward pass.

What is the first down line called?

If there are not ten yards on the field between the line of scrimmage and the opposing team's end zone, the goal line becomes the first down line. You'll sometimes hear announcers say first and goal. This means the first down line is now the goal line.

What is an offensive line of scrimmage?

noun Football. an imaginary line parallel to the goal lines that passes from one sideline to the other through the point of the football closest to the goal line of each team.

Is a kickoff a free kick?

A kickoff is a free kick that starts each half and follows each try or field goal (Exception: In extra periods) It must be a place kick or a drop kick.

What happens if a kickoff goes through the uprights?

A kickoff is neither a play from scrimmage nor a fair catch kick (a fair catch kick can occur only immediately following a kick that was fair-caught). Therefore, kicking the ball through the uprights results merely in a touchback, just like kicking the ball out of any other part of the end zone would.

Why is it a penalty to kick out of bounds?

Kicking the ball out of bounds on a kickoff is considered a penalty in football because the receiving team needs a fair chance to return the kickoff, call for a fair catch, or get a touchback.

Was Michael dicksons double punt legal?

In the end, everything Dickson did was legal, which makes the entire play even more impressive. In our preseason punter rankings here at CBSSports.com (seriously, we have a preseason punter rankings), Dickson was ranked No. 1 and on Thursday night, everyone in America got to see why.

Why was the double punt legal?

For many of them, this was the first time they'd seen a double punt. Mike Pereira, the rules analyst for the broadcast, commented that the play was illegal, but he was unaware of the rule. According to NFL Rule 9, a second punt is legal so long as the ball does not cross the line of scrimmage.

Has anyone punted on first down?

9. Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, October 16, 1994. What had happened: The Eagles ran for 1 on first down and -3 on second. The punt: Cunningham's punt over the defense was downed 80 yards downfield.

What is a 4th down in football?

A fourth down in football is the final down of the down cycle. It comes after the third down and usually involves a punt or a scoring attempt. If the offense fails to convert to a first down on fourth down, the ball is given to the opposing team at the spot of the ball.

What do punters do?

A punter (P) in gridiron football is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts (kicks) the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage.

What is a fumble in football?

A fumble is any act, other than a pass or kick, which results in a loss of player possession. Exception: If a runner intentionally fumbles forward, it is a forward pass (3-22).

Is a safety in football offense or defense?

Safety is a position in gridiron football on the defense. The safeties are defensive backs who line up ten to fifteen yards from the line of scrimmage. There are two variations of the position: the free safety (FS) and the strong safety (SS).

How many points is a touchback?

A touchback happens when referees rule a play dead on a kick after the ball leaves the field through the defensive team's end zone in American football. As a result, when play resumes, the team starts their offensive drive from their 25-yard line. There are no points awarded for a touchback.

What is a kickback in football?

To score or gain ground by kicking a ball.

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