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The NFL provides a number of "new" unused balls for use in kicking in each game. They are used for kickoffs, punting, field goals, and extra points. The stated object of having special balls is to minimize the effect of ball wear on kicking accuracy. However, the reason they were instituted was due to complaints over teams using "doctored" balls to gain a kicking advantage.
However, because they are not used in other play, they differ from the balls that kickers use in practice. So many NFL kickers can be seen beating, squeezing, or working a ball before a kickoff. They are used to kicking a 'beat up' ball. Some kickers have openly complained about the slickness of the K-balls.
There is no difference, but the kickers and punters are punished in a way. They don't get these kicking balls until 2 hours before a game and can use them sparingly in warm ups. These balls are brand new right out of the box and not broken in as much as the regular balls that are used on offensive plays. Those balls are given to the teams during the week before the game for use in practice. Anyone who has played football knows a brand new ball is much harder to handle, throw, carry, catch or kick than a ball that is broken in. The reason the league implemented this policy was there were legends about kickers taking balls into saunas and washing them in washing machines in order to break them in so they would be easier to kick. The league did this to even the playing filed between opponents. Essentially, the kickers and punters are all now kicking the same balls (no pun intended).
No all NFL football games only involve one ball (the game ball) the same is used for blitzs, hale marys, field goals, punts and any other play during the game. During kicks the ball is set on a tee and the ball is also always the same size in all NFL games (Pro size; official NFL ball) *Yes, they use K-balls (unused/new balls, marked with a 'K').
Kicking balls are generally newer and thus haven't been "broken in" yet.
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What yard line does the nfl use for kicking off?
The 30-yard line of the team kicking the ball off.
If a NFL kickoff travels 40 yards hits the ground and is picked up by a member of the kicking team why does the ball go to the receiving team instead of the kicking team due to onside kick rules?
The question is the correct assessment. If a ball travels more than 10 yards, hits the ground in bounds, and the kicking team gains possession of the ball, the ball is dead and the kicking team is on offense.
Can there be a delay of game on a kickoff in the NFL?
Yes. If the team kicking the ball does not kickoff before the play clock has expired.
What was place kicking like in the 1920s?
Most kicking was done with a dropkick. The ball used in the 1920s had rounder tips and looked much like the ball used in rugby. The NFL changed the shape of the ball in 1934 to what it is today. The tips of the ball were made into more of a point. That was done to help the passing game, to make the ball more aerodynamic. That made dropkicking much more difficult and shortly afterwards it was completely out of the game, replaced by the placekick.
Who is the guy with the letter K on his vest on the NFL sideline?
Stands for kicker those ball boys hold the balls for kicking plays
Why does the NFL have balls only for kicks?
same reason high school and college do. kicking is hard on a ball so you dont want to ruin it
Can the team that kickoff recover the ball 30 yards down field?
According to the NFL Rulebook: " A kickoff is illegal unless it travels 10 yards OR is touched by the receiving team. Once the ball is touched by the receiving team or has gone 10 yards, it is a free ball. Receivers may recover and advance. Kicking team may recover but NOT advance UNLESS receiver had possession and lost the ball. " According to the NFL Rules, the kicking team may not advance the ball on a kickoff unless it has been possessed first by the receiving team. In the play you saw in the Washington/Seattle playoff game, the ball went unpossessed by the receiving team when the kicking team gained control. In that case, possession is awarded to the kicking team at the spot where the kicking team gained control of the ball. no. the ball is dead where the kicking team touched it
What is the Average kicking distance of NFL kicker?
The furthest an average starting Kicker could usually kick the ball is anywhere between 45 and 55 yards.
Is barefoot kicking still legal in the NFL?
no
If a team punts the ball and the ball strikes an unaware member of the return team and does not come in contact with the ground before the kicking team gets possession who's ball is it?
The kicking team, this happened last Sunday in the Panthers-Redskins game- http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d8136a6b6/Official-Review-Week-5
In the NFL if the ball goes out of bounds while receiving a kick off and touches the ball on the 5 yard line in bounds does the ball come out to the 40?
As long as the ball was kicked from the kicking team's own 30, then yes. The rule is NOT that a kickoff out of bounds is placed at the 40-yard line. The rule is that the ball is placed 30 yards from the spot of the kick. So if the kicking team had been given a 10-yard penalty on the PAT play, and ended up kicking from the 20 instead of the 30, and the ball goes out of bounds, the ball would then be placed at the 50 -- 30 yards away.
In the NFL do kickers on kickoffs try to kick the ball into the endzone for a touchback?
Yes, there is a distinct advantage to the kicking team if the kickoff is not returned and placed at the 20 yard line.
