on-side kick

Question
Hi Coach Perl,

My family and I were watching NFL football as usual and my dad brought up this question:
"I know that in an on-side kick situation, the kicker must kick the ball at least 10 yards and then they may try to obtain possession. You often see the kicking team run down and down the ball on the 1-yard line. When then does an on-side kick no longer equal being an on-side kick?

Thank you!

Answer
Elena -

Thanks for the question.  Well, what is happening here is that you guys are confusing two very different actions on the field.  So I will do my best to try and sort it out for you.

OK, first thing is to completely seperate a PUNT and a KICKOFF.  Although both are kicks, they have very different rules.  A kickoff, after it goes 10 yards, is a LIVE BALL.  The team that kicks off can recover the ball ANYWHERE on the field after it goes 10 yards.  You will see that every once in a while, where the ball is kicked normallyn - deep, and the receiving team doesnt get on the ball, and it is recovered by the kicking team deep in the other teams territory.  Remember that - A KICKOFF IS A LIVE BALL AFTER 10 YARDS (just like a fumble).

Now, a punt is different.  When a team punts the ball, it is not live UNLESS a member of the receiving team touches it first.  So when a team punts the ball, and runs down to cover it, it is not live.  IF the ball is rolling and a player from the punting team touches it, that is where the ball is placed.  First down, the receiving team. This is where your dad is getting things confused.  He sees this happen, and is assuming a kick off has the same rules.  They dont. Now lets say the ball is punted, and a receiving team player touches the ball but doesnt hold on to it, it can be recovered just like a fumble.

A kick can ALWAYS be an onsides kick, if the kicking team recovers it.  It just has to go past 10 yards.  The only reason teams kick it short on onsides kicks is because it is much easier to recover, as opposed to kicking it deep which gives the receiving team a lot more time to get on the ball.

So there is where you guys are getting confused Elena.  Make sure and pay attention to whether the ball was KICKED or PUNTED, then remember the above:  KICK is just like a fumble after 10 yards, and a PUNT is not unless it is touched first.

Hope this helped. Let me know if you need anything else.

Coach Perl