An onside kick is where the kicking team tries to kick the ball off their own 10 yard line after a kickoff. Why would you do this? Well, if they can get the ball past their own 30 yard line and out of the field, suddenly they have all-out field goal range to kick the field goal and give themselves a chance to win.
If the receiving team recovers the ball, they can try to catch up to the score in that situation. However, they also have to deal with a long return attempt that they don’t have enough time to return.

What is an Onside Kick?

In the game of rugby, the term “onside kick” is used to describe a similar tactic in rugby. However, in rugby, the onside kick is not executed with the intent of recovering the ball for the kicking team to regain possession of the ball early. Instead, it is performed as a means to kick the ball from the point of the scrum (the place where the ball is held by both teams during scrums). The purpose of the onside kick in rugby is to move the ball downfield and give the kicking team a chance to score points.

When the ball is on the receiving team’s 25-yard line, the receivers have to get on the sideline to catch the ball. If they miss the catch, a receiver can simply hit the dirt between his feet to give the ball back to the ref. If the ball is still in play, if the receiving team recovers the ball, they get an automatic first down. If the ball isn’t on the receiving team’s 25-yard line, that team gets a first down by touching the ball with their hands. Fumbles to the defensive team results in a 2nd down.

What are the Kicking Rule Changes for the NFL Onside Kick?

One of the new changes to the game involves the new onside kick rule, which prevents the kicking team from stacking men on one side of the line via the kickoff. Now, kicking teams need to have five members on either side of the kicker via their lineup to recover the ball. The second new rule change is that the kicking team cannot start running for the football as the kicker is about to kick the ball.

The new rule changes are about keeping football players safe. For example, NFL teams in the past would load up one side of the ball and crash the receiving team on a kick to that side specifically. Having the kicking team charge and crash on the receiving team would result in more injury chances, which the NFL does not want to have.

“This guy has a lot of heart”:
I don’t know what source this claim comes from but I’ll include it in case of an attribution.

What are the Receiving Rule Changes for the NFL Onside Kick?

The NFL has also increased the difficulty of the wedge block. The wedge block is one of the three techniques the receiving team uses for a return. It’s a technique where the receiver and the defensive player both line up on the offensive line. The player is trying to wedge blocking the defender, or in this case, the defensive player, into the middle of the line to create pressure on the running back.

When Do Penalties and Offsides Come into Play?

The offsides penalty can happen in a few different ways. The first way is if the kicking team kicks the ball out of bounds. The second way is if the kicking team runs past the scrimmage line when running before the ball passes that spot. The third way is if the kicking team can’t purposely block a defender from getting the ball at any point before it crosses ten yards.

Can you Call a Fair Catch on an Onside Kick Attempt?

The fair catch rule for American Football dictates that a team can call a fair catch on a kickoff and or punt when the ball is in flight. However, during an onside kick, the kicking team is kicking the ball directly into the ground to bounce, so the football is no longer in flight. Since the onside kick has the football hit the ground via the kick, you can’t call a fair catch since the ball is not airborne anymore.
There is no difference between the NFL and NFL2K1, and no onside kicks, they don’t exist in football at all, so no fair catches can apply there.

 

How Successful are Onside Kicks?

While the completion rate for onside kicks went down drastically, being able to hit them more often can be a good thing for a team that struggles with returning the ball. During the offseason, NFL teams can scrimmage against themselves during practices to see what can work best during games. The key to running a successful onside kick is to catch the receiving squad by surprise, if possible.

 

Has the Onside Kick Ever Happen in the Playoffs or Super Bowl?

After a regular kick goes out of bounds, the onside kick is used because the offense can’t use the ball and it can be recovered by the defense.

Conclusion

Although there is no longer a chance for the defense to tackle the ball carrier as they are returning to the field, an NFL team can still “fake” an onside kick at any time. This can be done by sending in the field goal unit to kick the ball into the end zone before the ball carrier starts his route, and the defensive team has no idea that the kick was a fake. The defense then must defend the kick to the end zone, or if a team fakes an onside kick from the 15 yard line in the end zone, the defense must defend to the 15 yard line.