The 2024 NFL season is fast approaching, with preseason games starting in less than a week.
As is the case every offseason, the NFL has made some changes to its rules, and in 2024 the league will have a new set of rules regarding kick-offs.
Owners of the 32 NFL franchises voted 29-3 in favour of the changes, which have been made to improve player safety.
What are the new NFL kick-off rules?
Kick-offs will still be taken from the 35-yard line, but the rest of the players on the kicking team will line-up on the opposition's 40-yard line.
The receiving team can have a maximum of two players back to receive the kick, and they must now have at least seven players in the 'set-up zone'.
The 'set-up zone' is the new term for the area between the 30- and 35-yard line in the receiving team's half.
Players on the receiving team in the 'set-up zone' are not permitted to move until the receiver touches the ball or it hits the ground.
The changes will, in theory, reduce the number of high-speed collisions, with the majority of players lining up less than 10 yards apart.
There have also been changes to the onside kick, which can now only be attempted in the fourth quarter by a team who are trailing. The team must also declare its intention beforehand.
The changes will feature throughout the 2024 season, and will then be subject to renewal in 2025.
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