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DYK/ Football Fact:
Special Teams
There are 11 players on the field for each team again. There are specific descriptions and job roles for each player. The difference however, is there are only a few specialized players in this section. The rest of the players are offensive or defensive players with a second job. There are a few scenarios where the special team players are needed on the field.
When a team punts the ball, it is usually because they are on their 4th down and nowhere close to obtaining a 1st down and too far to score a field goal. If the punt goes into the end zone of the opposing team, and is not run out, it is considered a touchback, and the ball automatically starts on the 20-yard line.
The kickoff starts the 1st and 3rd quarters and begins play after a touchdown or field goal is made. Another option for a team is to have an onside kick. This option is usually exercised when the kicking team needs to get the ball back quickly to make an attempt to score. Once the ball is 10 yards past where the kicker is, any player on any team can grab it. There is risk involved with this, considering the kick is about 50 yards shorter, and closer for the opposing team’s scoring end zone. Essentially, an on side kick is the same as a kickoff, but the kicker greatly shortens the kick to give his team an advantage to try and gain possession of the ball.
A field goal is used as a way to score a few points if a team is close to their scoring end zone but running out of downs. Field goals are worth 3 points. An extra point can only be scored after a touchdown. An extra point is worth 1 point. Sometimes a team will fake going for the extra point, and tell the holder to run the ball into the end zone for two extra points. The kicker position is a specialized position and is responsible for the kickoff, field goals and extra points.
