New Kick Off Rules: How Will They Effect The Game

By now most of us are aware of the new kick off rule changes in college football. The ball will be placed at the 35 yd line and the rushers can only have a 5 yd running start in instead of ten.

The idea being to reduce injuries on kick off returns. Also on a touch back the ball comes out to the 25 yd line instead of the 20.

What new kick off strategies will this change bring about? Boise State Kicker Harmon ( I know Boise State really doesn't have a kicker) sees the new strategy for kick offs as being finesse kicking. Instead of just kicking the ball deep and forcing the touch back, he suggests kicking the ball higher, creating more hang time and trying to drop the ball between the 10 yd line and the goal line.

His coach offers, the shorter kick off distance and the shorter running start distance should be off set by the shorter distance to the return man. One thing is certain we will be seeing new kick off return strategies this year.