onside kick

American  

Or onsides kick

noun

Football.

1. a kickoff deliberately kicked a short distance in an attempt by the kicking team to regain possession of the ball by recovering it after it has traveled forward the legally required distance of 10 yards, beyond the 50-yard line.

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Etymology

Origin of onside kick

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

onside kick

Chicago’s furious comeback involved one of the less likely plays in football in recent years: actually recovering an onside kick.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025

The book also says when to try for a 2-point conversion, whether to attempt an onside kick or to kick deep and how to manage the two-minute warning—nearly everything outside of Xs and Os.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025

Fresno State drove for a quick field goal but couldn’t complete the comeback after its attempt to recover the onside kick failed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2024

When an onside kick failed, it was game over.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2024

Karty kicked another field goal with 39 seconds left to draw the Rams within eight points again, but the Dolphins recovered an onside kick to clinch the victory.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2024