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

And these days, teams can’t even try the surprise 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

Palos Verdes made a brief rally in the fourth quarter, recovering an onside kick, recovering another fumble and closing to 27-14 on two touchdown passes by senior quarterback Giorgio Di Mascio.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2025

He also recovered an onside kick with eight seconds left to ice the win.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2024

Longstreet completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Cory Butler after Mission Viejo failed on an onside kick late in the half.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2024