A football game starts with a coin toss, then a kickoff to put the ball in play. The toss helps determine which team receives the opening kick and which team kicks off.
The kickoff is only the beginning of the action. You’ll also see how teams choose their opening possession, what happens on different kinds of kicks, and why the second half starts differently. Rules can vary between the NFL, college football, and other leagues, but the basic sequence is easy to follow.
how does a football game start?
In American football, the game begins with a pregame coin toss. The toss determines which team gets to make the first choice about possession or field position. After that choice is settled, one team kicks the ball to the other. That kick is called the opening kickoff.
The receiving team tries to catch the ball and advance it upfield. Its offense then takes possession at the spot where the return ends, or at a spot set by the rules if the kick goes into the end zone or out of bounds. The first scrimmage play follows once the officials mark the ball and the teams line up.
So the short version is: coin toss, team choices, kickoff, then the first offensive play. The kickoff itself is a live play, but it is not a typical snap-and-run play from scrimmage.
What happens at the coin toss?
Before kickoff, the referee brings the captains from both teams to midfield. The referee explains the choices, and a visiting-team captain generally calls heads or tails before the coin is tossed. The toss winner gets the first choice permitted by that league’s rules.
At many levels, the toss winner can choose to receive the opening kickoff, kick off, select which end of the field to defend, or defer the choice until the second half. The exact menu and order can differ by league. If the winner defers, the other team makes its choice for the first half, while the team that deferred gets a choice at the start of the second half.
Why a team may defer
Deferring means giving the opponent the first choice at the start of the game so your team can choose at the start of the second half. A team that defers often plans to receive the second-half kickoff and hopes to have the ball to open both halves. That is a strategic preference, not a guarantee of scoring or winning.
A team might instead choose to receive immediately if it wants its offense on the field first. It might choose to kick if its defense is a strength or if it wants to set a tone with a stop. Weather, field conditions, team strengths, and the league’s rules may all affect the decision.
How the opening kickoff works
After the coin-toss decisions, the teams line up for the kick. The kicking team places the ball on a tee at the designated kickoff spot. Its players must follow the applicable alignment and movement rules before and during the kick. The receiving team sets up to catch the ball and, if appropriate, return it.
The kicker sends the ball downfield. A receiving player may catch it and run, signal for a fair catch where that option exists, or let it travel. What happens next depends on where the ball lands, whether it is touched, and the rules for that level of play.
- The kick is returned. A receiver catches the ball and runs toward the kicking team’s end zone. The play ends when the runner is down, goes out of bounds, scores, or another rule stops the action. The offense starts from the resulting spot.
- The kick reaches the end zone. The receiver may take a knee or allow the ball to become dead, producing a touchback under the applicable rules. A touchback gives the receiving team possession at a designated spot rather than requiring a return.
- The kick goes out of bounds. The receiving team usually gets a favorable placement under the rules, and the kicking team may be penalized. The exact remedy depends on the league and the circumstances.
- The receiving team makes a fair-catch signal. If the signal is valid and the ball is caught, the receiver is protected from being hit during the catch. Fair-catch rules and their consequences vary, so they should not be assumed to work identically at every level.
A kickoff can also be an onside kick: a short kick intended to give the kicking team a chance to recover the ball. It is a riskier choice than a standard deep kick and is governed by specific rules about when the kicking team may touch or recover the ball.
Who gets the ball after the kick?
In most ordinary openings, the team receiving the kickoff gets the first chance to run an offensive series. The kick returner’s progress determines the starting field position unless a touchback, penalty, or other rule changes it. The offense then takes the field and begins from scrimmage.
The offense does not automatically begin at its own 20-yard line. That is a common misconception. The starting spot depends on the outcome of the kickoff and the rules in force. A return may end closer to or farther from the receiving team’s end zone, and penalties can change the spot.
Once the ball is ready for play, the teams line up on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage. The center snaps the ball to the quarterback or another backfield player. That snap, not the kickoff, begins the first offensive play from scrimmage.
Kickoff compared with the first scrimmage play
| Stage | What happens | Who can possess the ball? | Best way to recognize it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coin toss | Captains and officials settle opening choices. | No live possession play is underway. | Teams are gathered at midfield. |
| Kickoff | A team kicks the ball downfield to begin play. | Either team may gain possession under kickoff rules. | The ball is kicked from a tee rather than snapped. |
| Kickoff return | A receiver catches the kick and tries to advance it. | The receiving team has the ball during the return. | A returner runs with the kicked ball. |
| First scrimmage play | The offense snaps the ball and runs a play. | The team with possession runs its offense. | Players are set around a line of scrimmage before a snap. |
This distinction matters when following the game. The kickoff can end without a return, and the first possession can begin with a touchback. In either case, the first offensive snap comes after the kickoff phase is over.
How the second half starts
The second half also begins with a kickoff in most standard American football formats. The team that did not kick off to start the game generally kicks off to start the second half, with the other team receiving. The coin toss and any decision to defer determine how those roles are assigned.
For example, if the toss winner defers and the opponent chooses to receive at the start of the first half, the team that deferred typically gets to choose at the start of the second half. It can choose to receive, which means the opponent kicks off. Check the game’s league rules for the exact choices and procedure.
There is a halftime break between the two halves, but the second-half opening is not a new game. The score carries over, and the kickoff simply restarts live play. The same core idea applies: one team kicks, and the other begins with a chance to possess the ball.
Why kickoff rules differ by league
The broad sequence is familiar across American football, but details can differ among the NFL, college, high school, and other competitions. Leagues set rules for kickoff alignment, where the ball is placed after a touchback, fair catches, out-of-bounds kicks, penalties, and when players may move. Professional rules can also change over time.
Recent NFL seasons have used a modified kickoff format with different player positioning and a designated landing area. That changes how the play looks and can affect return decisions. It does not change the basic fact that a coin-toss decision is followed by a kick to begin the game.
College football and high school football may use different procedures or field-position results. A rule that applies in one competition should not be treated as universal. If you are watching a specific league, use its current rulebook or broadcast explanations for details such as touchback placement and return restrictions.
What to watch for during the opening sequence
If you are new to football, follow these moments in order. They explain why a team receives the ball and where its first offensive series begins.
- Listen for the toss decision. Note whether a team chooses to receive, kick, pick a field end, or defer.
- Watch the kick’s landing. A deep kick, short kick, or kick into the end zone can lead to different outcomes.
- Track the returner. The returner’s position when the play ends often determines where the offense starts.
- Look for the officials’ signal. A touchback, penalty, or dead ball can change the starting spot.
- Wait for the snap. The first scrimmage play begins when the center snaps the ball, not when the kicker sends the opening kick downfield.
One useful detail is that the receiving team does not have to attempt a return on every kickoff. If the ball is caught or becomes dead in a way that ends the play, the team can take possession at the resulting spot. A return is an option, not a requirement.
Common questions about the start of a football game
Does the team that wins the coin toss automatically get the ball?
No. Winning the toss gives a team the first choice, but it may defer or select another option allowed by the rules. If it chooses to kick or defer, the other team may receive the opening kickoff.
Is the kickoff the first play of the game?
Yes, the kickoff is the first live play in the usual sequence. The first offensive play from scrimmage comes afterward, when the team with the ball snaps it.
Can the team kicking off recover the ball?
Yes, but the kick must meet the applicable requirements, and the kicking team cannot simply touch the ball whenever it wants. An onside kick is a common attempt to regain possession, but recovery rules and timing restrictions vary by league.
Can a game start without a kickoff?
In ordinary circumstances, a standard game begins with a kickoff. A penalty, an unusual event, or a rule-specific situation can affect how play resumes, but the standard opening is a kickoff following the coin toss.
Does the game clock run during the coin toss?
The coin toss happens before live play and does not count as game time. Clock procedures once the kickoff is touched or the play ends depend on the competition’s rules and the situation.
A football game usually starts with a coin toss, a decision about possession or field position, and an opening kickoff. The receiving team then gets its first chance to advance the ball or begins at a touchback spot.
To follow the action, note who receives, watch where the kickoff ends, and look for the officials’ signal before the first snap. The exact details of how does a football game start can vary by league, so use the competition’s rules for touchbacks and kickoff procedures.