In American football, kickoffs happen at the start of each half and usually after a touchdown or field goal. A safety is followed by a related free kick, not a standard kickoff.
The exact timing depends on the game situation, the rules in use, and sometimes a review or injury delay. Here’s when each kick happens, how kickoffs differ from other restarts, and what to watch for on the game clock. If you mean soccer rather than American football, the restart rules are different.
when do kickoffs happen in football
In American football, a kickoff starts each half and generally follows a touchdown or field goal. The scoring team usually kicks the ball to the other team after the required scoring sequence is complete.
The opening kickoff takes place at the beginning of the game. A second kickoff starts the third quarter, after halftime. During the rest of the game, kickoffs usually follow scores that leave the scoring team responsible for giving the opponent a chance to receive the ball.
A safety is the main exception to the usual pattern. It is followed by a free kick from the team that gave up the points. That restart serves a similar purpose, but its rules and available kick types differ from a regular kickoff.
In brief, look for a kickoff at the start of each half and after most touchdowns and field goals. A safety leads to a free kick, while an ordinary change of possession does not trigger a kickoff.
When kickoffs happen during a game
At the start of the game
Before play begins, the officials conduct a coin toss. The toss determines which team chooses to receive, kick, or select a direction, depending on the league’s rules and the team’s choice. The team that kicks off sends the ball toward the receiving team, which tries to advance it or take a touchback.
The opening kickoff does not happen at the moment a broadcast starts. Pregame coverage, introductions, the coin toss, and other ceremonies may come first. The listed game time is a useful guide, but the actual kick can occur a little later.
At the start of the second half
After halftime, play resumes with a kickoff to begin the third quarter. The team that did not kick off to open the game generally gets the opportunity to receive at the start of the second half, subject to the game’s rules and the choices made at the toss.
This is why the opening kickoff does not tell you which team will receive every kickoff. Teams switch ends between halves, and the second-half choice is set before the game begins.
After a touchdown
A touchdown is followed by a try, also called an extra-point attempt or two-point conversion attempt. Once the try is over, the scoring team usually kicks off to the opponent. The kick does not take place immediately after the ball crosses the goal line because the try must happen first.
If the defense scores during the try, the rules may award points to the defense, but the next restart still depends on the applicable rules. The important practical point is that the play after a touchdown is not the kickoff: first comes the try.
After a field goal
After a successful field goal, the scoring team generally kicks off to the opponent. The kick follows the score, so the other team gets a chance to start its possession with a return or touchback.
A missed field goal is different. It does not automatically lead to a kickoff. The opponent takes possession according to where the kick was attempted and the league’s rules. If you see a team line up for a kickoff after a score, check whether the score was successful rather than assuming every field-goal attempt leads to one.
After a safety
A safety gives points to the defensive team and ends the play in the opponent’s end zone. The team that allowed the safety then puts the ball back into play with a free kick. Depending on the rules, that team may have options such as a punt, drop kick, or place kick.
People often call this a kickoff because the ball is kicked to the opponent. However, it is formally a free kick after a safety, with its own formation and procedure. The distinction matters if you are following a specific rulebook or trying to understand why the kicking team is not using the normal kickoff setup.
Kickoff, free kick, and other restarts compared
Not every kick that sends the ball to the other team is the same play. Use the situation that caused the restart to identify what is happening.
| Situation | What happens next | Best quick description |
|---|---|---|
| Start of the game | One team kicks to the other team to begin play. | Opening kickoff |
| Start of the second half | A kickoff begins the third quarter. | Second-half kickoff |
| Touchdown | The try happens first; the scoring team then generally kicks off. | Kickoff after the try |
| Successful field goal | The scoring team generally kicks off to the opponent. | Kickoff after the score |
| Safety | The team that conceded points takes a free kick under safety rules. | Free kick after a safety |
| Ordinary punt or turnover | The receiving team gets the ball; play resumes with a snap. | Not a kickoff |
The most useful distinction is whether a score or the start of a half caused the restart. A punt changes possession during a drive, and a turnover changes possession during a play. Neither one normally leads to a kickoff.
What happens during a kickoff
On a regular kickoff, the kicking team sends the ball downfield from its designated line. The receiving team may return the ball, signal a fair catch where the rules allow, or let the ball become a touchback. A touchback ends the return without the receiver carrying the ball upfield, and the receiving team starts its possession at a set location under the relevant rules.
If the receiver catches the ball and runs, teammates try to block for the returner. The kicking team tries to stop the return before the runner reaches a better starting position. The play ends when the runner is down, goes out of bounds, or another rule stops the action.
Kickoff procedures vary by league. The NFL and college football do not use identical rules for every detail, and rule changes can affect formations, touchbacks, and returns. For a general fan, the key is to recognize the restart and follow where the receiving team begins its drive.
Does the game clock run during a kickoff?
The ball being kicked does not always mean the game clock has started. In American football, the clock generally starts when the ball is legally touched in the field of play, but the precise rule and clock status can depend on the competition and situation.
The clock may stop when the kickoff play ends, such as when the returner is down or the ball goes out of bounds. If the kick becomes a touchback, play ends without a return. The receiving team then begins its next offensive play, and the clock follows the rules for that restart.
Do not use the kickoff itself as a reliable cue for how much game time has elapsed. A kickoff can happen while the clock is stopped, and broadcast graphics may show a game clock that has not yet begun. The officials’ signals and the scoreboard provide the clearest indication.
Why a kickoff may happen later than expected
A scheduled start time is not always the exact moment the ball is kicked. Pregame presentations, the coin toss, a national anthem, or other planned activities can delay the opening play. During a game, an injury, a penalty discussion, or a video review can also push back the next kickoff.
After a score, the try must be completed before the ensuing kickoff. Teams also need time to line up, substitute players, and receive the officials’ signal. These pauses are part of the game procedure, not evidence that a kickoff has been skipped.
For a live game, the practical answer is to watch for the officials to place the ball and signal that play is ready. If you are checking a schedule, treat the listed time as the game’s scheduled start rather than a guarantee of the precise kickoff second.
Common kickoff misconceptions
- A kickoff does not follow every change of possession. Interceptions, fumbles, and punts usually lead to a new possession and a snap, not a kickoff.
- The kickoff after a touchdown comes after the try. The extra-point or two-point attempt happens first.
- A safety restart is not exactly a normal kickoff. It is a free kick with different procedural options.
- A missed field goal does not automatically mean a kickoff. The other team usually takes possession under the rules for the missed attempt.
- The game clock may not start when the ball is kicked. Clock rules depend on when the ball is legally touched and on the competition’s procedures.
One easy detail to miss is that a ball entering the end zone does not always mean the receiving team has made a return. It may be a touchback, or the receiver may bring it out, depending on how the ball arrives and the rules being used. Watch the officials’ signal and the receiving team’s first possession spot rather than guessing from the ball’s path alone.
American football versus soccer kickoffs
The word “football” means different sports in different places. In American football, a kickoff is a long kick that starts a half or restarts play after certain scores. In soccer, a kickoff is taken from the center spot at the beginning of each half and after a goal.
So, if a soccer match is the subject, the answer is different: play restarts with a kickoff after each goal, as well as at the start of each half and extra time when applicable. In American football, a touchdown requires a try before the ensuing kickoff, and a field goal is also followed by a kickoff in the usual case.
When checking a schedule or watching a broadcast, the league or sport name clarifies which procedure applies. This distinction is especially helpful when reading international coverage, where “football” may refer to soccer rather than the American game.
How to tell which team kicks next
- Check how the previous sequence ended. A touchdown or successful field goal usually means a kickoff follows; a safety leads to a free kick.
- Wait for any required try. After a touchdown, the extra-point or two-point attempt comes before the kick.
- Look at the officials’ setup. A team lining up for a kickoff signals a restart after a half or score. A safety free kick has a separate procedure.
- Watch the receiving team’s possession. A return, fair catch, or touchback determines how the next drive begins under the rules in use.
This sequence makes it easier to follow the game without memorizing every special-case rule. First identify the event that stopped play, then distinguish a kickoff from a free kick, punt, or snap.
When do kickoffs happen in football? In American football, they start each half and usually follow touchdowns and successful field goals; after a safety, the team that gave up the points takes a free kick instead.
To follow the next restart, check whether a touchdown try is still pending, then watch how the officials set the ball. If you are following a specific league, use its rulebook for details such as touchbacks and kickoff procedures.