Any kick into the landing zone must be returned.
If the ball is kicked short of the landing zone or out of bounds, it will automatically be placed on the receiving team’s 40-yard line.
Any kick that hits the landing zone and then bounces into the end zone must either be returned or downed, so teams can’t just let the ball bounce into the end zone and get an automatic touchback if it hits the landing zone first. If the return team downs the ball in the end zone, it goes to the 20-yard line.
If a kicker booms one out of the back of the end zone on the fly, the return team gets the ball at the 30-yard line. Under previous rules it had been placed at the 25-yard line, so it’s penalizing kicking teams another five yards if they kick the ball out of the end zone.
A kick that lands in the end zone and then bounces out of bounds or is downed by the receiving team will be placed at the 30-yard line.
Teams can only attempt onside kicks in the fourth quarter, and they have to declare they are doing it to the officials, which takes away the surprise element.
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