The XFL is preparing to bring back its unique kickoff rule when it begins its third installment of play on Saturday. This rule, which was first introduced in XFL 2.0 and has been praised as a major safety innovation, features 10 players from the kicking team and 10 players from the receiving team lined up five yards apart, with no one except the kicker and returner able to move until the returner has touched the ball, or the ball has been on the ground for three seconds.
The benefit of this rule lies in its two-fold advantage: fewer injuries due to the lack of full-speed collisions, and more kickoff returns due to the close proximity of players. During the 2020 XFL season, 97 percent of kickoffs were returned, compared to only 38 percent in the NFL during the 2022 season.
Reggie Barlow, former NFL kick returner and current head coach of the XFL’s DC Defenders, is a fan of the kickoff rule. “The way we do that is interesting,” Barlow said. “Obviously it’s safe. We’re talking about player safety. But it still allows us to give the fans what they want, and that’s action. Looking forward to that, and that’s definitely one of the different rules that I think our fans will enjoy.”
The XFL’s kickoff rule is not only a great example of an innovation that could make spring football stand out from the NFL, but it also provides an opportunity for the XFL and USFL to create an entirely unique experience for fans. The combination of safety and entertainment that the kickoff rule provides should be a major draw for fans of the XFL 3.0, and could even spark a trend of new rules and innovations in the years to come.
