Kicking off, time or distance?

[RavennaAl]

I think most everyone uses some form of kick offs to start their games. From what I've seen, it seems that most people turn the board on for appx 4 seconds, then turn it off to simulate the hang time of the kick. Then they turn the players and let the receiving guy return it and turn the board back on.

Now, the question I have is simply this, is 4 seconds a good time, or too long or too short? Depending on the board speed and size, in 4 seconds you could have all the kicking team players into the receiving teams end zone, or you could have them all still on their side of the 50. It would all depend on the size and speed of the board. So, would it be better to use a set distance instead of time? For example, you run the board until the first kicking team's player reaches the receiving teams 40 yard line. Or maybe the 35? In either case, the boards size or speed wouldn't matter, because the relative distance covered by the kicking team during the hang time is what matters.

If you pick the 40, then theoretically speaking, if the returner starts at the goalline, the return would be to about the 20 if both were going at the same speed, provided that the guys meet. If you pick the 35, then the average should be about the 17-18. Now, keeping in mind that you turned the board off when the first player reached that mark, all the other players will still be further behind. So, in a realistic return, because the first guy doesn't always hit the returner, the averages would more than likely be further, say the 30 yard line (stopping at the 40) vs. the 25 yard line (stopping at the 35)

This is just an idea, please don't burn me at the cross.

[efgamer]

Hey Ravenna, their should be kick-offs in electric football. A big part of football is special teams play. I use a time system in the kick-off. I have 2 hang-times; 3 seconds and 4 seconds. 4 seconds is the end-zone time. The receiving team controls the switch on the kick-off and can stop the board once before the hang-time expires to form a blocking wedge to slow down defenders. It is very realistic and makes the kick-offs more exciting. I also have a pooch kick-off rule and a interesting onside kick that I have not seen on this site. If you do not have some form of blocking development it is possible that their won't be many returns. The kick return team must have good judgement and good timing to cut-off those fast kick coverage guys the way we use the kick-off.

[Shabby J]

We use a 4 second hang time in LAEFL, if the kicking team manages to get a man into the receiving teams end zone during these 4 seonds there is no return, it's a touchback.

I have long said 4 seconds is too long out here, even though we play on large custom fields, players can hit that end zone a little too easy. I would say 80% of our kick offs end in touchbacks and I think I am being conserative in that estimate.

[eflfanatic]

Most of the rules I have read allow for a 4 second hang time but that is mostly for kick returns from the endzone. There are some rule sets that allow for an adjustment of hang time depending on the distance of the kick where dice and charts are used for distance kicks. 4 seconds is also based on a 620 game board size. With the increased speeds and larger board sizes times need to be adjusted accordingly. However since I only have 500, 6072 and 620 size game boards I cannot make any reasonable suggestions on this.

Shabby, I do agree that 4 seconds is too long on a 620 game board with the faster speeds and produce way too many touchbacks. I have had relatively good results with kick off returns but that is mainly due to the fact that when I am able to return a kick off, it is mostly because my kick returner is so slow that all the defenders run right past him and opens up the field for a touchdown return right up the middle. Just proves that speed isn't always a good thing.

[NEW CASTLE HiTMEN]

I line up kicking team at fifty and receiving team at own thirty. This would be the same as hang time. Speeds the game up.It works out to be pretty realistic. Average offensive starting line of scrimmage after kickoff is the 25.

[clmdesigns]

I would say set up your fastest guy on the 35 then the 40 and see how long it takes him to hit the goal line. Mind you this is on a big board.
For me, not all my players have blazing speed so the kickoff returns all almost always ending around the 30. I need to make some adjustments.
This is a very good topic.

[detroitchild]

I like the way we do it in the shoot out rules where a shake of the box (and chart) determines distance and hang time. Hang time is adjusted for different size boards, i.e. 620 vs big boards. The kicking team lines up on their 30 and the return team lines up on the kicking team's 45 yard line so that the two teams are 15 yards a part. I believe a booming KO for a 620 was usually 3 seconds vs. 4 seconds for a big board. Of course the out come of the box/chart determined distance. A 4 second kick into the end zone is different than a 4 second kick to the 15 yard line.

Another thing to consider. You can't always go by just sending your fastest man down field as that can be nullified by the return team's blocking. Let's say your fastest man is on a light weight base and he can't get past anybody...then what? I found that VERY important in special team play. Your test should include having both squads on the field with some type of blocking scheme included. I know this may sound long and drawn out but should be considered in determining a more realistic KO distance and hang time.

It would be a great idea to get Joe Greco in on this discussion.