---
slug: "squib-kick"
title: Squib Kick
depth_tier: entry
side: SPECIAL TEAMS
category: Special Teams
source_id: "SIT-0021"
created: 2026-05-13
updated: 2026-05-13
canonical: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/squib-kick
aliases:
  - squib kick
  - squib kickoff
  - low kickoff
  - bouncing kickoff
---
# Squib Kick

## Short Definition

A low, bouncing kickoff intentionally struck short to prevent a dangerous returner from fielding a clean kick—trading field position for return prevention.

## Definition

A squib kick is an intentionally short, low kickoff designed to bounce unpredictably along the turf, preventing the return team's designated returner from fielding a clean kick. By keeping the ball away from the end zone returner—who may be the opponent's most dangerous player in space—the kicking team accepts worse field position in exchange for eliminating the return threat entirely. The ball typically lands around the 20–30 yard line, where upmen or blockers must field an awkward, bouncing ball under pressure from the coverage unit.

The decision to squib kick is made in specific game-state situations. The most common: protecting a late lead against a team with an explosive returner when a return touchdown would be catastrophic. In that scenario, a touchback or a standard deep kick both give the returner the opportunity to catch the ball cleanly and attack in the open field; a squib removes that opportunity by making the catch itself uncertain. A fumbled or mishandled squib can also be recovered by the kicking team.

The squib is also used when the kicking team cannot trust their coverage unit—in practice, on a short week, or against a return scheme that has been particularly effective. Removing the return entirely through a squib is equivalent to giving the opponent a short field without a penalty: it acknowledges the coverage problem rather than betting on solving it.

The kick has a specific technique: the kicker strikes the lower quarter of the ball with a toe-down, driving into the turf rather than through the ball. The resulting drive produces a fast, low trajectory with an unpredictable bounce pattern—harder to field cleanly than either a catchable kick or a clear out-of-bounds. The unpredictability is the feature.

## Example

"Up six with two minutes left, and the other team has a returner who can take it to the house. Squib kick—low, bouncing, lands at the 25. Their upman fields it awkwardly. Coverage is already there. No return. Situation handled."

## Common Confusion

A squib kick is not a bad kickoff—it is an intentional strategy. The kicker deliberately strikes the ball low and off-center to produce an unpredictable bounce, preventing a dangerous returner from fielding a clean catch. A squib kick trades field position (the ball typically lands around the 20–30 yard line rather than being kicked deep) for the certainty of eliminating the elite returner's advantage. It is a calculated decision, not a mistake.

## Related

- kicker
- returner
- kickoff-coverage
- onside-kick
- coffin-corner
- field-position

---
Source: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/squib-kick