The first snap gets the action moving, but it is not the first thing that happens in an American football game. Before either offense can run a play, the teams settle who kicks and who receives, then a kickoff puts the ball in motion. Knowing that sequence makes the opening minutes—and the choices behind them—much easier to follow.
Before kickoff: the coin toss
Before the game, the referee meets with the captains at midfield for a coin toss. A captain from the visiting team usually calls heads or tails before the coin is flipped. The toss winner gets to make a choice that shapes the opening and, in many leagues, the start of the second half.
The captain can generally choose to receive the opening kickoff, kick it, or select which end of the field to defend. Another common option is to defer: the team gives the other side the choice to start the game, while keeping its choice for the second half. This can be attractive to a team that would rather receive after halftime, when it may get the ball at the start of the third quarter.
Rules and the exact wording of the choices differ across the NFL, college football, and other competitions. The referee announces the result and the teams take their positions. The toss does not award points or begin a down; it determines how the game will start.
The opening kickoff
In a standard start, one team kicks the ball from a tee to the other team. The kicking side lines up to send the ball downfield, while the receiving side sets up to catch it and, if possible, return it. The kick is the opening play, but it is not a normal offensive snap.
The receiver may catch the ball and run toward the opposite end zone. Players on the kicking team try to bring the returner down before he can gain more ground. The return ends when the runner is tackled, steps out of bounds, or the play is otherwise ruled dead. The offense then begins its drive from the spot where the play ended, subject to the league’s touchback and kickoff-placement rules.
A kick can also travel into or through the end zone without being returned. In that case, the result is generally a touchback, and the receiving team starts its possession at a set field position. The precise spot varies by competition and can depend on the type of kick and where it lands. That is why an opening kickoff can produce a return—or send the offense straight onto the field without a tackle.
From the return to the first offensive play
Once the kickoff is over, the receiving team’s offense takes the field. Each team has 11 players on the field at a time. The ball is placed at the offense’s starting spot, and both teams line up on opposite sides of it. The center snaps the ball backward to the quarterback or another player, and that snap starts the first down.
The offense has four downs, or attempts, to move the ball at least 10 yards. If it reaches that target, it earns a new set of downs. If it is still short after three plays, teams often punt on fourth down to send the ball farther away from their own end zone. A team may instead try to convert on fourth down, depending on the distance, field position, score, and time remaining.
For example, if the returner is stopped at his team’s 25-yard line, the offense’s first play begins there. The quarterback might hand the ball to a running back, throw a pass, or keep it himself. The kickoff has established possession and field position; the snap begins the offense’s attempt to advance the ball.
What happens after the opening play?
The game proceeds in timed quarters, with a halftime break. Teams switch which end of the field they defend at set points, and the team that deferred at the coin toss may take its selected option to begin the second half. A new kickoff also follows a score, though the scoring team’s opponent receives the ball in the usual case.
There are exceptions. For instance, after a safety, the team that gave up the points must put the ball back in play under a special free-kick procedure. Kickoff formats and touchback spots also differ between the NFL, college, and high school football. The basic pattern remains the same: a team puts the ball in play with a kickoff, the receiving team establishes possession, and its offense starts a drive.
Why the opening choices matter
Choosing to receive gives a team the first chance to score, which can be useful if its offense is ready to attack. Deferring can be a strategic way to aim for the ball at the beginning of both halves, depending on what the other team chooses and how the opening half unfolds. A captain might also select a field direction when wind, sun, or weather could affect passing and kicking.
The return itself can influence the first drive. A long return gives the offense a shorter field to work with; a touchback or a tackle near the goal line may leave it with more ground to cover. Coaches prepare for these possibilities with kickoff-return formations, blocking assignments, and decisions about when to bring a kick out of the end zone. A returner has to weigh the chance of gaining yards against the risk of being tackled short of the touchback spot or losing the ball.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the coin toss start the game?
No. The coin toss decides which team gets the opening choice. The game’s first live play is normally the kickoff.
Does the team that wins the toss always receive first?
No. The toss winner can choose to kick, select a field end, or defer its choice where the competition’s rules allow. The other team may therefore receive the opening kickoff.
What happens if the opening kickoff is not returned?
If the kick results in a touchback, the receiving team starts its drive at the field position set by that league’s rules. Its offense then lines up for first down.
Is the kickoff the first down?
No. The kickoff is a special play, not an offensive down. The receiving team’s first down begins on the next play, when the ball is snapped.
Final Thoughts
An American football competition typically opens with a coin toss, a decision about possession or field position, and then a kickoff. Once the return ends, the receiving team’s offense takes over and begins its first drive with a snap. The details can vary by league, but that sequence is the key to understanding how the game gets underway.
Aiden Cross is a sports writer and editor at BeliveSports, covering a broad range of sports with a focus on clear, accurate, and practical information. His work covers rules, techniques, player roles, competitions, equipment, statistics, and the details that help readers better understand how different sports are played. Aiden takes a research-driven approach to sports writing, using reliable sources and established sporting information to provide context rather than simply repeating surface-level facts. His goal is to make complex topics accessible while maintaining the accuracy and depth expected by knowledgeable sports fans. At BeliveSports, Aiden contributes to the site’s editorial standards by focusing on accuracy, clarity, useful context, and reader-first explanations.