Kickoff Rules Changed for Princeton University, Ivy League Football Teams for 2016

Princeton, NJ -- Citing a concern for player safety and amid a growing movement to have kickoffs eliminated from football altogether, the Ivy League announced this week that teams will kick off from the 40-yard line for conference games this season, according to ncaa.com.

Additionally, teams will begin their possessions at the 20-yard line following touchbacks, according to the report.

Throughout college football, teams kick off from the 35-yard line and possessions begin at the 25-yard line following touchbacks.

The Ivy League will collect data and submit it to the NCAA Football Rules Committee following the season.
A total of 23.4 percent of concussions suffered during football games take place on kickoff returns, according to Sports Illustrated.

The Ivy League made the request to the NCAA as part of its overall review of concussions in nine total sports that dates back to 2010, according to the report. The conference has also eliminated “live” tackling during practices.

Princeton University opens its football season Sept. 17 at home against Lafayette, although the kickoff rules changes won’t come into play until the conference opener on Oct. 1 at Columbia.

The NFL is also tackling player safety from the standpoint of kickoffs, with an experimental move of its touchback line from the 20 to the 25-yard line for this season, according to Fox Sports.

Meanwhile, there is a group that is at least examining the possibility of eliminating kickoffs from football altogether, according to the Washington Post.