Return yards is a
statistical measure that takes several forms. In American and Canadian football, progress is measured by advancing the football towards the opposing team's
goal line. Progress can be made during play by the offensive team by advancing the ball from its point of progress at the start of play known as the
line of scrimmage
In gridiron football, a line of scrimmage is an invisible transverse line (across the width of the field) beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun. Its location is based on the spot where the ball is placed after the end ...
or by the defensive team after taking possession of the football via a change of possession (such as
punt,
kickoff,
interception
In Ball game, ball-playing Competitive sport, competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for ...
,
punt block, blocked kick or
fumble
A fumble in gridiron football occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed (tackled), scoring, or going out of bounds. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful h ...
). When the defensive team advances the ball during play after a change in possession, yardage is credited from the point of the change of possession.
Return specialist
A return specialist or kick returner is a player on the special teams unit of a gridiron football team who specializes in returning punts and kickoffs. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most also play another positio ...
s are commonly monitored statistically for their totals and averages. However, other types of return yardage such as interception return yards are also measured because the point on the field where a change in possession occurs is marked.
Kick return yards and punt return yards result from voluntary change in possession and most of the others result from involuntary forms of change in possession known as
turnovers. Often kick return and punt return statistics are aggregated. and sometimes they are added to
yards from scrimmage
Yards from scrimmage is a gridiron football statistical measure. In the game of football, progress is measured by advancing the football towards the opposing team's goal line. Progress can be made during play by the offensive team by advancing ...
to yield
all-purpose yards. When kick return yards and punt return yards are aggregated they are known as combined return yards or more formally, combined kick return yards.
See also
*
Glossary of American football
The following terms are used in American football, both conventional and indoor. Some of these terms are also in use in Canadian football; for a list of terms unique to that code, see '' Glossary of Canadian football''.
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Notes
American football terminology
Canadian football terminology
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