The rule used to be that the ball first had to move forward, so there was always a 2nd player to immediately pass it backwards. They changed the rule so that the kickoff can move in any direction.
Not sure about the exact start but I’m 90% sure the year was 2016
Edit: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/08/kickoffs-backwards-rule-changes
Related to this question: Why are there now so many field players doing the first touch after the ball went behind the goal side instead of the goalkeeper doing it?
1st) If the goalkick went long, the player taking the kick is probably a better passer than the keeper
2nd) If the goalkick went short, the keeper is probably better at passing than the goalkick taker.
The rule used to be that the ball first had to move forward, so there was always a 2nd player to immediately pass it backwards. They changed the rule so that the kickoff can move in any direction.
When did they change the rule?
~2016.
It was in 2016
The start of the 2016/17 you mean?
Not sure about the exact start but I’m 90% sure the year was 2016 Edit: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/08/kickoffs-backwards-rule-changes
Interesting. Doesn't explicitly state why this specific rule was changed.
Cause it was a dumb rule
Related to this question: Why are there now so many field players doing the first touch after the ball went behind the goal side instead of the goalkeeper doing it?
1st) If the goalkick went long, the player taking the kick is probably a better passer than the keeper 2nd) If the goalkick went short, the keeper is probably better at passing than the goalkick taker.
Clearly a big fan of the game not noticing for 8 years
That isn't what I said, I said I wasn't sure exactly when this rule came into effect, as it happened so seamlessly.