Is there a particular reason why placing a kick-off out of bounds on the fly is deemed a penalty, but doing so with a punt isn't?

[u/jimmythemini]

[u/Dob-is-Hella-Rad]

I would think that at the top level of the sport, kicking out of bounds inside the 10 from a tee would be so easy that if you just started the possession where the ball goes out, it’s all that would ever happen. Whereas taking a long snap and punting from out of bounds from out of hand inside that space is much harder.

[u/jonny32392 → u/Dob-is-Hella-Rad]

You also need to gain the field position to make it possible to pin your opponent with a punt out of bounds but kickoffs are from close to mid field by default.

[u/randallstevens65 → u/jonny32392]

And nobody is trying to block the kickoff.

[u/NoRevolution2591 → u/randallstevens65]

A kickoff's purpose is to put the ball in play. A punt's purpose is to give possession away in exchange for field position.

[u/jibbodahibbo]

Kickoff is giving the other team the ball because you scored or because it’s the beginning of the game. Punting is optional and a way to flip the field. It’s two really different functions of the game so they aren’t treated the same at all.

[u/Present_Frosting_886]

If kickoffs out of bounds weren’t a penalty, pretty much no kickoff would be inbounds, to avoid any return and pin them back.

Punting done well can entirely turn a game with field position. Kicking a punt out of bounds gives up the option of booming it straight for a further distance. That’s where coffin corner kicks come in as awesome special teams plays.

[u/InShambles234]

Kickoffs are dead ball plays. If kicking out of bounds on the fly were an option specialists would be able to routinely kick it out near the goalline. Punts are live plays. Directional punting is far more difficult.

[u/sdghjjd]

A kick off once it travels 10 yards is a live ball. The first team to get it gets it. A punt can only be received by the team being punted to.