How To Kick & Run Option Plays In Madden 25

The NFL has new kickoff rules for the 2024 season, and Tall6uy will take you through the best ways to do it. On top of it, he’ll take you through the best ways to run the option in Madden 25.

Kicking in Madden NFL 25

Press the X button on PlayStation or the A button on Xbox to start the kicking process.  Keep holding the button and release it when the power meter reaches your desired level.

While holding the button for power, use the left stick to aim your kick. Aim for the middle green zone for the most accurate kick.

Avoid Over kicking: If you hold the button too long and hit the red spot on the meter, you risk over kicking. This will make your kick less accurate and increase your chances of missing the kick.

If you're concerned about over kicking, you can simply hold the kick button throughout the entire process. This will result in approximately one-third of the power meter, suitable for shorter kicks like extra points.

Keep in mind that the kicking meter speeds up as the distance of the kick increases, making longer kicks harder. The size of the green accuracy zone on the meter also varies depending on your kicker's rating. A lower-rated kicker will have a smaller green zone, making accuracy more challenging.

Remember that Practice Makes Perfect. To master kicking, you should spend time in practice mode and familiarize yourself with the new kicking meter and fine-tune your technique.

How to Run Option Plays In Madden 25

Read Option 

A Read Option play gives the quarterback the choice to hand the ball off or keep it based on the defensive player designated as the "read defender." The read defender will have an "R" icon above them in the play art.

If you do nothing after snapping the ball, the quarterback will hand the ball off to the running back automatically.

If you want to keep the ball, tap and hold the X button after the snap. You can also tap the button, release it, and then tap and hold it.

It’s important to read the Defender's Movement correctly: If the defender goes towards the running back, you should keep the ball. If the defender goes towards the quarterback, you should hand the ball off.

Speed Option/Load Option (Pitch Plays)

These plays allow the quarterback to pitch the ball to a teammate, typically a running back. First you need to identify the pitch defender who will have a "P" icon displayed above them.

If the defender advances towards the quarterback, pitch the ball by pressing the L1 button or left bumper.

Peaks/Alerts: 

These plays combine both run and pass options. Like the read option, if no action is taken after the snap, the ball will automatically be handed off to the running back.

Observe the defensive players to decide if you should pass or hand the ball off. For example, you can check the "M icon" (Mike linebacker) to see if the middle of the field is open. To throw a pass, tap the icon corresponding to the receiver you want to target.