8 Coaching Special Teams 126 Coaching Youth Football Coaching Special Teams 127 ll phases of the kicking segments of a football game are referred to as “special teams.” Just as you teach the offensive and defensive segments to Ayour team, you also will coach all phases of the kicking game. At times, players focus more on their duties on offense and defense and downplay their roles as special teams players. However, special teams are an integral part of a successful football team, and you, as the coach, must remind all players that their contribution on special teams is just as important as their contribution on offense and defense. Kicking-Game Rules The following are special rules that apply only to special teams and should be taught to players as you coach the different phases of the kick- ing game: • A player signals a fair catch by extending an arm above the head and waving it from side to side. The receiving player cannot hit or be hit after a fair catch, and the ball cannot be advanced after the catch. • The kicking team may down the football after the ball has hit the ground. • No one on either team may block below the waist. • No player on the receiving team may touch the punter or kicker unless the receiving team has blocked the kick or the kicker runs with the ball. • A field goal is a scrimmage kick and uses the same rules as the punt. • On a kickoff, after the ball has traveled 10 yards, it is a free ball and either team can gain possession of it. In this chapter, we first discuss the technical skills you will teach your team. Then, we focus on the special teams tactics you will use. Special Teams Technical Skills The phases of the kicking game can be broken into two general areas. The first is when your team kicks the ball during a kickoff, punt, point after touchdown (PAT), or a field goal. The second area is when your team receives a kick and you try to block a PAT or field goal during a kickoff return or punt return. The kicking game comprises about one-fourth of a football game. This means that as a coach you must plan for and devote part of your practice time each day to one or two phases of the kicking game. 126 Coaching Youth Football Coaching Special Teams 127 Let’s first work to understand the basic technical skills involved with special teams, Coaching Tip focusing on the punt team, the kickoff team, Set up a specific time during prac- the placekicking team, the kickoff and punt tice to concentrate as a team on a return teams, and the PAT and field goal– phase of special teams. During this blocking teams. Then, we move onto the time, work on corresponding phases tactics involved with these special teams. of the kicking game. For example, in practice one, focus on the punt Punt Team and punt return team by practicing The punt team is the special teams segment the fake punt pass or run-and-punt used most often during a game because blocks if used; in practice two, focus teams almost always punt on fourth down. on the kickoff and kickoff return The punt team consists of two players. The teams by practicing onside kicks center, known as the long snapper, centers the ball back between the legs to the punter and onside prevent team; and in who can be lined up 10 to 15 yards away practice three, focus on the PAT depending on the ability of the center. The and field goal team and the field punter catches the snap from the center and goal block team by practicing fake executes the punt. The remaining players field goal runs or the pass-and-fake block the opposing players until the punter defense. kicks the ball. After the punt, they run down the field prepared to tackle opposing players attempting to run the punt back up the field. Punt coverage involves organizing your punt team so that they can cover the punt and down the ball carrier before he can advance the ball upfield. The punter should kick the ball for distance and keep it in the air long enough to give the coverage team time to get downfield and make the play. If the punter does not have time to get the ball off, make sure the players know that they must block first, before the ball is kicked and before they make their way down the field. Long Snapper When centering to the punter, long snappers start with the feet even and then reach out to grip the ball as though throwing a forward pass with the snap- ping hand. The other hand rests lightly on top of the ball and guides the ball during the snap. In the stance the shoulders are even and the back level so that the shoulders and rear end are at the same height. When long snappers see that the punter is ready, they snap the ball with both hands back between their legs to the punter with as much force as possible, aiming for the punter’s belt. As they snap the ball, they allow the hands to rotate to the outside. The long snapper’s most important job is getting the ball to the punter. If the long snapper throws the ball over the punter’s head, make sure the back is level. If the rear end is higher than the shoulders, the snap will be too high. Keeping the back level will lower the snap. 128 Coaching Youth Football Coaching Special Teams 129 Punter Teams punt on fourth down to turn the ball over to the opponent. The punting team’s objective is to give the opponent a less favorable field position. Coach your kickers to follow these guidelines for punting successfully: • Line up 10 yards behind the center. • When catching the ball, position as shown in figure 8.1a, and once the ball is received, take a short step forward with the kicking foot and extend the ball forward. Then, take a normal second step with the nonkicking foot and allow the hand opposite the kicking foot to come away from the ball. • When the ball is dropped, there should be no movement at the elbows, wrists, or shoulders, and the ball should drop parallel to the ground with the tip turned slightly in, as shown in figure 8.1b. • As the kick is made, the nonkicking leg should remain in contact with the ground and the kicking leg should make Coaching Tip proper contact on the center of the ball, as Remind your players to keep their shown in figure 8.1c. The kicking leg will then shoulders in front of their hips extend and follow through. Also remember that foot speed is not as important as making during the entire kicking motion. proper contact with the ball. a b c Figure 8.1 (a-c) Proper kicking technique for the punter. 128 Coaching Youth Football Coaching Special Teams 129 Punting Drill �� �� �� �� �� � � Players divide into two groups. The first group includes the center (C) and the punter (P). The second group includes the punt coverage team (PC). Both groups are positioned as shown in the diagram. The P lines up 10 yards behind the C. When the C sees that the P is ready, the C throws the ball back to the P with as much force as possible, aiming for the belt of the P. When the P receives the ball, the P kicks the ball. When the ball is in the air, the PC team charges downfield so that they can cover the punt. Break up the PC team so that only one side goes at a time (e.g., everyone left of the C, as shown in the diagram, and then everyone to the right of the C). That way, you can rotate players and keep the drill going. You may also add a punt return group to enhance the drill. �������������� ��������������������� The key to coaching punters is to teach correct technique and then allow them to practice and develop their rhythm. They should strive for consistency in height and distance. Kickoff Team This is the team that will be on the field after you have scored and at the begin- ning of the game or the start of the second half. The kicker is the only player on this team who uses a special technique. The remaining 10 players on the kickoff team run down the field as the ball is kicked and try to get into position to tackle the returner, who is trying to run the ball back up the field. Kickoff coverage is configured the same as punt coverage as shown in figure 8.2. 130 Coaching Youth Football Coaching Special Teams 131 � �� �� �� �� �� � Figure 8.2 Kickoff team alignment.��������������������� ������������� Kicker To kick the ball down the field as far as possible, the kicker must run at the ball to build momentum for the kick. To achieve this momentum, the kicker should do the following: • Place the ball on the tee. • Line up with the kicking foot directly behind the ball and the tee and place the nonkicking foot to the side of the tee. • Take one step back with the kicking foot. • Turn and take approximately eight more steps straight back from the ball. • Turn and make certain he is still in line with the ball. • Turn and take five steps to the side opposite the kicking foot.