How to run Special Teams like VA TECH

It is said that 4 plays occur every game that if you can control for your team, you have greatly enhanced your teams chances of winning. It did not take me long to figure out when I first started coaching that those 4 plays most often happen on special teams ( bad long snaps, muffed punts, dropped long snaps, poor holds that result in fumbles, etc.). To not allocate ADEQUATE PRACTICE TIME TO ALL 5 SPECIAL FORCES UNITS EACH AND EVERY DAY IS A GRAVE MISTAKE, IMO.

Coach Easton

In being the Special Teams Co-ordinater for my school,I have developed into the practice schedule the following:

3:10-3:20 Snappers and Holders work together
Kickers stretch

3:20-3:30 Kicking Practice
Xtra Points Middle
FG's from the 25 yd line L-M-R

Punters get snaps from L-M-R
work on form and distance kicks must be within the areas(all kicks charted)

3:30 Xtra point or FG try then start of practice.


Whenever we change over from Off/Def we go through a Special Teams Play:

Off to Def:
PUNT
Kick after a SAFETY
KICK OFF
FG/EXP

Def to Off:
Punt Return
Punt/FG BLK
Kick Off RTR

one drill that we try to do but not religiously,was taken from VATECH. If you have a BLASTER,have your KO/Punt Team hold onto a Standup Bag and have them run through the blaster. This helps them get the feeling of trying to fight off blockers and driving downfield. After they get through the BLASTER the discard the bag and look for a BC.

In the materials that I have seen from Va tech is nothing more than anyone else. Where they are better than most schools is 1) special teams are a priority. It is not lip service. 2) the head coach is the special teams coord. What kind of message does that send to the athletes when the head coach is coaching the special teams. 3) they practice all special teams situations. No stone unturned. 4) all the asst coaches are involved with the special teams as well. Each coach plays a roll on the different teams.

JD