Post by Coach Campbell on Sept 27, 2005 17:56:32 GMT
Special teams
The special teams are used for particular purposes, mostly kicking and punting, or the return of both.
Kick-off team
When kicking off, the kicker has a defensive team. The kicker tries to kick the ball high and far. The longer the ball stays in the air, the more time they offensive team have to get downfield and tackle the receiver. The further to the opposing line, the better.
The ball must be kept within the field. The kicker will usually kick the ball so that it hits the ground, and rolls, and thus becomes very difficult for the receiver to catch it.
The alternative to the kick off is the onside kick, where a losing team will kick the ball along the ground to a minimum of 10 yards (9.14 metres), and try to recover the ball themselves and take possession.
At the time of the kick-off, all players on the kicking team must be behind the ball. All players on the receiving team must be at least 10 yards (9.14 metres) away from the ball at the time when the kick is made.
Kick-off return team
The receiving side try and protect the receiver, and block tacklers, and allow the receiver to advance upfield. If the receiver feel that they cannot make any progress forwards, they can call for a fair catch, by raising the arm while the ball is still in the air.
This means that when the receiver catches the ball, they will not be interfered with by the defensive team. Once the catch has been made, the receiver cannot move upfield anymore. The play is restarted with a scrimmage from the point where the catch is made (but between the hash marks in the center of the field).
Punting team
The punting team does a similar task to the kick-off unit. The difference is that a kick-off is taken from the ground, whereas a punt is kicked after dropping the ball from the hands, before it hits the ground.
The punt is usually made when the team has had three downs and cannot do much else, although it can be taken at anytime during play. The punt is useful as it restarts play deep in the opposing teams half, even though they then gain possession.
To make a punt, the punter lines up about 10 yards (9.14 metres) behind the line of scrimmage, and is protected by the linesmen, who try and stop the punt return team from breaking up the play after the kicker has received the ball from the snap.
If a punt goes out of bounds (over the field sidelines or endlines) play is restarted in the middle part of the field at the point level with where the ball went out. If the punt goes into the opposing half then that team have possession.
As with the kick-off team, the punt team also try and stop the receiver from gaining yardage (getting back upfield after getting the ball).
Punt return kick
Just like the kick-off return team, the punt return team are responsible for protecting the receiving player from the opposing team. They are also allowed to try and stop the opposing punter from making the kick, and to hold their place on the scrimmage line to make sure that the punt does take place, and that the punting team has not got a different play in mind.
Field goal units
These units are brought into play when the opposing goal posts are in the range of the kicker, and the team is facing a fourth down, or in overtime, they feel that they can score.
The kicker and the holder (often the quarterback) are protected by the linesmen. After receiving the snap, the holder places the ball on the ground and the kicker attempts to send it over the crossbar for three points.
The defensive team will try to block the kick, prevent the kicker from making the kick, and be on the lookout in case the quarterback decides to run or pass instead of going ahead with the kick. Field goal attempts are made in front of the posts, so the success rate is high.
The special teams are used for particular purposes, mostly kicking and punting, or the return of both.
Kick-off team
When kicking off, the kicker has a defensive team. The kicker tries to kick the ball high and far. The longer the ball stays in the air, the more time they offensive team have to get downfield and tackle the receiver. The further to the opposing line, the better.
The ball must be kept within the field. The kicker will usually kick the ball so that it hits the ground, and rolls, and thus becomes very difficult for the receiver to catch it.
The alternative to the kick off is the onside kick, where a losing team will kick the ball along the ground to a minimum of 10 yards (9.14 metres), and try to recover the ball themselves and take possession.
At the time of the kick-off, all players on the kicking team must be behind the ball. All players on the receiving team must be at least 10 yards (9.14 metres) away from the ball at the time when the kick is made.
Kick-off return team
The receiving side try and protect the receiver, and block tacklers, and allow the receiver to advance upfield. If the receiver feel that they cannot make any progress forwards, they can call for a fair catch, by raising the arm while the ball is still in the air.
This means that when the receiver catches the ball, they will not be interfered with by the defensive team. Once the catch has been made, the receiver cannot move upfield anymore. The play is restarted with a scrimmage from the point where the catch is made (but between the hash marks in the center of the field).
Punting team
The punting team does a similar task to the kick-off unit. The difference is that a kick-off is taken from the ground, whereas a punt is kicked after dropping the ball from the hands, before it hits the ground.
The punt is usually made when the team has had three downs and cannot do much else, although it can be taken at anytime during play. The punt is useful as it restarts play deep in the opposing teams half, even though they then gain possession.
To make a punt, the punter lines up about 10 yards (9.14 metres) behind the line of scrimmage, and is protected by the linesmen, who try and stop the punt return team from breaking up the play after the kicker has received the ball from the snap.
If a punt goes out of bounds (over the field sidelines or endlines) play is restarted in the middle part of the field at the point level with where the ball went out. If the punt goes into the opposing half then that team have possession.
As with the kick-off team, the punt team also try and stop the receiver from gaining yardage (getting back upfield after getting the ball).
Punt return kick
Just like the kick-off return team, the punt return team are responsible for protecting the receiving player from the opposing team. They are also allowed to try and stop the opposing punter from making the kick, and to hold their place on the scrimmage line to make sure that the punt does take place, and that the punting team has not got a different play in mind.
Field goal units
These units are brought into play when the opposing goal posts are in the range of the kicker, and the team is facing a fourth down, or in overtime, they feel that they can score.
The kicker and the holder (often the quarterback) are protected by the linesmen. After receiving the snap, the holder places the ball on the ground and the kicker attempts to send it over the crossbar for three points.
The defensive team will try to block the kick, prevent the kicker from making the kick, and be on the lookout in case the quarterback decides to run or pass instead of going ahead with the kick. Field goal attempts are made in front of the posts, so the success rate is high.