blocking punts

A few things:
Their path should be across (not toward) the punter at a point 1 yard in front of where the extended foot would be.
They should CROSS their wrists when they lay out. They should make their body flat (dont bend at the waist, in other words, hands and feet as far apart as possible).
Look for guys that are hard to block, and good at this SKILL, not always who you think it would be!!!
If they don't have courage they'll never get it done.
Virginia tech- Frank Beamer- get resources.
good luck- unless you're playin us!

Dont Rough the Punter!!!

Don't forget the inside blockers, these players should aim at the same point and use similar technique but RUN a yard outside the punter, not diving towards him.

nw

I was always told by my dad (coach) GO ALL OUT OR OUT YOU GO.. With this in mind I must ask some questions.

.. Do you coaches call for a block punt play,or do you just leave it up too your players to have free will.

.. Would this be a scouting thing or a game time thing and test it out like the first time they punt and get feed back ..

Just my view point but I believe a player must have his mind set and then go at it and get-er-dun!!
In the same breath coaches that do call this and send his players live with the outcome.

Coach, you have to CALL this in my opinion because of the various situations that could happen. for example:
If they are punting out of the end zone and it is the end of the game and were losing -we have nothing to lose, but If it is a close game , and we are winning- we want the ball in our offenses hands (clock management!) because we are gonna have the ball on their side of the field and control the clock. I'm sure I could give more examples but the point is that there is a time and a place to back off.

Thanks Tiger One.
Who else has situational examples of when they would GO FOR THE BLOCK vs. Sit back and safe return it?

Hi Coaches and many THANKS,
What some sound advice, I'm sitting here with a loss for words at the moment but all I can say is it's like a light bulb just went bright when I read your replys. Sometimes the obvious seems to escape me so again
I thank you for taking the time out. Lesson learned here, keep asking here on this site fore you guys are the forerunners.
Just a note that I got a time back and I used last year, Somewhere in the middle of the season I approched practice in a blistery demenor telling everyone to line up in their 3 point stance just like we started our first practice of the year. I was going back and forth with how there stance wasn't looking good
and just laying a mess of crap at them. My hope here was to try to get them back down to earth after a few wins. I also want them to understand the importance of the basic's which I was drilling at them at this time. Now I see maybe I should practice what I preach, and for me special teams is close to the top after basic blocking and tackling.
By the way 95% were in very good stance, which after doing my escapade I excussed myself from the other coaches and went a short distance to the restroom walking with a smile on my face from ear to ear.
There's another underline story why I felt this way but let's just say getting them into a proper stance was my baby. Just the way it was taught to me...
By the way did any one have any comments on my thought's concerning my kick-off formation that I posted under SPECIAL TEAMS be it pro or con I'll take all, BEST,

Coach Charger,
That is an interesting stat.
If your offense is having success, then gettting the ball back is less of a risk and you can chew up that clock, But if there is a weak link from scouting or a slob comes into the game because a starter went out, I'm going after it 11 out of 10 times!!!

Hey, Tiger One...good to see you back. We were severely affected by the hurricanes, having our last 4 games cancelled and finishing 3-3. Disappointing thing is that we were just coming up on the easy stretch of our schedule and would have finished at least 6-4 and maybe 7-3. Don't know how Raines did, but I will try to find out for you.

As far as our technique, we aren't usually strict on the two yard block spot. We scout their punter to see how many steps they take and how many yards he is back at the kick. I do not teach laying out at all. Kids end up being out of control and it results in too many roughing the punter calls. We teach them to stay low and run full speed through the block spot with arms extended and hands together in a diamond. We want them to run low and fast and aim low with their hands and "take the ball" off the punter's foot.

As far as taking risks, I don't see the risk in going for a block. The only risk you run is a roughing the punter call. However, if your kids are well coached and use proper technique then that won't happen. Even if we don't get the block, then we may force a shank and get good position anyway. My philosophy is to be aggressive and play to win -- don't play not to lose.

We have set schools records in punt blocks two years in a row and have not had a single roughing the punter call in that period.

Reards,

Good thinking!

Coach Easton

here is a scheme tip to add to your list of how to block a punt. pick the side that the punter steps to when punting. attack that point. The best tip I whave been given was by one of our players who said that he picked the open gap. so here's what we did to help him. 1. Pick a side to block. Cover up all of the ol on that side w/ player to both occupy the block and force them outside on the return. 3) attack the gaps w/ on more off the line blocker than they have. by off the line blocker I mean personal protector or up back. 4) Try to draw the blockers to the outside 1st. 5)Find a guy w/ a knack for getting to kicks.
With this in mind, we blocked 8 kicks in 10 game this year.

I agree with the others about NOT leaving your feet.

We teach them to "take the ball off of the kickers foot" do not jump, leap, or leave your feet.

One of our opponents this year had a block for sure, the kid left his feet, the punter pulled up and ran for the first down.