Special Teams Organization

Example

Special teams is just as an important part of the game as offense and defense. Special teams can set the tone of the series whether it's for offense or defense. As coaches, we need to really let the players know that special teams shouldn't be taken lightly and they could actually make a name for themselves by playing special teams. The offensive linemen's coach duties for special teams will be blocking assignments for field goal and punt safety (versus punt block),also to work with the long snappers snapping on both. Defensive linemen coach will handle the front line assignments for punt block and field goal block. Running backs coach will work with the return men for kick-return and punt return. The receivers coach will work with the gunners on punt team. Defensive backs coach will have the defensive gunners on punt return and the gunners on the kick-off team. The head coach will teach how to form the wall on kick return, how to run down on kick-off, how to run down the field on punt, how to form the wall on punt return. The OC will put in any fake plays for punt and field goal.



Each day two different special team's periods will be a part of practice. One at the beginning of practice right after stretching, the other in the middle of the practice. Each special teams will have two 20 minute periods each day. Again, special teams can turn momentum in the middle of the game, so just like everything else in the game of football special teams will be ran until it is executed without hesitation.

Example

The first step in creating a successful kicking game is to make your most energetic coach the kicking game coordinator. This does two things: One it makes your players excited to be a part of the kicking team. A high energy coach creates high energy players. The second thing it does is gives you a coach that will give everything he has to the kicking game. It benefits you to not have your kicking game coordinator coordinate offense or defense. This way the kicking game will be given the high priority it deserves.



The kicking game coordinator over sees all aspects of the kicking game. They will be in charge of the game plan for the week and will call the plays during the game. However, they will also have a position coach that will assist in a specific phase of the kicking game:



Kickoff- Kickoff is all about running and tackling. Our LB coach is the best coach to assist the kicking game coordinator in coaching of the kickoff team. The LB coach will teach be able to teach your gunners/bullet players about flying down hill towards the ball carries and forcing the ball carrier to help. It can assist in your second level kickoff team players in playing the inside shoulder of the returner for when the returner cuts after being forced to cut from a gunner. Lastly, it will be able to coach of the safety or what we call a trail player that will take the proper angle to keep from a kickoff return TD.



Kickoff Return Team- Kickoff return is all about blocking and running. Our WR coach will assist the kicking game coordinator in coaching up KOR. The players on KOR are physical but also have the ability to be a play maker with the ball in their hands, just like we hope our receivers have. WR should be able to block in open space just like they are required to do in the run game of our offense. Also, they have good balls skills and can make plays when they have the ball in their hands.



Punt Team- Punt team can be tricky because it is one of the phases of the kicking game that can be an offensive driven team and it can be defensive drive. We normally like our RB coach to assist our kicking game coordinator. The RB coach can help with the creation of fake runs out of the punt team formation. We also ask the DB coach to assist the RB coach and kicking game coordinator because the name of the game when you do punt is the ability to open field tackle. No other position has to open field tackle more than our DBs.



Punt Return Team-The two coaches that assist with punt also assist with punt return. The corners on Punt return have to play man coverage and force the WR on punt team towards the sideline. The longer we can keep them on the outsides of the field the more chance we have to field the punt cleanly and get as many yards as we can. The RB coach can assist with the punt returner and how to get whatever yards you can. Typically a punt returner doesn't have as many blockers as a kickoff return team because there are times we are going to blitz the punter in hopes to block the punts. RB's have times where they have to get what they can get on runs that are not blocked well. The RB coach can instill this skill set in our punt returners.



FG Block- The DL coach loves helping our kicking game coordinator for FG block. Typically DL, and their coach, have to be gap disciplined, stay at heel line, occupy space to open up running lanes for LB's. Including the DL coach bring a great amount of energy and creative thinking to getting to the kicker and blocking the kick.



FG Team- The key to any successful FG team (besides snapping, holding, and kicking) is making sure our kicker has enough time to kick. The OL coach is the perfect coach to assist the kicking game coordinator for the FG team. He coaches players who's primary job is keep people from getting to the ball.