Post by Coach Campbell on Feb 1, 2020 23:51:53 GMT
Kicking Game Introduction
Coaches always refer to special teams as one-third of the game, but in reality, only 20 to 30 plays involve special teams play. That is about 20% of the game! However, special teams play is an integral part of every football game because each play either involves a scoring opportunity or a field position change. Each week, regardless of the level, from Youth to the NFL, games are won or lost because of blocked kicks, big returns, missed extra points, or some other aspect of special teams play. Why does this happen? Is it because of the lack of interest by the players or coaches? Fatigue, mental lapse or scheme? I believe it is a combination of all those factors.
As a coach, we are responsible for the “how to” and the players are responsible for the “want to”. But, the way we coach the “how to” sends an important message that impacts the players “want to”. Staff assignments become a key indicator to your players about the importance of special teams. Every coach, including coordinators must have special teams’ responsibilities, but the head coach should be responsible for special teams, and have a passion for it. It will rub off on the players and your coaches.
We do not ask our players to come early or stay late to work on specialties – this generation of players views that as punishment. If it is truly as important as offense and defense, then it needs to be part of practice, not an after thought. We consider the following critical keys to success in our special teams play:
• Emphasize special teams play – every coach has special teams' responsibility
• Personnel selection – good players must play
• Be efficient with time – coaches sit with players, always talking football
• Special teams circuit – use it to keep the entire team involved
Like all coaches, each year our staff attends clinics, buys books, reviews videos and visit with other staffs. We begin our coaches’ meetings in March to prepare for the upcoming season. During those meetings, we discuss schemes and installation, including any changes that need to be made to our playbooks. Our staff refers to our playbooks as the “buffet line”. We select from the “buffet” the schemes that we feel our players will have the greatest chance for success with.
The Complete Special Teams’ Playbook was written to be thought provoking – a guide to help coaches evaluate their special team’s preparation and schemes. The manual should be viewed as your special team’s buffet line. It contains the six components of special teams, including a variety of schemes:
• Kicking Game
o Kickoff, which we refer to as the “SWAT Team”
o Punt, which we refer to as the “BOMB SQUAD”
o Field Goal or Point-After-Touchdown (“FIELD GOAL” or “PAT”)
• Return Game
o Kickoff Return, which we refer to as the “PRIDE AND JOY” Team
o Punt Return, which we refer to as the “EFFORT Team”
o Field Goal Defense, which we refer to as the “PRIDE Team”
Kickers! We do not have the luxury of having a kicking coach, but we always assign a position coach to work with our kickers. As such we have developed a system to train our kickers to execute our schemes. Our kickers work hard, because they have specific drills to help them improve their performance, but more importantly, there is a coach keeping them accountable. The “Coaching the Kickers” chapter will provide you with an overview of how we work with our kickers. This chapter is followed by “Working with the Specialists”, which includes tips on working with the Long Snapper, Holders, and Returners, both punt and kickoff.
The chapter on “installation” will provide a road map to make sure that all aspects of special teams are covered with your players before they play their first game. This chapter also includes installation checklists, along with a listing of our basic special teams’ drills.
Finally, this book has been written with high school rules in mind. We have provided an explanation of differences to college rules where appropriate. The Appendix includes those excerpts from the National Federation of State High School Association Football Rules Book that pertain to the kicking game.
As with all our books, they do not have all of the answers. However, they are written to help coaches think and evaluate their coaching methods and schemes. The Complete Special Teams’ Playbook is no exception. So, let’s begin building effective and efficient special teams schemes that will give you the field position advantage!
Coaches always refer to special teams as one-third of the game, but in reality, only 20 to 30 plays involve special teams play. That is about 20% of the game! However, special teams play is an integral part of every football game because each play either involves a scoring opportunity or a field position change. Each week, regardless of the level, from Youth to the NFL, games are won or lost because of blocked kicks, big returns, missed extra points, or some other aspect of special teams play. Why does this happen? Is it because of the lack of interest by the players or coaches? Fatigue, mental lapse or scheme? I believe it is a combination of all those factors.
As a coach, we are responsible for the “how to” and the players are responsible for the “want to”. But, the way we coach the “how to” sends an important message that impacts the players “want to”. Staff assignments become a key indicator to your players about the importance of special teams. Every coach, including coordinators must have special teams’ responsibilities, but the head coach should be responsible for special teams, and have a passion for it. It will rub off on the players and your coaches.
We do not ask our players to come early or stay late to work on specialties – this generation of players views that as punishment. If it is truly as important as offense and defense, then it needs to be part of practice, not an after thought. We consider the following critical keys to success in our special teams play:
• Emphasize special teams play – every coach has special teams' responsibility
• Personnel selection – good players must play
• Be efficient with time – coaches sit with players, always talking football
• Special teams circuit – use it to keep the entire team involved
Like all coaches, each year our staff attends clinics, buys books, reviews videos and visit with other staffs. We begin our coaches’ meetings in March to prepare for the upcoming season. During those meetings, we discuss schemes and installation, including any changes that need to be made to our playbooks. Our staff refers to our playbooks as the “buffet line”. We select from the “buffet” the schemes that we feel our players will have the greatest chance for success with.
The Complete Special Teams’ Playbook was written to be thought provoking – a guide to help coaches evaluate their special team’s preparation and schemes. The manual should be viewed as your special team’s buffet line. It contains the six components of special teams, including a variety of schemes:
• Kicking Game
o Kickoff, which we refer to as the “SWAT Team”
o Punt, which we refer to as the “BOMB SQUAD”
o Field Goal or Point-After-Touchdown (“FIELD GOAL” or “PAT”)
• Return Game
o Kickoff Return, which we refer to as the “PRIDE AND JOY” Team
o Punt Return, which we refer to as the “EFFORT Team”
o Field Goal Defense, which we refer to as the “PRIDE Team”
Kickers! We do not have the luxury of having a kicking coach, but we always assign a position coach to work with our kickers. As such we have developed a system to train our kickers to execute our schemes. Our kickers work hard, because they have specific drills to help them improve their performance, but more importantly, there is a coach keeping them accountable. The “Coaching the Kickers” chapter will provide you with an overview of how we work with our kickers. This chapter is followed by “Working with the Specialists”, which includes tips on working with the Long Snapper, Holders, and Returners, both punt and kickoff.
The chapter on “installation” will provide a road map to make sure that all aspects of special teams are covered with your players before they play their first game. This chapter also includes installation checklists, along with a listing of our basic special teams’ drills.
Finally, this book has been written with high school rules in mind. We have provided an explanation of differences to college rules where appropriate. The Appendix includes those excerpts from the National Federation of State High School Association Football Rules Book that pertain to the kicking game.
As with all our books, they do not have all of the answers. However, they are written to help coaches think and evaluate their coaching methods and schemes. The Complete Special Teams’ Playbook is no exception. So, let’s begin building effective and efficient special teams schemes that will give you the field position advantage!