AFTER 8 YEARS of coaching high school football as a position coach and then as an offensive coordinator at the varsity level in a large school on the South side of Chicago, I took a position as a specials teams coordinator. Some would see this as a step down, myself included at the time. But, I found it to be a challenging position. I also came to realize the head coach didn’t put me in this position due to a lack of other interested coaches, he put me in there because I already had experience as a coordinator.
The head coach was happy to have an experienced coordinator in the special team’s position. At first I did not realize why. It quickly became clear to me, however, why this position was so important. After a while, I wondered how could I have ever coached on staffs that do not do this.
Critical Component
It has been said that special teams are a third of the game. Most coaches, however, minimize special teams practice time to work on more offense and defense. We have all been there. But the impact of a solid special-teams unit can alter a game or even a season. A solid kick-off team gives good field position to your defense, just as a solid return team gives good field position to your offense. The punt team, which consistently changes field position by 30 or more yards, can help you win the all-important field-position contest and is your advantage toward winning the game.
We’ve all seen the lift a team gets when their punt team runs a fake that gains a first down, or when their kick-off team recovers a fumble — or the biggest momentum shift of all — scoring on a kick or punt return.
A special team’s coverage unit can also set the tone by making a huge hit on the opening play of the game or half.
Designate A Special Team’s Coordinator
The best way to ensure that special teams has an aura of priority on your team is to appoint a special teams coordinator. This position was my responsibility and I was in charge of having all aspects of the special teams in order.
It was my job to assure the players understood where the balls were to be kicked and how to defend our opponents return team. I was to break down film and show the team each specific unit’s special-teams plays.
In the special team’s coordinator role, I was the third in command. This showed the players that special teams was something viewed as important by the head coach. We worked on it first thing every day right after stretching.
In fact, not only did we set up the kick-off team, but we worked on individual skills as well. My role as the coordinator included having individual drills set for each special team’s position. If there was an area of weakness during a particular game, that was an area we would concentrate on and emphasize the following Monday.
Auditioning Special Teams Positions
At the beginning of the season there are various steps you can take to help your special teams. Set up auditions for the kicker and punter positions early in the summer. Allow each player who wants to the opportunity to try out.
Put things in place to keep the auditioning process exciting but do not wait until time is short otherwise you’ll have everyone wanting to attempt a field goal.
Make early decisions on four or five and then work with them. Do not allow kicking practice to become a time when anyone can test their field-goal ability. Take a serious approach to the kicking game and make it a structured time of practice. Some Johnny-come-lately’s who want to test their leg strength will invariably break up whatever continuity you have developed with your kickers.
Selecting A Kick-Off Man
When selecting a kicker, most coaches focus on leg strength and the distance of kicks. This can be misleading, especially in the instance when a player kicks the ball for a very long distance but has no idea how he did it and cannot duplicate the action. You can bet that this will be the kicker who kicks the ball out of bounds at a crucial moment in a game.
Of course, you’d prefer your kicker to have a strong leg, but more importantly, it’s better to have someone who can plant his foot in the same place consistently, point his toe correctly, keep his head down and control where the kick call is going.
In a recent season, I decided on an offensive tackle who was very good at duplicating his kicking motion every time. He had about the third strongest leg on the team, but I selected him because he was the most consistent. We felt we could sacrifice distance for consistent kicks — and with good coverage, we were confident we would win the field-position game.
Selecting A Punter
Selecting a punter is even more important, since this player will be a person who’s forced to perform under pressure much of the time.
When trying out punters, I first look at who could catch the long snap and kick in a semi-fluid motion. Many players impress coaches when they pick up the ball and punt it a mile — but when the pressure is coming from an all-out punt block — they may not be able to catch the ball and get the snap away clean.
It’s critical, therefore, to add pressure to the punting auditions. Make the potential punters catch and kick five snaps in a row and put some heat on the snaps. I looked for a player who averaged 25 to 30 yards per punt and could handle pressure situations.
Last season, I selected our back-up quarterback as our team’s punter. Not only was he used to pressure situations, but I am also a believer that all quarterbacks should be able to punt in case of an injury or for situations where a quick kick is required.
Selecting A Long Snapper
For our long snapper, our starting center stepped up during try-outs and proved he could do it, which is the ideal situation. This built consistency and allowed us to use one player for all snaps, including shot-gun formations, field-goal attempts and long snaps.
We made it a point to have two back-ups for this position. In case of injury and also because it is a good skill to have. I have heard of players who have made college teams simply because they can long snap.
Selecting A Place Kicker
For our place kicker, I looked for an individual with a strong leg, who could duplicate the same kicking motion and who could handle the pressures that come with critical field-goal attempts.
Setting a few minor tasks helps to eliminate candidates. I first required the place kicker to devote extra time before or after practice. This meant that anyone who wishes to be a place kicker, had to have their class work completed and get out quickly on days we started early for individual instruction. This extra requirement helped determine who was committed and willing to put in the extra work.
Have some drills in place that potential kickers must complete before they can attempt to try out for place kicker. Ask the candidates to kick the ball from the goal line over the cross bar 10 times. If they can get the ball over 60% of the time they move on. With the ball on the goal line in the center of the goal post, have them attempt to miss right then left so many times, this demonstrates kick control.
Throw a number of these skills out to them, evaluate the performances carefully and narrow your search. Last season I selected one of our running backs and the back-up quarterback (who also was the punter) as primary and secondary place kickers.
Selecting A Holder
The person you choose as holder for place kicks is almost as important as the kicker himself. This must be an individual who can spend the extra time at practice and have the ability to lead the field-goal unit and handle pressure. A lot of teams use a QB for this, but there is always a fear of injury. Even smaller programs can find a player with good hands that can catch a snap and get the hold down correctly. This may also be a good opportunity to get a hard-working player involved who cannot crack the starting line up on offense or defense.
The biggest thing for a holder is can this player handle the pressure? Have the unit practice under duress a lot. I commonly stand at the 25 and call the field goals team in from the sideline and count down from 25 seconds. This forces the unit to set up and kick before the clock runs out. You may not always have a time out to use. The holder needs to have the ability to get the field-goal unit onto the field, organize everything and get set up for the snap.
Similar to a quarterback, the holder needs to know where each player belongs and wait until they are set to snap the ball. If someone is in the wrong spot or didn’t come onto the field, the holder needs to know to call time out. Attempting a field goal without the entire line present,very rarely results in a good kick.
Last season, our punter was our holder, which is a good situation because he is a player who was already accustomed to handling the ball under pressure.
Our back-up holder was a receiver with very good hands and was known as a player who had a knack for catching the ball in traffic. He wasn’t our fastest receiver, but he had an innate ability to catch the ball.
Preparation Pays Off
The special talents of the backup holder came into play our eighth game of the season. It was raining like a hurricane and nobody could hang onto the ball long enough to score. We got the ball back inside our opponents 20 with under a minute to go until halftime. Our punter (the primary holder) had gotten hurt and we needed to attempt a field goal just before half. Our back-up holder got the unit out on the field and had a perfect hold in the rain and mud. We scored and on a day like that a 3-0 lead was like 10-0. I felt good about this even though the holder had not practiced his holding at all that week — but being the backup, he had at least practiced some during for the previous 9 weeks.
Without a special teams coordinator to concentrate on some of these “little things,” they may have been lost. The back-up holder was prepared and the team benefited from it.
It should not be seen as demeaning for an offensive or defensive coordinator to be appointed as coordinator for special teams. This position requires a coach who can handle more personnel decisions, more critical situations that may affect the outcome of a game and more overall responsibility. It’s also the best possible way to prepare to be a head coach one day.
Special teams is counted as a third of the game and paying extra attention to this all-important aspect of can help a less-talented team level the playing field.