OUR PROGRAM HAS always been very solid on special teams. One of the biggest reasons that we’ve had special teams’ success has been the approach and attitude we bring to that aspect of the game.

When I was an assistant coach under Bobby Ross at the University of Maryland in the mid 1980s, we utilized a detailed special team’s grading and evaluation system to measure our players’ and teams’ performance after each game. This approach translated very well to the high-school level when I began coaching high school football. The grading and evaluation system really gets your players to buy into special teams and helps get them excited to take part in special teams.

We’ll also give each member of our special teams a list of expectations (see example on page13) outlining what it takes to become a great special teams player.

Special teams Grading System
This special team’s grading system is based on a point system, with participation on each unit figuring into the total points. A special teams point board is posted in the coach’s offices and players locker room. This board shows an individual’s overall contribution to our special teams. The point system is based on the following criteria. The player with the highest special teams point total is the honorary special teams captain for the next game.
First, a special teams player is awarded 3 points for participating on over 50 percent of the plays involved on a special teams unit that doesn’t allow any game-breaking errors.
The rest of the points are awarded for the following special teams contributions:

1 POINT
    PATs = 1 point
    Any hit on ball carrier = 1 point
    Knockback = 1 point

2 POINTS
    Second hit or assisted tackle = 2 points
    A force on punt or kickoff coverage = 2 points
    Break a tackle = 2 points
    Effective block = 2 points
    Wedge-buster block (blocking more than one opponent) = 2 points
    Tackle or down the ball inside the opponent’s 20-yard line (in addition to tackling points) = 2 points   

3 POINTS
    Field Goals = 3 points
    First hit or unassisted tackle = 3 points   
    Achieving net punt goal = 3 points
    Punt hang time of 4.5 seconds or greater = 3 points
    Kickoff hang time of 4.0 or greater = 3 points
    Key or clutch punt at a critical time = 3 points
    Key or clutch kickoff at a critical time = 3 points
    Tackle or down the ball inside the opponent’s 10-yard line (in addition to tackling points) = 3 points
    Execute a perfect snap in prescribed time = 3 points
    Safety = 3 points
    Force a bad punt = 3 points
    Force a missed PAT or field goal = 3 points

4 POINTS
    Key return (35 yards or more) = 4 points
    Big play = 4 points
    Great effort = 4 points
    “Will-breaker hit” = 4 points
    Blocking 2 players on 1 play = 4 points
    Punt that forces a fair catch or goes out of bounds inside the 10-yard line = 4 points

6-POINTS
    Touchdowns = 6 points   
    Forced fumble = 6 points
    Fumble recovery = 6 points
    Blocked kick, PAT or field goal = 6 points
    Return a PAT for 2 points = 6 points