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Opposing Team Kickoff or Punt

 

Position

Coach, kicker, snapper, and holder: Standing on the 11-yard-line ready to enter the field in the event that the kick or punt returner returns the ball for a touchdown.

 

Scenario

Your team is setup to return a punt or a kickoff.

 

The kicker has serious work to do.  The kicker’s mindset is to go through your pre-kick preparation.  You are not warming up in the net.  You are not stretching.  You are ready to take the field.  You are at the end of the restricted area on your sideline.  You are usually at the 25-yard-line, close to the end where you will kick the extra point.  Your specialist coach should have assembled your snapper and holder there as well.  The ‘Get Back’ coach already knows that he is not to address the specialists.   I don’t want the ‘Get Back’ coach to push the specialists into the crowd of players.  The specialist coach should be aware of any specialist that may be on the punt and kickoff return squad.  He is constantly watching the field to make sure his players are available for the next play.  He is watching for an injury to any of his specialists.  In the event there is a specialist on kick return or the punt return team, the specialist coach will have his backups standing next to him on the sideline during those plays.  As a specialist, you are always ready.  You are constantly engaged during the game.  The specialist coach should always know where his specialists are during the game.  He is aware of their ability to perform at any given time in the game.

  

Philosophy

Nothing is more deflating in a football game than when your team returns a kick or punt for a touchdown, and then you miss the extra point.  It's difficult to stay in a controlled frame of mind during the excitement of a 75-yard return.  The kicker and specialists coaches have to control their emotions.  They have to be ready and mentally prepared all the time.  It is the job of the specialist coach to insure preparedness and to insulate the specialists from pressure and influences that distract their focus.  This includes insulating them from the excitement that the rest of the team may be wanting to share, due to a remarkable play. 

 

Action

Specialists should always take the field from behind the line of scrimmage as close to the point of the kick as possible.  In the best scenario, the kicker will approach the field from 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage, and the punter will enter the field from 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage.  The specialists, when possible, will always take the field together.  During the punt, the personal protector (one of the personal protectors if there is more than one) is always in charge.  During the field goal, the holder is always in charge.  He will let the team know when the kicker is ready.  During the punt, the personal protector will let the team know when the punter is ready.