Special Teams Play
Installing Punt Return and Block
Teams
James Vint
Iowa Wesleyan College
Special Teams Change Games!
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“To Be Successful You Must Give
Your Special Teams Time
• Three A Days- One Practice Dedicated to
Special Teams
• Individual Period, Group Period, Team
Period
• Keep Things Simple-Don’t try to install too
much, do what you install well.
• Coach Up The Pride Aspect
Unit Goals
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23 Yard Net Change of Possession
8.5 Yards Per Return
No Penalties!
One Game Changing Play
One Block Per Two Block Calls
Personnel
 Jammers- Must be your best, most physical stalk
blockers with great feet
 Dogs- Must be able to contain on fake and get
pressure on punter
 Tackles and Ends- Must be able to play off
blocks and get pressure on punter-Must be able
to stand up offensive lineman
 Mac- Must be able to play fake and get back set
the wedge
 Safety-Must be able to read fake and cover hash
to hash and be a great blocker
 Return- Must be able to catch the football and
find the crease
While This Is A Great Time To Get
Kids Experience, You Must Use
athletes On Special Teams
• How many times have you had a backup
miss a tackle or a block on special teams?
• Use backups when they are legitimately
good enough to make plays
• Even if you have good backups keep one
or two starters in the game.
Jamming Techniques
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Rule 1-Don’t give up the inside
Rule 2- Must Keep From Getting a free release
Align 1 x 1 with inside leverage
Power step inside and then punch
Keep your shoulders back on your punch
Sit low and block with your feet
Keep a wide base
Drills: Punch and Move, Fit and Drive, Fit and
Recover, Back Turn Drill, First Step Drill
Dog Techniques
• Align on the LOS 3 Yards Outside Slot
• Attack The outside shoulder of the slot and
make sure the ball is kicked
• On the return side, attack and drive
• DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR BlOCK
• Once the ball is kicked peel down the call
side and seal inside
Return Techniques
• See the ball off the foot
• CATCH EVERYTHING! Don’t let the ball hit the
ground
• On a bad punt, circle behind the ball and play
shortstop
• Catch and field the ball moving forward
• Only signal a fair catch when absolutely
necessary
• Elbows in, pinkie’s together
• Catch the Punt out from the body
Installation Procedures
• Install Base Return First
• Work each player in an individual period
• Work a group period with the Safety and
the Mac
• Keep things simple- Return Right, Return
Left, and Middle Return
• Go Over Special Situations and Rules
Return Right
• The right side will block down and keep
the protector from releasing
• The backside will rush the punt and peel
down the call side
• NO ROUGHING PENALTIES
• Make sure the ball is kicked
• Keep hands inside
Return Left
• The Left side will block down and keep the
protector from releasing
• The backside will rush the punt and peel
down the call side
• NO ROUGHING PENALTIES
• Make sure the ball is kicked
• Keep hands inside
Return Right
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Return Middle
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We will MAN UP on our middle return
Defensive Line Will Fan Out
Mac Will Drop 5 Yards and Attack LS
Stud Will Lead Return Man Into Middle
Dogs Will Make Sure The Ball Is Kicked
Return Man Goes Up The Chute
Great vs. Wide Lane Pursuit
Safe Punt
• Used from your own 30 to midfield
• Line up in your base defense
• Make sure everyone understands their
base assignments
• Make Sure All Fakes Our Covered
• Go Over Alignment Rules vs. Spread
Punts
• Don’t Let The Fake Happen
• Man up when the ball is kicked.
Special Situations
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Opponent Pinning You
Opponent Pinned
3rd Down Kick
Quick Kick
All Out Block
Set Up Big Return
Punt Block
 Looking to get 7, 8, and 9 men into the block
phases
 Must assign players to cover the fake if used
outside your opponents 40 yard line
 Change Your Block Each Week
 Teach Your Players How To Block Kick
 NO FUMBLES
 If no return, tell return man to fair catch.
 If the ball is kicked away, run away
Punt Block Illustrated
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This is our 83 Block- We are bringing 8 and playing 3 soft
zones to protect against a fake.
Punt Block Described
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Left DT-2 Tech, Slam A Gap and Draw LS
Right DT-2 Tech, Slam B Gap
Ends- 5 Tech, Attack IS Shoulder of Slot
Dogs-Wide Rush, Attack OS Shoulder of Slot
Return -Pre Snap adjust to IS shoulder of left slot
at 4 yards, Rush Left B Gap
• Safety- Pre Snap adjust to 30 Tech on right sideRush Right A Gap
• Mac- Show Blitz, then drop 12 yards to check fake
• Jammers- Bail and Play Cover 2 with man
concepts
Punt Block Illustrated
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This is our 61 Block- We are bringing 6 and playing 3 soft
zones to protect against a fake. The Stud, the Sam, and
the two jammers play man. The returner is free. We are
bringing 4 from one side. We can exchange who is man
and who is coming.
Game Planning For Your Punt
Return Team
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Opponent Punter- How Far?
Punt Formation, Protection, Weakness
Punt Team Coverage Scheme, Lanes
Fakes Run
Special Formations (Spread, Rugby, Tight)
Personnel- Do they change personnel for
fake or coverage?
REMEMBER
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Use talent on special teams
Give special teams time to prepare
Prepare your kids for special situations
Keep your punt return and block schemes
simple
• Give your kids a chance to be successful
• Put them into the best positions possible