DEVELOPNG AND COACHING SPECIAL TEAMS

'oDoN'T SING IT, BRING IT!r'

FRED GTIIDICI MENLO COLLEGE

SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR
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650-543-3763 fguidici@menlo.edu
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YARDAGE HIDDEN ''THEBATTLE FORFIELDPOSITION" CHANCES SCORING OF

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PHILOSOPHY
YOU MUST PUT YOUR SIGNATUREON IT!
WHAT IS ON THE FIELD IS A RBFLECTIONI AS YOU AS COACH. YOU ARE EITHER TEACHING IT OR ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN. ACCOUNTABILITY: FIRST WITH THE COACH, THEN WITH THE PLAYER _ OF WE AREALL AN EXTENSION EACHOTHER ONETEAM ONEHEARTBEAT PLAYFOREACHOTHER
Building Blocks 1. Maximize the CONCENTRATION of the players. 2. Build in INTENSITY. 3. FINISH everythingthey do. Systemof Finish Through Practice on eyes yoll. l. Get the plavers 2. Vicariousat practices 3. TeachingStartand Finish - You get what you ask.Tolerateand encourage. 4. You play the way you practice 5. UniversalResource out work your opponents 6. Play Hard Enough,Long Enough! 7. ExpectationdrivesPerformance Systemof SpecialTeams L Have a shtick: Themefor eachunit Themefor eachgame (Goals)for eachgame 2. Ilal'e expectations 3. Don't makesimplecomplex 4. Multiplicity /Flexibility a. Don't haveone way to do anything. b. Let the playertell you what he sees. c. Give directionwithin the areaand receiveinput. Mental Toughness to 1. Playwell enough win or you don't of 2. Samestandard play anytime/ anlwhere! 3. Hall assto the ball everytime no matterwhat happens. :1. Benchplayers ("Know what'sgoingon") Work the game! Don't watchit! the 5. Neverknow which play determines outcome. or to 6. Reaction bad play,penalty an official's call. "Don't", "Can't" etc.,..... 7. Stayawayfrom theNEGATIVES: 8. Stayawayfrom THREATS:"If you do that....... Blocking Kicks: maker! (Make it important!) 1. Blocking an extrapoint is a difference 2. Blocking a punt is a gamebreaker!(Make it a must!)

_ RUN FAKESAND GADGETS EARLY AND OFTENIN THE SEASON!

SPECIAL TEAMS DEVELOPMENT

STARTS WITH THE HEAD COACH A. TIME FOR MEETINGS. B. TIME IN PRACTICES. C. ALLOWS YOUR OWN SCHEMES. D. USE,THE PLAYERS YOU WANT. E. TOTAL COOPERATION FROM STAFF DURING PRACTICE & GAMES IT'S NOT MY SPECIAL TEAMS! IT'S OURS WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER PLAYERS A. B. C. D.

STARTERS- who want to (no more than2 teams) BACK-UPS- who haveto ROLE PLAYERS ('teamsplayersonly) SCOUTTEAM PLAYERS (will emergeastime goesduring the season)

MUSTS FOR SUCCESS A. INSTALLATION SCFIEDULE& WEEKLY PRACTICE SCFIEDULE B. PLAYBOOKS (detailed) C. DEPTH CHARTS (aswell as scoutteam) D. WEEKLY SCOUTINGREPORTS situations duringgame) E. GAME PLAN (including F. MEETING TIME (install,weeklygameplan, gamereview,practicereview) G. FILMING PRACTICE PRACTICES PRACTICE (SPECIALISTS, INDIVIDUAL GROUP) OR A. PRE, DAILYSCHEDULE) B. MID PRACTICE (SEE INDIVIDUAL GROUP, OR C. POSTPRACTICE (SPECIALISTS,
LONG SNAPPERS)

(ANYTIME) D. WALK THROUGH COACHINIG A. FLINDAMENTALS B. PADSNOPADS C. WHOLE- PART - WHOLE D. KEEPIT SIMPLE! E. DzuLLS(PERTAINTO TIIE GAME) A. MUST BE ABLE TO TACKLE, STRIPAND RECOVER! (Includine Kickers Punters) &

GAME DAY A. PRE-GAMEWARM-UP: KICKERS, SNAPPERS, HOLDERSandRETURNERS OUT 1 HOUR AND 15MINUTESBEFORE KICKOFF B. GAME TIME: 1. AREA ON SIDELINEWHERE'TEAMS GATHERON 3RD DOWN. (Reminders) 2. TRAINERREPORTS ALL INJURIES 'TEAMSCOACHFIRST! TO AND BACK-UPS 3. STARTERS KNOW EACH OTHER 'TEAMSCOACH, 4. ONLY HEAD COACHOR TRAINERCAN PULL A PLAYER OUT OF GAME. 5. KICKERS AND SNAPPERS STAY WARMED UP DURING GAME. 6. EVERY PLAYER ON SIDELINEWORKSTFIEGAME 7. ENJOYTFIEGAME HAVE FUN!

8 DON'T SING IT! BRING IT!

SPECIAL TEAMS BASIC OUTLINE

KICK-OFF COVERAGETEAMS
OBJECTIVE GIVE THE DEFENSE GOODFIELDPOSITION KEEPING BY THE RECEIVING TEAM INSIDE2O-YARD LINE (BLACK ZONE). CREATEQUICK TURNOVERS AND INTIMIDATE THE OPPONENT. SPECIALIST A KICKER WHO KICKS THE BALL TO THE GOAL LINE FROM THE MIDDLE OR EITHERHASHAND LOFTSIT HIGH (4.0SECONDS HANG TIME) TO DELAY THE RETURN. THIS ALLOWS THE COVERAGE GET DOWN THE FIELD. HE TO MUST KEEPTHE KICK IN-BOTINDS. MAKE THE RETURNER MOVE TO GET TO THE BALL. TEAM FAST,SURETACKLERSMOVING DOWN FIELD EVENLY SPACED WITH A BURNINGDESIRETO MAKE THE TACKLE. PERSONAL WEDGE BREAKERS: LB,S,RB'S& SS EDGERS SAFETY: CONTAINERS, & LB,S,RB'S,DB,S& WR'S

ONSIDE KICK.OFF TEAM

OBJECTIVE TO RECOVER DELIBERATE A SHORT KICK. GAIN GREATFIELDPOSITION FORTHE OFFENSE. SPECIALISTS KICKERTO DRIBBLEOR POOCH THE BALL A LEGAL MINIMUM OF 10YARDS. TEAM SWARMTHE RECOVERY MAN AND GET THE BALL. MUSTRECOVER ALL KICKS. PERSONAL W R 'S . B 'S .L B 'S& R B 'S D

KICK-OFF RETURN TEAM

OBJECTIVE TO RETURN EVERYKICK OFFAT LEASTTO YOUROWN 30-35 YARD LINE. RETURNSPECIALISTS FAST,HIGH COURAGE MEN WITH THE DESIRETO "THREAD THE NEEDLE'' THRU THE WEDGEAND FIND OPENFIELD. TEAM UP OPENFIELD BLOCKERS FRONTTHAT CAN RLINAND LOCK ON. MUST HAVE HANDSFORSURPzuSE ON-SIDE.A BACK ROWWEDGETHAT CAN THE ENDS, FULLBACK& WEDGESETTER MUST BE BLOCKON THE RLTN. ABLE TO CATCHSHORT KICKS.WEDGE, SETTER MUSTBE INTELLIGENT. MUSTBE ABLE TO BLOCKMDM, SAFETY THE OFFRETURN SPECIALIST OR KICKER PERSONAL AND BIG WR,S FRONT LINE:RB,S,LB'S,DB,S(SAFETIES) R EN D S T E 'S , B 'S& L B ,S : FB & WS :R B 'S& L B 'S WITH NO FEAR! DEEPMEN:ANY SPEEDSTER

HANDSTEAM
OBJECTIVE THE MAN WHO RECOVERED IT. RECOVER THE BALL. PROTECT SPECIALIST HIGH COURAGE MEN WITH GOODHANDS. QUICK,AGGRESSIVE, TEAM RECOVERY MAN FIELDS THE BALL. ALL OTHERS PROTECT THE THE OPPOSITE RECOVERY MAN BY BLOCKING NUMBER. DEEPMAN HANDLES ALL KICKSTHAT TRAVELPASTFRONT2 LINES. PERSONAL T WR 'S , B 'S ,R B 'S , E 'S& QB' S D

PUI{T TEAM
OBJECTIVE GIVE THE DEFENSE GOODFIELDPOSTION, LESSTHAN 4 YARDSPER RETURN. FORCE FAIR CATCH. CAUSEA FUMBLE AND RECOVER A IT. DOWNTHE BALL INSIDETHE IOYARD LINE. SPECIALIST PUNTER: I. CAN GETTHE PLINT OFFIN I.9 TO 2.1SECONDS. (4.3 2. GETSMOREHEIGHTTHAN DTSTANCE SECONDS HANG TrME) PLACES THE BALL ON OR INSIDETHE IO-YARDLINE. 3. CONSISTENTLY 4. KICKSBESTLINDER PRESSURE INSIDEHIS OWN 2O-YARD LINE. CENTER: (.8 1. AN EXPLOSIVE ACCURATE SNAPEVERYTTME TO .9 SECONDS) 2. ABLE BLOCKAN ASSIGNED AREA OR MAN IN EITHERDIRECTION. (SPREAD PLINT) TEAM IS TO SPEED NECESSARY GETTO THE BALL CARRIER. FRONT LINE PLAYERS: 1. BLOCKTILL BALL IS KICKED. _ 2. RELEASE GET OFFHOLDUP & GETTO LANDMARKS - SPREAD THE FrELD(I{EVERFOLLOWTHE SAMECOLOR) 3. COVER 4. COMETO BALANCEAND GANGTACKLETHE BALL CARRIER. OUTSIDEHITMEN: (SPREAD) I. RELEASE OFFTHE L.O.S. AGAINSTTHE JAMMERS OR 2 MEN) TI 2. OUT RTINJAMMERSAFTERRELEASE 3. SUREDEADLY TACKLERSON THE BALL CARRIER. 4. GOODJUDGEMENT BALLSINSIDE1O OF YARD LINE KEEPING BALL FROMGOINGINTO THE ENDZONE. ENDS:(TITE) I. CAN DOUBLEBUMPBLOCK2 RUSHE,RS PERSONAL THE MOSTDEPENDABLE TRUSTWORHY PLAYERS THE TEAM WHO CAN ON BLOCK,RELEASE, COVER AND TACKLE. GUARDS TACKLES: / LB,S,RB,S, TE,S, AndSS,s WIN GSL B 'S ,R B 'S , B ,S& W R,S : D PROTECTOR: RB,S, LB,S,DB,S& WR,S PERSONAL WR'S& DB'S HITMENORENDS: FAKE OBJECTIVE A GETTHE FiRSTDOWNOR SCORE TOUCHDOWN. FAKE SPECIALIST PERSONAL PROTECTOR AND PLNTERTHAT CAN RLINOR PASS. TEAM ALERTTO WHENAND WHY TO USETHISWEAPON.ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUSTBE CARRIED OUTFORIT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

PUNT RETURN TEAM

RETURN OBJECTIVE GIVE THE OFFENSE GOODFIELDPOSITION. RETURN TO EACHPTINT A MINUMUM OF 10YARDS. NET 33 YARDSPERPL]NT. RETURNSPECIALISTS FEARLESS, WHO HAVE SURE QUICK AND SHIFTYPLINTRETURNERS HANDS,WHO CAN MAKE TACKLERS MISSAND ABLE USETHEIRBLOCKERS TO FIND THE OPENFIELD. TEAM FASTOPENFIELDBLOCKERS WHO CAN BLOCKMAN (HOLD.UP) ZONE OR (WALL) USINGGOODJUDGEMENT NOT TO ILLEGALLYBLOCK. ALSOALWAYS ALERTFORTHE FAKE. JAMMERS: MUSTBE ABLE TO HOLD UP MAN ON THE L.O.SAND BLOCKHIM TNSPACE. BLOCK OBJECTIVE TO BLOCKTHE PTINT, GIVINGUS A TOUCHDOWN GOODFIELD OR POSITION. BLOCK SPECIALIST EXPLOSryE, AGGRESSIVE AND HAVE A KNACK AND A DESIRE FOR (BLOCKpOrNTUSUALLY9 TO 9 % YARDS) BLOCKTNG KTCKS. TEAM AN ALL OUT EFFORT BLOCKERS BY WHO ARE INTENTON BLOCKINGTHE P{.tI.{T. PERSONAL FRONT LINEMEN: DB'S.WR,S. RB,S& LB,S JAMMERS: DB'S & WR,S

P.A.T./ FIELD GOAL TEAM

OBJECTIVE 1 P OIN T : P .A .T . 3 POiNTS: FiELD GOAL SPECIALIST 3 MAN PARTNERSHIP 1. THE KICKER TO GETQUICKHEIGHT(TO AVOID THE BLOCK) (1.3SNAPTO KICK) AND CONSISTENT ACCURACY 2. THE HOLDER WITH SUREHANDSAND QUICKABILITY TO PLACETHE BALL. 3. THE CENTERWITH DEADLY ACCURACY. TEAM LINEMEN:SEETHE BALL SNAPPED, TAKE PROPER AND STEPS SPLITS FOOTANCHORED, PENETRATION! KEEPOUTSIDE NO COVERALL LONGFIELDGOALS. PERSONAL TACKLES:OL & DL CENTER, GUARDS TIGHTENDS: TE,S, RB,S, LB,S& DL (WITHELIGIBLE #'S) W IN GSR B ,S L B 'S ,T E ,S& DB,S : ,

FAKE OBJECTIVE GETTHE FIRSTDOWN;SCORE TOUCHDOWN 2 POINTSCORE. A OR FAKE SPECIALISTS A HOLDERAND KICKER WITH RLINNING AND PASSING ABILITY TIGHT ENDSAND WINGSWITH GOODHANDS. TEAM DEDICATED CARRYOUTPRE-ASSIGNED TO RESPONSIBILITIES. NO TIP-OFFS!

P.A.T. / FIELD GOAL BLOCK TEAM

OBJECTIVE 1. TO BLOCKTHE FIELDGOALGIVINGUS A TOUCHDOWN GOODFIELD OR POSITION. 2. TO BLOCKTHE P.A.T. FOR2 POINTSCORE AND MAKE THE OPPONENT ATTEMPTA 2-POINTTRY ON THEIRNEXT SCORE. 3. PREVENT ANY SUCCESSFUL FAKE. BLOCK SPECIALIST EXPLOSIVE, AGGRESSIVE AND HAVE A KNACK AND A DESIRE FOR BLOCKINGKICKS.(JUMPERS, SWIMMERS, CRASHERS AND SKINNERS) (PRESSURE INSIDEAND OUTSIDE) TEAM SOMEPLAYERS ASSIGNED FORFAKESAND THE RESTASSIGNED TO BLOCKTHE KICK. PERSONAL INTERIOR LINEMEN:DL, OL & BIG LB,S JUMPERS, SWIMMERS, CRASHERS AND SKINNERS: DB,S& WR,S COVER MEN:DB,S

P.A.T BLOCKS THE TRUE TEST OF THE INTE|VSITY

OF A FOOTBALL

TEAM!

SPECIAL TEAMS
SPECIAL SITUATIONS . TEAM
. . . O . . PUNT TEAM PLINTING FROMTHE HASHMARKS PLTNTING FROMTHE ENDZONE PUNTINGFROMTHE 45-50YARD LINE COVERING THE FAIR CATCH TAKING AN INTENTIONALSAFETY EXECUTING FAKES BLOCKED KICKS REACTION A BLOCKEDKICKEDBEHINDTHE L.O.S. (ptINT,F.c. & p.A.T.) TO RE.ACTION A BLOCKEDKICK THAT TRAVELSOVERL.O.S. TO F.G.& P.A.T.) GLTNT. PUNT RETURN (10 RECEIVTNG PLINTS DEEPIN OWN TERRITORY YARD RULE) RUSHINGPLINTS WHEN OPPONENT BACKED UP TO HIS GOAL LINE IS PREVENT PLINTDEFENSE SAFEPLTNT ON RE,ACTING FAKE PI.JNTS TO THE PUNT SWINGING DEFENSING GATE AND SPLITGATE EXECUTING GADGETS KIC K OF F ONSTDE KICKOFF(MUST& SURPRISE) KICKOFFS SQUIB, POOCH SHORT & FREEKICK AFTERA SAFETY OR TKICKOFF PIINT)

. .

. . . . . .

. . .

KICKOFF RETURN . ONSIDEKICKOFFRETURN(HANDSTEAM) . SURPRISE ONSIDE KICKOFF O RETURNING KICKOFFS SQUIB. POOCH SHORT & . RECEIVING FREEKICK AFTERA SAFETY(KICKOFF PLINT) A OR . EXECUTING GADGETS . . . . P.A.T. FTELD / GOAL BAD SNAPON P,A.T.AND FIELDGOAL ATTEMPTS TFIRE) LINBAI,ANCED LINE FIELDGOALS FASTFIELDGOAL (t{O TIMEOUTS WITH CLOCKRUNNING) EXECUTING FAKES& GADGETS P.A.T. FIELD GOAL BLOCK / FIELDGOALPREVENT (FIRE) DEFENSING BAD SNAPON P.A.T. AND FIELDGOAL ATTEMPTS DEFENSING FAKE P.A.T& FIELDGOALS FIELD GOAL RE,TURN DE,FENSING LINE FIELD GOALS LTNBALANCED DEFENSING THE P.A.T. F.G.SWINGING / GATEAND SPLITGATE

. . . . . .

SPECIALTEAMS IN.SEASON WEEKLY MEETING & PRACTICE SCHEDULE

DAY
MONDAY MEETING: PRACTICE: TUESDAY MEETING: TEAM KICK: PRACTICE: WEDNE,SDAY MEETING: TEAM KICK: PRACTICE,:

EMPHASIS
GAME FILM REVIEW REVIEW / INSTALL / DzuLLS

TIME
30 minutes 20 minutes

GAME PLAN, PLINT / PR 20 minutes PAT / FIELD GOAL / HURRY llP FG 5 minutes PLINT 10 minutes PLINT RETURN 10minutes

PLrNT/ PR / KOR / KO 20 minutes PAT / FG BLOCK IHIIRRY UP FG 5 minutes PLrNT(BACKED UP) 10 minutes KICK OFF RETURN 10 minutes

THURSDAY MEETING: TEAM KICK: PRACTICE:

(Review With EntireTeam) FAKES& HIIRRY UP FG PLNT (POOCH FAKES) & K.O.R.OR PLTNT RETURN KICK-OFF

20 minutes 5 minutes 7 minutes 5 minutes 8 minutes

FzuDAY
PRACTICE:

F'RIDAY SCzuPT

30 minutes

REVIEWWITH DEFENSE PLNT SAFE RETURN& FG RETURN.SWINGINGGATE AND SPLITGATEFORMATIONS. MUST ONSIDE& HANDS SATURDAY WALK THRU: GAME TIME: SLNDAY
CALL OUT DEPTH CFIART 10 minutes (includingrules& scenarios)

DON'T SING IT! BRING IT!

DAY OFF

MENLO FOOTBALL FRIDAY SCRIPT

1. lst KrcKoFF RETURN TEAM 1+16) 2. ltt oFFEr\sE (-40)RUN A pLAy & scoRE 3. rtt P.A.T.TEAM (+3) 4. rtt KrcKoFF TEAM C3s) 5. ltt DEFENSE 3RDDowN, HOLD THEM 1+20) 6. rtt PUNT RETURN TEAM 1+25) 7. 2ndOFFENSEC20)3RD Dowf{, RUN A pLAy 8. ltt PUNT TEAM (-2s) e. ltt oFFENSE(-3s)RUN 2 pr,Ays ro (+10)(cr,ocK RUNNTNG) 10. FIELD GoAL TEAM 1+r0) (cr,ocK RUNNII\c) ttt HALFTIME n. rtt KICKOFF TEAM (-35) 12. DEFENSE(-35)3'd& sHoRT (sHoRT vARDAGE) r't 13.rtt DEFENSE(-35)4t" DowN (puNT RETURN SAFE-DEFENSE) rt. z"dDEFENSE(+20)(INTERCErT & scoRE) rs. rtt OFFENSE (+3)(2 POINT PLAY) 16.lsr KrcKoFF (MUST oNSTDE) C3s) (-20)srops OFFENSE 3*o DowN r7.l't DEFENSE oN 18. PAT / FIELD GoAL BLocK (-15) lsr le. lsr HANDSTEAM 1++5) (UNSURE sHIFT To MUST) (+45)',VICTORY" 20.rsr OFFENSE