49

Tilt the Field on Special Teams: Teaching and Succeeding with Generation Z Special Teams
Players
by Daniel Beard, Special Teams Coordinator, Millersville University

On behalf of Millersville University and our Head Foot-
ball Coach, J.C. Morgan and staff, I am appreciative of the
opportunity presented by the AFCA to contribute to the
AFCA Technical Manual. Here at Millersville University, we
believe that Special Teams is a full “all hands on deck” team
commitment to mastering the fundamentals and techniques
in winning the 3rd phase of the game. The purpose of this
article to add insight, knowledge and game application of
kickoff fundamentals, techniques and how to plan effective
practices for the Generation Z college football special team
player.
When instructing college players, it is important to teach
from a whole to part and part to whole model.
This model allows players to see the bigger picture first and
then examine the smaller parts by visually showing the re-
lationship between the whole and its parts and learning the
individual responsibilities as a player to execute the whole
scheme.
We teach that the kickoff return is an offensive play. The
return team is blocking the returns in the same manner that
offensive plays would occur such as counter zone, power,
and pin and pull however, on different levels. Front line
blocking assignments will usually include a wall off or down
block technique while the fullbacks and ends kick out or
trap block the kickoff coverage team. We teach this so that
players have a better idea of how to identify returns when
we get into our 4 Phases of Kickoff Coverage.
When teaching kickoff, we break it down into 4 Phases of
the Kickoff Coverage.
In the whole model of teaching, the Fits on Air is how the
players see and learn how their fit is and then how they
execute their responsibility in part to whole.
Whole KO Fits on Air - All 11 players cover a kickoff on
air versus a returner. The purpose of this drill is to have the
players understand their aiming points, landmarks, and cov-
erage responsibilities while working through all four phases
of kickoff (Take off, Speed and Read, Avoid Zone, Contact
and Finish). The execution of this drill includes 5 cans that
are set up in the avoid zone. Each player that has a can in
his path must avoid and stack while maintaining their lane
and landmark. The drill concludes with all 11 players having
proper aiming points and distance from the returner based
on their KO responsibilities.

Breaking down the kickoff into 4 Phases or zones allows us

to implement drill work that corresponds with the funda-
mentals players should be able to demonstrate in each
phase. The phases are illustrated in the diagram as follows:
Takeoff Zone Phase is the first phase of beginning of play
where we establish the -30 yardline to -45 yard and always
be onsides

The Generation Z learner needs visuals to learn, but keep
slideshow presentations short. It is best to keep video
instruction to six minutes or less. To learn best, they also
need variety to stay engaged. Try delivering your instruction
in different formats such as Power Point, Film, and Prac-
tice Board Visuals. The Practice Board visuals with returns
drawn is key to players’ understanding of special teams
fundamentals. Players also want feedback personalized with
video cut ups with notes. Generation Z learners are good at
kinesthetic learning which means creating an active learning
environment is key. The use of 4 Station Circuits also works
well and will be discussed later.
Speed and Read Zone Phase emphasizes the player being
able to reach maximum speed, identifying the return and
reading the fullbacks and ends
Avoid Zone Phase requires the player make the effort so
that his coverage is not impacted or changed by the return
team (opposite 45 to the 20) and avoid the first wave of
blockers
Contact and Finish Zone Phase breaks down the
responsibilities in coverage in order for the player to finish
with a tackle or a play and be aggressive Using the whole part/part whole teaching model, the 4
Station Circuit incorporates all phases. It allows for full

Technical Manual 2023 50

involvement by the coaching staff and coaches contribute to
full team “buy in”. Each station works a specific technique
that is applied to each phase and zone of KO coverage.

In this drill, each player will sprint 10 yards to a can or pop This drill is used to simulate a returner making a radical
up bag. Once the payer arrives at the can or pop up bag, a cut away from the kickoff cover man. This situation usually
dip and rip technique will be used where each athlete lowers occurs on the backside of the kickoff return where the return
The 4 stations include: his inside arms and dips and rips through and stacks tight has been declared and now all 11 players must adjust their
to the can or pop up bag. Once the KO coverage player has angle and aiming point on the returner.
1. Avoid & Stack 2 Gap Butt and Press stacked the can or pop the athlete will continue until he is
met by a blocker. [In attacking the blocker, we teach the The set up of the drill includes having a can, barrel, or pop-
kickoff coverage man to attack the block with hands inside up bag 10 yards from the kickoff cover man. When the drill
the breast plate of shoulder pads and striking the blocker starts, the KO cover man will sprint to the barrel, can or
with thumbs up and elbows together.] pop-up bag and then make a “Hard Turn” or bend at a flat
90 degree angle and sprint flat down the line and tackle ei-
The butt part occurs with the athlete using a speed to lock ther an agile or tackle wheel. The tackle that is simulated is
technique and extending the blocker locking elbows out either a shoestring tackle, ankle tackle, or rugby style tackle
and pressing the blocker away from the kickoff cover man. that occurs on Kickoff.
Once this position is achieved, the kickoff cover man will
2 gap and press the blocker back while a returner makes 3. Split the Double Team Drill
a cut. Once the returner makes his cut, the KO cover man
will rip off the block using a push pull technique. Once the
block had been disengaged, the KO cover man will work to
fit up and tackle the returner. (This part of the drill can also
include a tackle wheel or agile bag to allow kickoff coverman
to fully run though the contact.)
2. Hard Turn Drill
The objective of the drill is to teach players how to bend and
flatten out their angle of pursuit in order to make a tackle on
the ball carrier.

Technical Manual 2023 51

This drill simulates defeating the blocks of 2 close KO Gauntlet Drill which combines all 4 phases into 1 drill. some running to reduce chance of injury and high velocity
players whether they are front line Guards, or back end impact.
Fullbacks and Ends. The key to this technique is to favor one
inside pad of one of the blockers, dip and run and split
between in order to not allow a seam or return lane in the
KO defensive coverage.
4. 3 on 1 Frame the Returner
The 3 on 1 Returner Aiming Point Drill is a great drill
that we picked up last year in the off season from several
clinic talks (Rob Wenger, Special Teams Coordinator at
Minnesota). We used this drill this past season and it was
very beneficial to teach aiming points on the returner in the
contact and finish zone. In this drill, 3 cover men are put at
different angles with cans to avoid a block, then they fit off
the returner based on the cut the returner makes. This drill
simulates a game like situation in which a returner makes
a radical cut forcing the coverage team to take good aiming
points.

On the whistle, the first person in each line will be up and

The middle man in the drill should nose up the returner
while the 2 outside cover men should frame the outside
shoulder to their respective sides.
To sum up, this 4 Station circuit allows players to practice
the techniques or parts needed on the whole of KO coverage.
The next progression following the 4 Station Circuit is the
work on the takeoff on the kicker’s kick. Once the player
arrives to the trash can, avoid the kick side (avoid right or
left depending on the kick designated). Once the player has
avoided and stacked tight, the player will 2 Gap and Butt
Press on an opposing player holding a hand shield until the
player dragging an agile bag crosses the player’s face to wrap
and roll. Once the drill is finished, the person who just
covered now holds the agile bag. The player holding the
agile bag will then go and hold the hand shield. The person
holding the hand shield will go to the end of the line and the
next group will be up. By utilizing this drill, players see the
whole instruction results as they have combined all the parts
previously taught in the station circuit into the whole or
desired performance on special teams kickoff.
The 1/2 Line KO Fit Drill forces the KO team to key
Fullbacks and Ends and to focus on where the return is The whole part whole of kickoff instruction concludes with
going and where it will hit with its aiming point. By using the Whole or Full Look versus Scout Team by taking a
this drill, we work the point of attack on the frontside of the return that the team will most likely see from an opponent
return as well as the backside of the return. This reinforc- and working the full return with the front line blocking and
es cutback windows. This drill allows players to learn the back line blocking. This drill synthesizes everything you
return type, aiming points, and proper fit which can help have done with the KO special teams players since you are
them when covering a full kickoff at top speed to diagnose putting it all together and building off of all the other phases
the speed and read zone. During the drill we are eliminating and individual techniques learned. It is important to have a

Technical Manual 2023 52

portable visual created that shows the FBS return with the
front line blocking their target to hit. The scout return team
sees the visual as well. Players go full speed minus the con-
tact and do 4 reps total. This is the final piece (whole) of all
the building blocks (part) with players going 11 on 11 minus
impact and contact.
In conclusion, included is an example of our Fall Camp
Kickoff Practice Plan which may be helpful to coaches as
they plan practices to include special teams work for kickoff
as it shows time allotments and player practice sequence of
drills.
Technical Manual 2023
The organization of practice time is crucial to developing all
aspects of special teams. “Tilting the field” with special
teams play requires scheduling sufficient practice time and
utilizing that time in a way that best addresses the learning
styles of the Generation Z football player. Hopefully these
drills employing whole part whole teaching methods will
help coaches to maximize the learning of fundamentals for
special teams players and yield the desired results on special
teams.
53