{"id":6191,"date":"2010-06-07T22:05:26","date_gmt":"2010-06-07T22:05:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/https\/\/www.youthfootballonline.com\/?page_id=6"},"modified":"2019-03-01T20:40:23","modified_gmt":"2019-03-01T20:40:23","slug":"coaching-special-teams-in-youth-football","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/youthfootballonline.com\/coaching-special-teams-in-youth-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Teams"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong>Coaching Special Teams in Youth Football<\/keyword><\/h1>\n

Regardless of what scheme\/formation you use keep these special teams tips in mind:<\/p>\n

Kickoff Team:<\/strong>\u00a0Make sure your kids are ten yards behind the football.\u00a0 It is important that they get a running start down the field.\u00a0 The team must stay on-sides (do not cross before the ball is kicked).\u00a0 Every player covering the kickoff needs to stay in their lanes.\u00a0 Practice kicking the ball off in practice! When coaching special teams practice onside kick recovery team as well.<\/p>\n

(See Also)<\/strong> Kicking Techniques \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

(See Also)<\/strong> Kickoff Coverage Drill for Youth Football<\/a><\/p>\n

Kickoff Return Team:<\/strong>\u00a0Bring the wall to the ball!!\u00a0 Front line stays alert for an onside kick and then runs back to the returner.\u00a0 The players in the middle and back return rows run back to the player that fields the kickoff and creates the wall (many leagues you cannot wedge, but it is only a wedge if they lock arms or get shoulder to shoulder). then blocks down field.\u00a0 Do not have your players try to block the kickoff coverage team too early.\u00a0 The coverage team will just go right around your blockers.\u00a0 There is too much space to be blocking too early, the kick returner must cut off your players blocks.\u00a0 Make sure you prepare a hands team, to prevent teams from recovering an onside kick. Put some sure-handed kids on the front line of your return team.<\/p>\n

Punt Team:<\/strong>\u00a0Foot to foot splits (leave a little space between so the kids aren’t on top of each other).\u00a0 Your team must block down to the shoulder of the linemen inside of them, staying low while stepping down & inside.\u00a0 Blocking backs line up even with the tight end or the last guy on the line of scrimmage.\u00a0 The blocking back must have a nice wide base (make yourself big) and block inside to outside.\u00a0 The middle blocking back calls the snap count, lines up on the kicker\u2019s foot side.\u00a0 Practice long snapping & punting the ball every day. \u00a0When coaching special teams make sure your players fan out when the football is punted. You have to cover the whole field!<\/p>\n

(See Also)<\/span> Punt Coverage in Youth Football\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

(See Also)<\/strong><\/span> Punting and Kicking Technique\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your punter should yell go when the ball is kicked so that blockers know to\u00a0fan out down field<\/strong>\u00a0& tackle the player with the ball. \u00a0 Your punter should always yell the direction the ball was punted. \u00a0You should always punt the football to the\u00a0short side of the field. Meaning if you are on the right hash the punter needs to punt the ball to the right sidelines. This will cut off the space for the returner and allow your team to fan out in their coverage lanes.<\/p>\n

Punt Return Team:<\/strong>\u00a0Punt block or Punt return?\u00a0 Punt block: your player\u2019s need to rush through each gap while linebackers line up right behind the D-linemen & they need to loop or cross.\u00a0 Also, make sure you have containment defenders to stop fakes.\u00a0 Keep someone back to field the punt so the punt team doesn’t get a nice bounce their way.\u00a0 Punt return: your players should go to where the ball was kicked and lead block-bring wall to the ball. \u00a0Have them give a light rush, then once the ball is kick they must stay with a coverage player. When coaching special teams make sure you always have contain players and the kids know not to run into the kicker.<\/p>\n

Extra Point Kick:<\/strong>\u00a0In youth football<\/keyword> the extra point kick is worth two points! So it is important that you practice this everyday. The line splits should be zero (foot to foot).\u00a0 The linemen block down to the shoulder of the linemen inside of them. Linemen need to stay low while stepping down & inside.\u00a0 Blocking backs have wide base \u201cget big\u201d and step down to inside linesmen’s shoulder pads, always blocking inside first. Snapping, holding, and kicking needs to be practiced often.\u00a0 Snap count should be a fast count (silent count, ball movement, or on first sound) do not want the defense to have time to set up and try to block the kick. We love coming right out of the huddle after we score and kick the point quickly. You can also go on a hard count to try and make the defense jump off-sides.<\/p>\n

Extra Point Block:<\/strong>\u00a0The best area for your defense to block the extra point attempt is through the A (Between center & guard) & B gaps (Guard & Tackle), don\u2019t waste time trying to block it from the outside.\u00a0 You need to load up the A & B gaps on the opposite side of their snap holder.\u00a0 You need to double team the A gap blocker (guard, do not hit the center it is a penalty in youth football<\/keyword>), driving him back.\u00a0 Double team the B gap blocker (tackle), drive him back. Send linebackers right behind the double teams.\u00a0 If this is executed properly you will create penetration up the middle, allowing linebackers to block the extra point. When coaching special teams make sure you prepare your defense for fakes, containment, and coverage schemes are needed.<\/p>\n

(See Also):<\/span> Extra Point Block Play\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Special Teams is one of the three main phases of football. You must practice all phases of special teams daily.\u00a0 One of the biggest mistakes a youth football<\/keyword> coach can make is to overlook special teams.\u00a0 Youth football<\/keyword> coaches should always make time for special teams.\u00a0 For example;\u00a0there is one minute left in the game, you\u2019re losing by a touchdown you need to recover an onside kick…. Coaches will either be glad they practiced it, or they will wish they had practiced their onside kick recovery more!<\/p>\n

Have pride when coaching special teams. Special teams will be the difference in many games.<\/p>\n

(See Also) <\/strong>ST Playbook for Youth Football<\/a><\/p>\n

(See Also)<\/strong>\u00a0Special Teams Plays and Formations<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everything you need to know about coaching special teams in youth football. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":16069,"parent":0,"menu_order":12,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6191","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCoaching Special Teams in Youth Football<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have pride when coaching special teams. 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