What Is Special Teams In American Football?
Special teams in football are units responsible for specific tasks on the field that usually include the kicking team, responsible for handling kickoffs and field goals, and the return team, responsible for returning punts and kickoffs. It often includes a coverage team responsible for defending against opponents’ kick and punt returns.
Special teams play an important role in football games and often be the difference between winning and losing. Because of this, coaches often emphasize special teams play and spend a lot of time preparing their players for these units’ responsibilities.
Kicking Team: The kicking team handles all kicking plays in a football game. This includes kickoffs, field goals, and extra points. The kicking team typically consists of the kicker, the holder, and a few blockers.
Return Team: The return team is responsible for returning punts and kickoffs. The return team typically consists of the returner, a few blockers, and tacklers.
Coverage Team: The coverage team is responsible for defending against opponents’ punt and kickoff returns. The coverage team typically consists of a few tacklers and some defensive players who drop back to defend the end zone.
Why Special Teams Is So Important In Football
Field Position They Can Create: A well-executed punt can pin the opposing team deep into their own territory, making it much harder for them to score. A successful kick return can give your team a great field position and a better chance to score.
Create Momentum For Their Offense/or Defense: A big play on special teams can swing the momentum of a game in your team’s favor. A big return or a big stop on a punt can give your team a much-needed boost of energy and confidence.
How To Improve Special Teams Performance
Take a Look At The Personnel: Do you have the right mix of players? Are they fast enough? Strong enough? Smart enough? If not, then you may need to make some changes.
Evaluate Your Coaching Staff: Do they have experience coaching special teams? Do they know what they’re doing? If not, then it might be time for a change.
Analyze The Scheme Itself: Is it too complicated? Not complicated enough? Does it put your players in positions to succeed? If not, then it’s time to make a change.
Importance Of a Good Kicking Game
Good kickers can help their team win games by providing a consistent and reliable source of points. They can also help their team’s defense by pinning opponents deep into their territory.
Kickers have to be able to make long field goals and extra points in pressure situations. They need to have strong legs and be accurate with their kicks. Kickers also need to handle the mental pressure of knowing they could potentially cost their team the game if they miss a crucial kick.
Conclusion: What Are Special Teams?
Special teams in football are an important part of the game and can help a team score or stop a team from scoring. There are different types of special team plays, each with its purpose. If you are playing football, it is important to know what each type of play does to make the most of them when they are called during a game.
