Successful Special Teams

Mike Bellotti

TEAM PLEDGEWIN THE DAY

We promise to:

. . . play with extreme courage, confidence and conviction while taking responsibility for our actions and inactions . . . on and off the field.

. . . play with great intensity, give everything we have, finish every play and every game with no fear, no excuses and no regrets.

. . . accept and support coaches, staff and team-mates and treat them like family.

. . . always push our teammates and ourselves to be the best in athletics, in academics and in life, providing positive role models for our university and our community.

. . . respect men and women of all races, creeds and colors, and to be honest with ourselves and others.

. . . earn the trust and respect of our teammates and coaches while enjoying ourselves, being positive and making football fun for everyone.

WIN THE DAY

We promise to:

. . . play with extreme courage, confidence and conviction while taking responsibility for our actions and inactions . . . on and off the field.

. . . play with great intensity, give everything we have, finish every play and every game with no fear, no excuses and no regrets.

. . . accept and support coaches, staff and team-mates and treat them like family.

. . . always push our teammates and ourselves to be the best in athletics, in academics and in life, providing positive role models for our university and our community.

. . . respect men and women of all races, creeds and colors, and to be honest with ourselves and others.

. . . earn the trust and respect of our teammates and coaches while enjoying ourselves, being positive and making football fun for everyone.

PUNT PROTECTION GOALS

1. HAVE NO BLOCKED PUNTS2. NET PUNT = 37 YARDS3. PUNTER AVERAGE – 42+ YARDS4. LESS THAN 6 YARDS PER RETURN5. PLAY PENALTY FREE6. AVERAGE HANG TIME = 4.5+7. CREATE A TURNOVER8. NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

1. HAVE NO BLOCKED PUNTS2. NET PUNT = 37 YARDS3. PUNTER AVERAGE – 42+ YARDS4. LESS THAN 6 YARDS PER RETURN5. PLAY PENALTY FREE6. AVERAGE HANG TIME = 4.5+7. CREATE A TURNOVER8. NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

KICK OFF GOALSBe the fastest, meanest kickoff team

in the world having the most fun!

1. HANG TIME OF 4.02. BALL KICKED OUTSIDE OF THE HASH3. NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS4. CAUSE A TURNOVER5. LESS THAN 18 YARDS A RETURN6. PLAY PENALTY FREE7. DRIVE START INSIDE 23 YARDS LINE

Be the fastest, meanest kickoff team in the world having the most fun!

1. HANG TIME OF 4.02. BALL KICKED OUTSIDE OF THE HASH3. NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS4. CAUSE A TURNOVER5. LESS THAN 18 YARDS A RETURN6. PLAY PENALTY FREE7. DRIVE START INSIDE 23 YARDS LINE

KICK OFF RETURN GOALS

1. AVERAGE 25 YARDS PER RETURN2. NO TURNOVERS3. PLAY PENALTY FREE4. START DRIVE ON OR BEYOND THE 30

YARD LINE5. SCORE OR SET UP A SCORE 6. NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

1. AVERAGE 25 YARDS PER RETURN2. NO TURNOVERS3. PLAY PENALTY FREE4. START DRIVE ON OR BEYOND THE 30

YARD LINE5. SCORE OR SET UP A SCORE 6. NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

PAT AND FIELD GOAL GOALS1. NO BLOCKED KICKS 2. MAKE 100% OF PAT’S 3. MAKE 100% OF FIELD GOALS UNDER 42 YARDS

4. MAKE 67% OF FIELD GOALS OVER 42 YARDS 5. PLAY PENALTY FREE 6. NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

1. NO BLOCKED KICKS 2. MAKE 100% OF PAT’S 3. MAKE 100% OF FIELD GOALS UNDER 42 YARDS

4. MAKE 67% OF FIELD GOALS OVER 42 YARDS 5. PLAY PENALTY FREE 6. NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

PUNT RETURN AND BLOCK GOALS1. PLAY PENALTY FREE 2. 100% POSSESSION 3. BLOCK A PUNT 4. AVERAGE 10 YARDS PER RETURN 5. ALLOW NO FAKES 6. SCORE OR SET UP A SCORE 7. NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

1. PLAY PENALTY FREE 2. 100% POSSESSION 3. BLOCK A PUNT 4. AVERAGE 10 YARDS PER RETURN 5. ALLOW NO FAKES 6. SCORE OR SET UP A SCORE 7. NO ASSIGNMENT ERRORS

Successful Special Teams

A special teams play could be the difference between winning a

championship or finishing in the middle of the pack.

A special teams play could be the difference between winning a

championship or finishing in the middle of the pack.

We can’t talk scheme with players until we establish the importance

of special teams to winning.

We can’t talk scheme with players until we establish the importance

of special teams to winning.

I. Emphasis Placed on Special Teams

• Commitment level

• Emotional level

• Sense of urgency

• Commitment level

• Emotional level

• Sense of urgency

A. Coaching Staff

• Passion

• Sense of Urgency

• Attention to Detail

• Passion

• Sense of Urgency

• Attention to Detail

B. Head Coaches

• Attitude and Presence• Walk the Walk• Commitment to Special Teams• Communicate to Players

• Attitude and Presence• Walk the Walk• Commitment to Special Teams• Communicate to Players

B. Head Coaches

• Build their Confidence

• Make Special Teams something to be proud of

• . . . and something they WANT to be a part of

• Build their Confidence

• Make Special Teams something to be proud of

• . . . and something they WANT to be a part of

II. Teaching Progression

A. PracticesIntensity and sense of urgency

A. PracticesIntensity and sense of urgency

II. Teaching Progression

B. Meetings Fundamentals and Concepts, not scheme

Visual examples – practice drills game examples

B. Meetings Fundamentals and Concepts, not scheme

Visual examples – practice drills game examples

III. Practice

A. All coaches are involved

KICK OFF RETURN

PRESS BOX SIDELINEOff GA - T - G - Opposite our bench Strength Coach - ReturnersDef Coor - Opponent Scheme: 1, 2, 3 Opp our bench Head Coach - Point of AttackDef GA - Opponent Scheme: 1, 2, 3 Bench side RB Coach - End - Upback: Bench SideOff Coor - Opponent Scheme: (Cutback/Safety) WR Coach- CenterIntern - Opponent Scheme: Kick side scheme LB Coach - T.G: Bench sideIntern - Opponent Scheme: 4, 5 Bench Side Secondary -Opptt scheme: Bench side – 5Intern - Opponent Scheme: 4, 5 Opp our bench Intern - End-Upback: Opp our bench

A. All coaches are involved

KICK OFF RETURN

PRESS BOX SIDELINEOff GA - T - G - Opposite our bench Strength Coach - ReturnersDef Coor - Opponent Scheme: 1, 2, 3 Opp our bench Head Coach - Point of AttackDef GA - Opponent Scheme: 1, 2, 3 Bench side RB Coach - End - Upback: Bench SideOff Coor - Opponent Scheme: (Cutback/Safety) WR Coach- CenterIntern - Opponent Scheme: Kick side scheme LB Coach - T.G: Bench sideIntern - Opponent Scheme: 4, 5 Bench Side Secondary -Opptt scheme: Bench side – 5Intern - Opponent Scheme: 4, 5 Opp our bench Intern - End-Upback: Opp our bench

III. Practice

B. Pre-practice walk-thru: concepts

C. Small group or individual work

D. Tackling drills

B. Pre-practice walk-thru: concepts

C. Small group or individual work

D. Tackling drills

III. Practice

E. Half-line

F. Full group

G. Conditioning

E. Half-line

F. Full group

G. Conditioning

III. Practice

H. Determine the amount of time per day and per week that you are going to devote to a specific special team1. Practice reps and organization:

a. Punt Return: 50% Wall Return25% Blocks25% Defense

H. Determine the amount of time per day and per week that you are going to devote to a specific special team1. Practice reps and organization:

a. Punt Return: 50% Wall Return25% Blocks25% Defense

IN-SEASON SPECIAL TEAMS Practice and Meeting Schedule

Sunday: Off Monday: Grass Shells Meeting (40): Show players video from the previous

game

Kickoff-10 minutes Safe Punt Return-5 minutesPunt Return Block- 5 minutes(Note: the above 10 minutes can/will also be used for

fundamental work with any/all Special Teams)

Tues: Grass Pads Meeting (20): KOR Kickoff Return – 10 minutes Punt – 10 minutesConditioning- 5 Minutes

Wed: Stadium Pads/Shells Meeting (20): Punt (practice film from Tuesday)

Punt Return/ PAT/FG – 10 minutesPunt – 10 minutesConditioning – 5 Minutes

Sunday: Off Monday: Grass Shells Meeting (40): Show players video from the previous

game

Kickoff-10 minutes Safe Punt Return-5 minutesPunt Return Block- 5 minutes(Note: the above 10 minutes can/will also be used for

fundamental work with any/all Special Teams)

Tues: Grass Pads Meeting (20): KOR Kickoff Return – 10 minutes Punt – 10 minutesConditioning- 5 Minutes

Wed: Stadium Pads/Shells Meeting (20): Punt (practice film from Tuesday)

Punt Return/ PAT/FG – 10 minutesPunt – 10 minutesConditioning – 5 Minutes

IN-SEASON SPECIAL TEAMS Practice and Meeting Schedule

Thurs: Grass/Mo/Aut Shells Meeting (25): Punt return (game plan) Kickoff (game plan)

Kickoff Return: 10 minutesPunt Return: 7 1/2 minutesKickoff: 7 1/2 minutes

Friday: Stadium Helmets Meeting (30)- opponents cut-ups plus practice film

30 play Mock game situation script- Walk thruHands TeamMissile KickoffPAT/FG Block

Saturday: Captains Total Time Allocated: Punt: 20 minutes of practice; 20 minute meeting

Punt Return: 20 minutes of practice; 12 1/2 min. meetingPunt Block: 5 minutes of practiceSafe PR : 5 minutes of practiceKickoff: 17 1/2 minutes of practice; 12 1/2 min. meetingKickoff Return: 20 minutes of practice; 20 minute meetingPAT/FG & Block: 5 minute practice

Thurs: Grass/Mo/Aut Shells Meeting (25): Punt return (game plan) Kickoff (game plan)

Kickoff Return: 10 minutesPunt Return: 7 1/2 minutesKickoff: 7 1/2 minutes

Friday: Stadium Helmets Meeting (30)- opponents cut-ups plus practice film

30 play Mock game situation script- Walk thruHands TeamMissile KickoffPAT/FG Block

Saturday: Captains Total Time Allocated: Punt: 20 minutes of practice; 20 minute meeting

Punt Return: 20 minutes of practice; 12 1/2 min. meetingPunt Block: 5 minutes of practiceSafe PR : 5 minutes of practiceKickoff: 17 1/2 minutes of practice; 12 1/2 min. meetingKickoff Return: 20 minutes of practice; 20 minute meetingPAT/FG & Block: 5 minute practice

IV. How Special Teams Impacts the Outcome of a Game

A. Explosive playsB. The importance of field position

1. What is field position?a. Down punt inside 10 yard lineb. Return KOR at end of game c. In 2007, UO returned 51% of KOR

past 30 YL

A. Explosive playsB. The importance of field position

1. What is field position?a. Down punt inside 10 yard lineb. Return KOR at end of game c. In 2007, UO returned 51% of KOR

past 30 YL

V. Players

A. Who plays on special teams?B. Motivation

1. Player ownership 2. Pride and competition

C. Depth Chart

A. Who plays on special teams?B. Motivation

1. Player ownership 2. Pride and competition

C. Depth Chart

Punt Return Depth Chart - 2008

LC L1 L3 L2 L4Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1Player 2 Player 2 Player 2 Player 2 Player 2

RC R4 R3 R2 j Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1

RETURNERS Player 2 Player 2 Player 2 Player 2 Player 2Player 1Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5

LC L1 L3 L2 L4Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1Player 2 Player 2 Player 2 Player 2 Player 2

RC R4 R3 R2 j Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1 Player 1

RETURNERS Player 2 Player 2 Player 2 Player 2 Player 2Player 1Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5

Successful Special Teams

Put the right players in the best positions possible to have success. Put the right players in the best

positions possible to have success.

Successful Special Teams

Mike BellottiMike Bellotti