KICK-OFF COVERAGE

BASIC RULES
1. The Kick-Off starts the game, puts the ball into play after a touchdown or successful field goals. The ball will be kicked from the 40 yard line. 

2. Once a kick - off travel 10 yards it is a free ball. A kick - off must go 10 yards before the kicking team can legally touch it. 

3. The kicking team can not advance any recovery. Fall on the ball, and make sure that you come up with the recovery. 

4. A member of the kicking team can catch a pooched kick in the air. If a fair catch signal is made you can not interfere with his opportunity to catch the ball. Break down and be ready for a fumble. 

5. Blocking below the waist is illegal. We can not bust the wedge or block out an opponent below the waist. 

6. The ball becomes dead and belongs to the receiving team (touchback), when a free kick (kick-off) is untouched by the receiving team and the ball strikes the ground in the end zone. 

7. A kick-off which goes out of bounds between the goal lines with out being touched by the receiving must be re-kicked with a 5 yard penalty or the receiving team can gain possession on the 35 yard line. 

8. Any member of the kicking team may use his hands or arms to ward off blocker or to push him out of the way in a legal attempt to recover the ball. 


FUNDAMENTALS
1. Covering a kick-off is an ALL OUT SPRINT. 
    A. Speed is important, but the intent to make a tackle is vital. A player shows his true football character on coverage team. 

    B. Each player must believe that every kick will be returned and that he will make the “TOP ROCK PLAY”. 

    C. GANG TACKLE!!! A tackle should never be made by one man. Punish the returner. Relentless pursuit must be
         maintained until the ball carrier is down or the whistle blows. 

2. Your all out sprint will carry you past most blockers. Up to the 35 yard line avoid blocks, if you get out of your lane...work back into it as quick as possible. Inside the 35 run through blocks keeping your outside arm free. 

3. If you get knocked down, quickly get back up and close the hole that you opened up. 

4. NEVER BE OFFSIDE. Time your approach so that you are within one yard of the 40 when the ball is kicked. 

5. Our goal is to keep the ball inside the 30 yard line. 

HUDDLE AND PROCEDURES

The Kick-Off Team will huddle on the field. The kicker should be the only one talking, he will give direction and coverage of the kick. (Example: Pooch Kick area 4) He will yell ready, then everyone will break and run to their spots on the field. 

1. Left side 1,3,4,5 and Right side 5,4,3,1 on the 35 yard line. Enforcers will align on the 30 yard line. 

2. Stance will be a two-point stance looking into the kicker. 

3. Kicker will put his hand up after the ball has been put into play by the official. 

4. Kickers hand will go down and will give the count: 1001,1002,1003. Kicker will start his approach on the three count. Enforcers will start their approach when the kickers hand goes down. Everyone else will time up their approach so that they will be within 1 yard of the 40 when the ball is kicked. 

Enforcers: 
Run to the ball, each keeping the returner to on their inside shoulder. Do not let the returner get outside of you. You have a running start, therefore, you should be the first people downfield. This is an all out sprint, don’t loaf!!! 

1,3,4,& 5’s: 
Run down your lane for 15 yards, then “squeeze” the return man to your inside shoulder. You may avoid blockers up till the +40, from that point you will run through blockers. Remember if you avoid a block, make sure that you get back into your lane. This is an all out sprint, don’t loaf!!! 

Kicker: 
Kick the ball to the designated area and run in the direction of the football. You are a safety, stay about 25 yards in front of the ball. Look for any breakdown or any running lanes. 

****REMEMBER**** 
Don’t try to be a hero, break down 5 yards in front of the ball returner. Make him make the first move, and then react & wrap-up, when he is our control....strip the ball!!!!

Copyright © 2000  [The Special Teams Web Page].  All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in ANY form by means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission from Bill Shackelford.  Revised: November 21, 2000 .