Football Kick Off Coverage
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Recreation Sports -> subcategory Other.
Football Kickoff Coverage
Title:
Football Kickoff Coverage
Summary:
The Indianapolis Glazier Clinic was a vibrant gathering for youth football coaches. It was exciting to reconnect with coaches from Cincinnati who implemented my system last year. The clinic featured remarkable speakers, including a special teams expert responsible for developing numerous Division I and NFL kickers.
Article Body:
The Indianapolis Glazier Clinic was an engaging event for youth football coaches. It was exciting to see familiar faces from Cincinnati who adopted my system last year.
I arrived just in time to hear exceptional speakers, such as a special teams guru who has sent kickers to both Division I and NFL teams. I listened to Mike Rude, an Illinois Hall of Fame High School coach, discuss his renowned Shotgun 'T' Series. Another highlight was hearing a former 11-year NFL veteran talk about building connections with players. I even had a one-on-one breakfast with a high school head coach from El Paso, whose team set multiple Texas passing records.
Sharing a ride with fellow speaker David Tennison, Defensive Coordinator from Jenks High School, was a pleasure. Jenks is often ranked in USA Today's Top 10 Programs. The clinic was a non-stop, three-day football immersion, leaving me enriched by the experience. We don't attend these events seeking new plays or schemes, but to refine our methods and learn from successful coaches and programs.
Kickoff Coverage
I identified kickoff coverage as an area needing improvement. We typically use onside or pooch kicks unless we're leading by three touchdowns, at which point we kick deep. Our onside and pooch coverage has been strong, with no touchdowns allowed over eight seasons and recovery rates between 5%-30%. Our philosophy is to avoid placing the ball in the hands of the opponent's best player when unnecessary.
Deep Kicks
Our deep kickoff coverage, however, has been lacking. We haven't developed a robust coverage scheme or practiced deep kick coverage adequately. When leading by a substantial margin, our focus on deep returns diminishes. Yet, pursuing excellence in all game aspects means addressing our deep kick coverage.
High School Legend and His Kick Coverage Concepts
Phil Acton, a legendary high school coach, boasts a stellar track record in special teams. His kickoff coverage hasn't allowed a touchdown in over 20 years, with only two returns past the 30-yard line last season. Phil challenges the traditional "lane theory" used by most teams. He demonstrated how players in distant lanes become ineffective if the returner runs up the opposite hash.
Phil's straightforward concept emphasizes keeping the returner in front and inside of the defenders. Defenders adjust their pursuit paths to prevent being outflanked. This forces the returner to get past multiple defenders instead of a few in the chosen lane. Phil also advocates for directional kicking to cover a portion of the field, always aiming away from the most dangerous returner.
Kick Coverage for Youth Football
In youth football, understanding the significance of special teams is crucial. Loading your kickoff team with non-starters often spells disaster due to their struggles with open-space tackling. In my book, "Winning Youth Football: A Step-by-Step Plan," I offer safer, development-focused methods for involving all players, without using them on kickoff teams.
Youth Football Coaching Adjustment
For youth football, tweaking this strategy might be beneficial. Positioning your ends to steer the ball carrier towards the middle or one side of the field reduces defensive coverage needs. Assigning your best tacklers to the dominant side also helps. While I don't endorse anything untested, this approach seems promising for next season. I've never favored lane-based strategies, and the "in front, inside" method appears worth exploring.
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