So many teams vow to improve their special teams, and for good reason. Can any team afford to give up 1/3 to 1/2 of the season games in losses? This equates to three to five games a year! Not many teams in any league can afford to lose one game much less five.

"Special Teams Is A Sign Of Power".

Lets begin the investigation on how to improve your team.

Consultation One

The first step in your vow to improve is to put a coach in charge of special teams. What is this coach teaching and what are you looking for? This is a very busy position; kick-off return, kick-off coverage, punt return, punt coverage, extra points, and field goals. Don't forget about the "hands" kick-off return and the punt "safe" teams. Also there are a variety of plays used within each unit. This involves the special teams coach to know of every player on the roster and the capabilities they have. First year player to vets, offense to defense.

As the head coach, you should consider several factors when you select a Special Teams Coach:

* He must posses good organizational skills.
* Be demanding.
* Very intense and energetic.
* Approach the job as a permanent assignment.
* Leadership abilities.

This position is very often the most challenging on the coaching staff. The unit should be lead by someone with executive abilities and can command respect! Give the special teams coaching position the attention it deserves. Do not award it to someone who lacks the skills to assume a "regular" coaching position! This will only compound your teams problems.

Consultation Two

The selection of players for each unit of special teams can be a combined effort between the head coach and special teams coordinator. Reporting only to the head coach eliminates the interference from other position coaches in picking from the entire roster to develop special teams.

Special team players are a special breed of player. Some guidelines to help you in selecting personnel are:

* Toughness, to bounce off blocks and play with bumps and bruises (not serious).
* Intensity.
* Quickness and speed.
* Self-disciplined, to remain in position and lanes.
* Ability to adjust to situations 'on the fly'.
* Being a team player and grateful for any opportunity to play.

Also develop a philosophy and mission for the players to follow and meet up to such as:

~Field position.
~Return yards.
~Season averages. Blocking, tackling,...etc.
~Consultation Three

Once upon the search for personnel it will be important to start from the beginning, or middle - the center / long-snapper. If the snap is wrong the punter will be off, the holder will be inaccurate, and chances are the kick will be off line. The size of your long-snapper is not as important as the ability to snap correctly.

It is important to have at least two good long-snappers (this is true with every position on the team). Having a good pair of long-snappers means each special teams play (except kick-off) will begin well. After a bad snap rarely anything good will happen!

When learning to long-snap the first thing is how to grip the ball. The long-snapper should grip the ball so his right hand is forward the center of the ball with the fingers over the seam, and the little finger just covering the laces. Then he should place his left hand with the fingers pointed downfield lightly on top the ball. Prior to gripping the ball the long-snapper needs to turn the ball so the laces are to the right and just past the center of the ball, towards the ground. Using the right hand to pass the ball and the left hand to guide the ball.

Stance for the long-snapper is feet slightly wider than the shoulders with the ball at arms length in front of him. Shoulders square and back level. If the hips are higher than the shoulders the ball may have a higher arc than needed and take more time to reach its destination. Also, if the hips are lower than the shoulders the risk of a low snap occur.

More consultations for special teams will follow in the future. Please e-mail any questions to me at defensiveback11@hotmail.com. What has been covered today is a good start and plenty to think about. And remember, "Never blame the special teams when you lose if you only practice it prior to game time".

Field position, field position, field position! That's what special teams are about.

Thank you and good luck.

Coach R. Scott Zyniecki (Coach Z)