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Rodeo Circuit

How Tabor College uses Whole-Part-Whole teaching to drill the kicking team
Defensive Coordinator/Secondary, Tabor College
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When Tim McCarty came to Tabor College in the spring of 1999 there were 14 players remaining on the roster and one winning season in the 35-year history of the program. As the 2003 season approached, the Bluejays continued to build on last year’s 6-4 record.

Our philosophy has remained consistent:

1. Recruit players of high moral and ethical character.
2. Offensively score early and often.
3. Get the offense the ball as quickly as possible.
4. Create turnovers and field position advantages – defensively and with the kicking game.

That sounds simple enough and basically everyone in America wants to attain those things each year. We’ve been able to compete partially due to some changes in how we’ve drilled and practiced our special teams.

During our two-a-day sessions we emphasize the Special Teams Rodeo circuit as part of our practice routine. This does a number of the following things for us:


Diagram 1.

1. Allows us to evaluate personnel.
2. Can be incorporated in 5, 10, 15 or 20 minute periods, and is as flexible and time efficient as you want.
3. Gets the entire team involved.
4. Is a fun, competitive change during practice.
5. Works as a conditioning period.

In one of the first meetings you have each year, I suggest getting on the board and handing out the field layout for the Rodeo as seen in Diagram 1.

Go over each drill you want to cover for that day prior to going on the field. Make sure the drill areas are set and marked.

We want to cover a multitude of areas within the framework of each special team and its scheme during August camp. Punt and Kick-Off Returners, Gunners, K-O Coverage, Front Line Blockers and protections are involved in what we consider our “Offensive” Special Teams Rodeo (see Diagram 2). Our punt and FG block, punt personnel and on-side units are what we consider our “Defensive” Rodeo (see Diagram 3). Even though we label units offense and defense the emphasis is always on being relentless and attacking aggressively in all phases.

The drills we use in the different areas are run at full speed to contact; at that point we will then either “shave” the returner, or use hand shields to absorb contact. The emphasis is on our alignment, assignment, technique and effort. In Diagram 2 our drills are as follows:

Diagram 2.

Area 1. Down-it-Drill

Area 2. You/Me Drill

Area 4. 1/2 Line Drill

Area 3. Leverage Drill

Area 6. Landmark Drill

Area 5. 4-on-3 Drill

Area 8. Gunner Drill

Area 7. Jam Trail & Score Drill


Area 1: Down it drill - Gunners sprint to keep ball out of end zone by downing it, slapping it out of bounds, catching it, and doing whatever it takes to keep it out of the end zone. Change-up by having return man signal fake fair catches, or actually chasing punts. The coach should begin around the 25 or so, throwing it at first, then adding a punter or using a ball machine to mix up the velocity and height of the ball.

Area 2: You/Me drill - The gunners are bumped and mirrored by the DB for 10-15 yards. We tell ours to carry them to the cone and release to the return. The return men must communicate with a “You-You” or a “Me-Me” call. The Return Captain is the only one who talks when the ball is thrown or punted. The coach running the drill must make sure he is throwing the ball (or punter is “pooch” punting ball) 5-10 yards ahead of the gunners. We want to make sure we communicate the catch, make the block and avoid the odd color defender to the return.

Area 3: Leverage Drill - We’ve all done this one at some point with all five squeezing the ball but we eliminate a man, forcing our lanes to shift and squeeze on the run. Sometimes we eliminate two lanes. Once the coverage men engage the returner a coach yells out the lane number of the fallen coverage man. For example “3,” if we eliminate the 2 and 3 he’ll simply yell 23 or some other combination. Emphasis must be on keeping inside and in front leverage as the kick returner zig zags. The drill is done from the sideline to the hash using the yard lines as a lane pattern.

Area 4: Half-Line Protection Drill - The emphasis is placed on stance, technique, footwork and scheme. We continually mix up a 4-man or 5-man alignment and watch for unwanted space, shoulder turns, or lazy feet and hands. We use buzzwords consistently, emphasizing the “Stance, Split, Set, Strike and Sprint” execution phases of the punt unit.

Area 5: 4-on-3 Drill - This incorporates a kick-off return simulation. The emphasis is on communication, schematic changes on the run and block timing. With this drill we can kick out and double No. 1, drive and seal No. 3 and avoid 3 or switch it up to work our other returns. The drill area is 25-30 yards apart, the halfbacks and returners must be positioned at the proper width and depth for your own KO return scheme; that is why we use cones for start points. Keep in mind if you are a Wedge Return Team, or Man Return Team, this drill is excellent for whole-part-whole teaching with your back people. Change-up: Can be used as a 4-on-5 drill as well; just gear it to what you do.

Area 6: Landmark Drill - This is used to work on the break and attach phases of the KO return. At first we will run to our landmark break, drive and run through a pop-up dummy. As the drill progresses, we will use coverage men. The objective is to have our players understand spacing, assignment, landmarks and angles with returns to the right, left and middle.

Area 7: Jam Trail and Score Drill - This drill is used to work on our man-to-man punt-return scheme. We teach a jam on the line, a trail on the upfield hip, and a shield block on the inside number. As the coveage men engage the return, we read their hips and shoot our hands inside. In addition, we always emphasize to our returners to run at their own color and force the defender to break with them. Once this occurs the blocker can shield the defender, allowing our returner to get up field and score. Change-up: Make it live with open field tacking. Add two or more personnel or use with half-line drill (see Area 4).

Area 8: 2-on-1 Gunner Drill - This drill allows your gunners to work on releases. For example, use an inside release as if working numbers to the middle, or an outside release forcing leverage on the outside defender. Get hip-to-hip by using some combination of the rip or hand combatives, footwork and swim moves. The DBs must work together by staying flat and lateral on the jam. The two DBs need to communicate with each other on the way in which they want to force the gunner. They work on the press and jam technique as in Man Coverage. Once the gunner slips a defender he will get his eyes on the return man and work to the return side. The objective is to bump the gunner down the field and occupy him throughout the drill. To do this consistently can be the difference in securing a large chunk of field position. Remember to coach the Gunners and DBs simultaneously.

The second rodeo puts an emphasis on special situations and kick blocking (see diagram 3).

Diagram 3.

Special Area 1. Chaos Drill

Area 2. Punt Block Drill

Area 4. On-side Drill

Area 3. On-side Drill

Area 5&6. FG Block Situation

Area 8. Punter Drills

Area 7. Return Drill


In the special area we will run a chaos drill designed to emphasize snapper, holder and kicker concentration. This drill is extremely multiple. We have surrounded the kicking unit waving our arms and yelling, we’ve run in front of and beside the holder and kicker, we have even tossed hand shields and dummies in front of the kicker simulating block attempts. We also give a shot to the snapper with hand shields as the ball is snapped.

Area 2: Punt Block Drill - We teach the same block techniques and aiming points as everyone else. We go from the right, middle and left, individually or as a 2-man Combination. We incorporate a half drill with full punt block vs. half-line protection. We will use a coach to hold the ball and have the punt blocker take the ball of the hand, then the foot. Hint: You can use tires as replacements for tackles or wings. We also use a pop-up to rip through and get to the block point, and have snapper snap or simulate one.

Area 3: On-Side Drill - This one is run both as a gotta-have-it situation from a Recovery unit and as a Hands Team Unit. Tailor it to your scheme but the goal is to practice assignment, effort and execution of the kick, knock out and recovery. This is practiced vs. air, stand-up dummies and shields. Our kicker’s target is the inside leg of the No. 2 man from the sideline. We want a high bounce, and good timing from our 4 and 5 with the 3 knocking out the No. 2. A hoop at the number serves as a target jump area.

Area 4: On-Side Drill - This is the same concept. The 3 and 5 protect the 2, 4 and 6 as they recover the ball. This drill is run to contact and recovery.

Area 5, 6: FG Block Station - This can be done with non-kickers or kickers. The on-side drill should always have a kicker who swaps sides. The FG block kicker and coach rotate with the drill. The kicker “punches” the ball and allows the block to occur. Another variation has the holder flip the ball to the block as if it were kicked. The snap can be centered, or spun from a knee. This drill, as does the entire rodeo, depends on your squad size and coaches. You can also personalize this with either men in the FG formation or tires as replacements. I’d suggest a combination of FG personnel and tires. As you teach this it is similar to Area 2 and the punt block in that you teach to your scheme and emphasize a gap or man you want to attack and block.

Area 7: Return Drill - In Area 7 of Diagram 3 I’ve shown the fair-catch drill. This can be done while being surrounded or convened upon. It can also serve as a teaching station for the halo area. It works best if the coach changes up the kinds of kicks the returner sees: 1) short, 2) long, 3) end-over-end, 4) wobble. To produce the results for different kicks, the coach should throw the ball or pooch punt the ball sideways. The returner needs to learn to field punts in all forms of good, bad, in the air and from the ground. This drill will save you valuable yardage if the returner can learn to read ball flight. We also place the returners in a line and simulate good, bad and bouncing grounder punts forcing them to field all different kinds of balls.

Area 8: Punter Drills - By placing the punter in a variety of situation you can create a game-line atmosphere. By using the “Buzz Drill” the defenders buzz the punter without making contact. The coach throws bad snaps high, low and side-to-side, etc. Because we don’t punt the ball this allows the punter to work on feet, drop table and hands. Another drill is a “Safety Drill.” Give the punter a situation of 10-7 them, 13-9 them, 13-0 us, etc. The punter practices taking the safety on a snap overhead or fields the ball and runs or punts depending on the situation. We then apply the “Punch Accuracy Drill” along with the “Buzz” and bad snap drill. They “punch” the ball at hoops or trashcans, trying to hit spirals. Once you have confidence in your punter’s ability to control the ball, combine Area 7 and 8. Another job we ask out of our punter is to practice tackling. The coach will throw a bad snap, the defenders “buzz” the punter, the punter then punches the ball to a target and finally wraps up or tackles the return man. The returner will already have the ball in case of a shank. We try to get as much done as possible here. Other suggestions: use wet balls, do it in the mud, combine it with half-line or block drill. The extra area in the opposite end zone can be substituted for drills in Area 7 or 8.

If you liked this article, here are three others just like it:

1. Dominate 4th Down, July 2003
2. Big Play, Oct. 2002
3. Miami’s On-side Kick Game, Second Quarter 1998

Each of the rodeos should be based on your own squad size, practice facility, and staff. You can begin by getting them in groups by position and rotating from station to station. Always teach technique, assignment and effort in order to use your time effectively.

About the author
Mike Gardner


Coach Gardner is in his second year at Tabor. He has spent 10 of his 13 years coaching involved as a special teams coordinator. His defense at Tabor finished fourth nationally in total team defense and was in the top 10 in each defensive statistical catagory. The Baker University grad was a three-time All-American in his last three years at BU. His coaching career began at Hastings College in 1990. He earned a master’s degree at HC before taking a job at Bethel College in 1993 as the quarterback and wide receivers coach. For more information, email mikeg@tabor.edu.






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