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Now in his 20th season as head coach at Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer has established the Hokies as a consistent top ten Division I-A power. Beamer ranks third among all active D I-A coaches in wins and last fall led the Hokies to an 11-2 record and their 13th straight bowl game. Year-in, year-out, Virginia Tech has a reputation of being one of the finest colleges in special teams play: the Hokies led all I-A schools in blocked punts in the 90’s. During his tenure, Beamer's special teams have accounted for 37 touchdowns: 15 on blocked punts, 13 on punt returns, 4 on kickoff returns, 4 on blocked field goals, and one on a fumble recovery.

Q. How much of your practice is spent on special teams and how do you get players to buy into the importance of special teams play? How do you motivate them to be a special teams player? Mark Wagner, head JV Coach, Evergreen High School (CO). AFM subscriber since 2006.
    We don’t devote any more time to special teams than anyone else but we do have special team practices every day. We make sure the players on special teams know of its importance and we use the best people we can. We also tell them it can help their pro careers; oftentimes, the last ten players on an NFL roster are primarily the special teams players.

Q. How do you integrate special teams during your weekly practice schedule and your daily pratices? Preston McKnight, Defensive Backs Coach, Kutztown University (PA). AFM subscriber since 2000.
    In addition to practicing special teams every day, we show video (of the previous day) every day in practice. This is of all special teams play: punt protection and punt returns, kickoffs and kickoff returns, field goal protection, and blocking field goals. We feel it’s important to review the tape with our special teams players every day.

Q. With your dominance in special teams play, could you please talk about your typical practice schedule and how you integrate special teams? Kurt Mattix, Defensive Coordinator, Wayne State University (MI). AFM subscriber since 2000.
    Many teams practice their kicking and punting drills either before or after practice. We make a point of having our special teams drills and practices right in the middle of our regular practices. The special teams players are running sprints and drills at that time and we stress their imporatnce. Because of all their running, they may not have to run as many wind sprints at the end of practice. They’re then getting some benefits; we want our special teams players to know it’s an honor and benefit to play on those squads and not a burden.

Q. If there was one special teams drill that you would recommend for high school coaches, what would it be? Pete Mutascio, Head Football coach, Cosby High School (TN). AFM subscriber since 1997.
    We have a punt block, half-line drill that is very helpful...we have designated players go all out at the snap of the ball and have our players come out of their stance with reckless abandon putting their hands up at the last second to block a punt so they don’t limit their acceleration.
    How it works is that we have the personal protector, guard, tackle and slot be a part of the drill... we’ll have the center snap the ball and have assigned blocks. For example, the PP will block a designated rusher, the guard someone else, and so forth with a double team on one player. But it works where one rusher is free and we see if he can get to the punter before he gets the ball off. If he does, the drill is not finished; we make sure we practice recovering the ball and running to the end zone.

Q. At the youth level, we are restricted to no more than 6 hours of practice time per week. How much time would you devote to special teams at this age level with that time restraint? Ken Rice, Howard County Terps (MD). AFM subscriber since 2006.
    It should be the same at every level... make it special and important and devote as much time to it as you do offense and defense. Try to make it a special event and not punishment for your players. The kicking game is the quickest way to win or lose a game.

Q. What is your field goal block scheme? Does your scheme change when your opponent is kicking from the hash? Tom Loughran, Head Coach, South Park High School (PA). AFM subscriber since 2001.
    The basic rule is to be lined up on the guard, set for penetration with a big rush on each edge as well as the gaps. We also drop people back to cover eligible receivers in case of a trick play.

Q. I just completed my first year as a coach with a semi-pro team in Colorado Springs. In an effort to continue my career at the next level – college – what resources would I use to continue my education and what would be your advice as far as preparation to enter the college coaching level? David Torres, Semi-professional football coach, Colorado Springs, CO. AFM subscriber since 2006.
    The coaching profession is a hard one to get into... usually it’s done in one of two ways: 1. Contacting a head coach and seeing if there’s a position available in some capacity; or, 2. Starting at the bottom of an organization and working your way up. This could be working in the weight room or as a GA just to get your foot in the door.

Coming Soon: ‘AFM Subscribers Ask..’ includes Arizona’s Head Coach Mike Stoops. Now in his third year in Tucson, Stoops has a reputation as an outstanding defensive specialist. Submit your question to Coach Stoops by emailing AFM's Managing Editor Rex Lardner (rlardner@lcclark.com)...Deadline for entries is Friday, November 17th.





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