Maximize Practice Time with Special Team Drills

We pride ourselves on having a special team’s identity. It’s consists of pressure, field position, and points. These identities help create tempo and energy throughout practice and games. Our philosophy consists of:

Pressure:

•  We make every effort in every way to apply pressure to our opponent.

Field Position:

•  We either want to flip or win field position whenever possible.

Points:

•  With every special teams unit, we emphasize scoring points.

As we install our specialty periods and drill work, we want to make sure that all drills and periods are consistent with our identity. These specialty periods also provide an opportunity for our entire staff to be involved as well as building a true team concept. Our specialty periods help to reinforce fundamentals and technique while maximizing our practice time. Through full speed repetitions, our staff is able to provide a competitive yet safe environment. In these periods, our staff is able to provide consistent instruction. They also provide interaction with all players.

We refer to the three drills as the “Specialty Period,” “Inside and In Front”, and “Speed and Space.”

Specialty Period:

•  It is incorporated into our pre-practice and takes place of our specialists period.
•  All staff and players are involved in our specialty period (five minutes).

•  Will rotate players usually after two practices – for example: long snap to short snap.

Moving Clockwise from Our Punt Area
(Diagram 1)

Punt Area:
•  Long Snappers, Punters, and Punt Returners

Short Snap Area:
•  Short Snappers and Holders

Field Goal Area:
•  Short Snapper, Holder, and Kicker

Field Goal Individual Area:
•  Offensive Linemen and Defensive Linemen
Leverage Area:
•  Linebackers, Tight Ends, and Running Backs

Kickoff Area:
•  Kickers and Kick Returners

Rollers and Pop-Up Area:
•  Linebackers, Tight Ends, and Running Backs

Punt Block Area:
•  Wide Receivers and Defensive Backs

Inside and In Front: Punt and Kickoff
Depth Charts (Diagram 2).

•  All staff and players are involved in our special teams period (ten minutes).

•  Punt and kickoff depth will work inside and in front.

•  Field goal and PAT depth will work formation and operation.

•  Our drill work emphasis will be delivered through the power of three  philosophy:
 
1.  Sprint to the cone.
2.  Plant outside foot to re-direct.
3.  Come to balance and tag the returner
     (stay square).

Speed and Space (Diagram 3)

•  All staff and players are involved in our special teams period (ten minutes).

•  Punt and kickoff depth will work speed and space.

•  Field goal and PAT depth will work formation and operation.

•  Our drill work emphasis will be delivered through the power of three  philosophy:
1.  Sprint full speed.
2.  Come to balance (stay square).
3.  Tag the returner.

About the Author: Eric Inama recently completed his first season as both defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Sioux Falls. It was his second stint coaching at USF, having previously been on the staff from 2007-2009. Inama came from Midland University where he was the defensive coordinator for four years. A three-year letterman at Delaware Valley College, he began his coaching career at King’s College in 2006.