“Making Special Teams Special”Trevor Compardo

Special Teams CoordinatorWilliamsville High School

“Winning is the science of being totally prepared”

-George Allen

Introduction

Coaching Experience– New Berlin High School (2001-2007)

• Special Teams Coordinator (2005-2007) / Offensive Assistant / Junior Varsity Coach– Williamsville High School (2008-Present)

• Special Teams Coordinator / Receivers Coach / Junior Varsity Coach

Other Experience– Illinois Air National Guard (2000-Present)

• Deployed in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom• Graduate of Officer Training School (2009)

Season Highlights– 11-1 Final Record, Sangamo Conference Champions, Class 3A Quarterfinals– Defense allowed 32 points this season (we scored 424)– 54/55 on PAT’s and 4/4 on FG attempts– Set school record for most consecutive PAT’s made– Kickoff team allowed an average of 7.95 yards per return

Presentation Topics

-Special Teams • Motivation, Principles, Goals

-Practice Organization-Kickoff Team

• Phases of Coverage• Drills• Video

-Punt Return• Practice Breakdown• Drills• Video

-Punt Team• Protection• Drills

Motivating Special Teams Players

• Special Teams Coordinator– Communicate importance of special teams– Be organized and prepared

• Special Teams player of the week• Intensity during all practice segments and games• Create a motivating factor for each week• Have a principles and goals• Players must want to be on Special Teams!

SPECIAL TEAMS PRINCIPLES

The following principles form the underlying theme for our Special Teams:1. We will remain disciplined at all times. Sloppy penalties will not be tolerated.2. During our special teams segments in practice complete focus will be

demanded. 3. Being part of special teams is an honor that must be earned and kept.4. Practice is as important as games.5. We will set the tempo of all games. We will be aggressive but disciplined. 6. We will give 100% effort at all times.7. Depending on our opponent, adjustments will be made. Be alert and aware of

any adjustments that are necessary.8. Special Teams meetings are extremely important. These meetings allow us to

discuss game plans and evaluate performance. 9. We will know our responsibilities and execute them to the best of our ability. 10. We will be the most prepared Special Teams Unit in the conference.

SPECIAL TEAMS GOALS

• KICKOFF RETURN AVERAGE OF 25 YARDS (AVERAGED OVER 25 LAST YEAR).

• PUNT RETURN AVERAGE OF 10 YARDS OR MORE (AVERAGED 8.91 LAST YEAR).

• PUNT AVERAGE OF AT LEAST 35 YARDS (36.24 LAST YEAR).• OPPONENT PUNT RETURN AVERAGE OF 7.5 YARDS OR LESS.• NO BLOCKED PUNTS OR PAT/FG (CASEY WESTFIELD BLOCKED A PUNT

AGAINST US)• KICKOFF COVERAGE INSIDE THE 30 YARD LINE.• PERFECT ON PATS AND FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS UNDER 30 YARDS.• MAKE 2 IMPACT PLAYS IN EACH GAME!

IMPACT PLAYS

• SCORE A TOUCHDOWN ON A RETURN• CAUSE A FUMBLE• RECOVER A FUMBLE• PUNT BALL INSIDE 15 YARD LINE• MAKE A TACKLE ON A PUNT FOR NO GAIN• 45 YARD PLUS PUNT• KICKOFF-MAKE TACKLE INSIDE 20 YARD LINE• KICKOFF-INTO ENDZONE FOR A TOUCHBACK• BLOCK A KICK• RECOVER AN ONSIDE KICK• PUNT RETURN OF 25 YARDS OR MORE• KICK RETURN OF 40 YARDS OR MORE• FIELD GOAL OVER 30 YARDS• EXECUTE A FAKE RESULTING IN A FIRST DOWN

Organization

• Special Teams Coordinator– Responsible for all scouting and practice planning– Must involve all members of coaching staff– Decides what schemes to run and fundamentals to teach

• Distribute breakdown instructions to each coach before practice

– Organize team prior to special teams segment in practice• Explain breakdown areas and personnel assigned• Organize scout team personnel• Identify drill helpers (bag holders, ball carriers, etc.)

Weekly Schedule

Sunday1)Opponent Scout

– Kickoff Team: kick chart and coverage– Kick Return: scheme, kick plan, onside possibilities– Punt Team: base formation, fakes, weaknesses in

protection, kick chart– Punt Return: block and return schemes, possible fakes– PAT/FG: kickers leg strength, protection weaknesses– PAT/FG Block: alignment, rush, possible fakes

2) Game Planning– Personnel assignments and schemes for all units

Weekly Schedule

Monday1)Film Breakdown

Tuesday (25 minutes)1)Kick Return Breakdown (10 minutes)

– Front five: Drop and blocking scheme, react to onside or squib kicks (2 groups)

– Back Six: Mesh return scheme versus most common types of kicks (2 groups)

2) Punt Team Breakdown (10 minutes)– Lineman/Wings/PP: Protection Scheme/Coverage– Back-up long snapper/punter/returner: snaps/kicks/catches– Bullets: Release and Coverage

3) PAT/FG-Full Team (5 minutes)– Install fakes, kicks, show opponent block alignment

Weekly Schedule

Wednesday (25 minutes)1)Kickoff Team (10 minutes)

– Drills, coverage, opponent return scheme– Onside kicks

2) Punt Return Breakdown (10 minutes)– Linebackers: block and return schemes– Defensive Line: block and return schemes– Defensive Backs: bump and run technique– Long snapper, punter, punt returner: snaps, kicks, catches

3) PAT/FG (5 minutes)– Live kicks and Fakes

Weekly Schedule

Thursday (40 minutes)*Full Team in everything-Four ten minute

segments1) Kickoff Coverage/Onside Kicks, PAT/FG Team2) Punt Return Team/Field Goal Block3) Punt Team4) Kick Return/Hands Team

KICKOFF TEAM

Importance• Vital part of team’s quest to control field position• Pinning opponent deep in their own territory results

in diminished scoring opportunities

Philosophy• Directional kick using various types of kicks

– Deep, Squib, Pooch, Onside– Keep ball away from most dangerous man (MDM)– Make return team uncomfortable

KICKOFF TEAM

• Phases of kickoff coverage:– All Out Zone

• Full sprint at the kick (1/2 yard behind kicker)– This is the key to our coverage

– Avoid Zone• Avoid blocks using rip, swim, or avoid and hard turn

move• Get back to assigned lane

– Attack Zone• Attack blocker, break down, make tackle• Keep returner to inside shoulder

Kickoff Drills

• Get off Drill– Players time their get off with the kicker– Use normal kickoff alignment with players in real

positions• Have two groups ready to go (Varsity/J.V)

– Goal is to have all coverage men in a perfect line, at a full sprint, ½ yard behind ball when it is kicked

– Essential to learn proper timing!– This is key to our coverage

• Weave Drill• Butt and Press Drill• Wedge Drill• Simulated Live Cover

Punt Return

• Goal is to average 10 yards per return• This phase is more about effort than anything

else-we can create big plays by outworking our opponents

• Closely scout opponent punt team to identify areas of weaknesses

• Philosophy– Apply pressure to the punter to force bad kicks– Return alignment and block alignment should look

similar– Move personnel to confuse protection scheme

Punt Return Breakdown

• Breakdown the punt return team into:– Linebackers– Defensive Backs– Defensive Lineman

• Each group will be working techniques and schemes in their own area with 1-2 coaches supervising.

*If possible, during punt return breakdown, your starting long snapper, punter, and punt return man should be off to the side working snaps, punts and catches.

Conclusion

Contact Information– compardo@wcusd15.org

“Winning is the science of being totally prepared”

-George Allen