310 likes | 522 Views
KICK OFF RETURN. MENLO COLLEGE FRED GUIDICI HEAD COACH & SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR 650-543-3763 fguidici@menlo.edu “ LET’S GET IT STARTED! ”. KICK OFF RETURN IS A STATEMENT PLAY. STARTS GAME – DID WE COME TO PLAY? STARTS 2 ND HALF – DID WE COME TO WIN?
E N D
KICK OFF RETURN MENLO COLLEGE FRED GUIDICI HEAD COACH & SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR 650-543-3763 fguidici@menlo.edu “LET’S GET IT STARTED!”
KICK OFF RETURN IS A STATEMENT PLAY • STARTS GAME – DID WE COME TO PLAY? • STARTS 2ND HALF – DID WE COME TO WIN? • FOLLOWING OUR SCORE – CAN WE TURN GOOD INTO BETTER?
EXPECTATIONS 35 YARD LINE AVERAGE START 25 YARD AVERAGE PER RETURN (PER GAME) SCORE TOUCHDOWNS 100% SUCCESS ON GADGETS 100% ON-SIDE KICK RECOVERY NO TURNOVERS NO PENALTIES!!!!
KICK-OFF RETURN • GENERAL INFORMATION • WE WILL HAVE BASIC ASSIGNMENTS FOR EACH RETURN, AND THESE ASSIGNMENTS CAN BE ADJUSTED EACH WEEK, IF NECESSARY, IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COVERAGE PATTERNS BEING USED BY OUR OPPONENT. WE WILL ALSO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, WHEN WARRANTED, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPONENT’S PERSONNEL WEAKNESS. • IT IS ESSENTIAL WE: • FIELD ALL KICK-OFFS IN THE AIR • OUR ENDS, WEDGESETTER & FULLBACKS OTHER THAN • THE DEEP MAN MUST BE PREPARED TO FIELD SHORT • KICKS. • RULES AND PROCEDURES • 1. OBJECTIVES: GAIN GOOD FIELD POSITION (35-40 yard line) • SCORE • HOLD ON TO THE BALL AT ALL COST! • NO PENALTIES! • LET’S GET IT STARTED IN OUR FAVOR WITH HARD HITTING, INTIMIDATION AND GREAT RETURNS! • 2. FRONT LINE PLAYERS: • DO NOT ALIGN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE BALL.(OFF SET). • DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL THE BALL IS KICKED. USE YOUR EYES • ALWAYSASSUME ON-SIDE KICK IS COMING. • 3. IT IS A FREE BALL AFTER GOING 10 YARDS OR TOUCHING ANYONE ON THE RETURN TEAM. DOWN IT OR RETURN IT, UNLESS YOU ARE SURE IT IS GOING OUT OF BOUNDS (GUARD THE BALL).
4. BE DETERMINED THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SUCCESSFULLY CARRY OUT ASSIGNMENT. TAKE PERSONAL PRIDE. KNOW THAT HE WILL NOT MAKE THE PLAY. 5. ALL BLOCKS MUST BE ABOVE THE WAIST AND IN FRONT OF THE BODY. 6. DO NOT CHASE YOUR MAN, LET HIM COME TO YOU. 7. FAIR CATCH RULES APPLY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE RETURN TEAM. 8. WE WANT TO BE DEEP ENOUGH TO CATCH BALLS IN FRONT OF OUR BODY, NOT OVER THE SHOULDER. 9. THE RETURN TEAM MUST PROTECT ALL BALLS IN THE FIELD OF PLAY AND THE END ZONE. 10. PLAY SMART, NOT EMOTIONAL OR LAZY BECAUSE……………. DUMB PENALTIES KILL GREAT FIELD POSITION!
BLOCKING INFORMATION BALL READS: PRE-SNAP READ READ THE DIRECTION OF THE LACES AND THE ANGLE OF THE BALL WHEN “ON” THE TEE. THIS GIVES AN IDEA OF DIRECTION. READ THE BALL CLOSE TO YOU OR AWAY FROM YOU. KICK READ ROTATION: READ THE BALL AS YOU WATCH IT OFF THE TEE FOR ROTATION. THE FASTER THE SPIN, THE SHORTER THE KICK. THE SLOWER THE SPIN, THE LONGER THE KICK. THIS READ WILL GIVE AN IDEA OF THE DISTANCE. RETURN READ TAKE A PEAK AT THE RETURNER WHO’S ELBOWS ARE TUCKED FOR HE IS THE RECEIVER OF THE KICK. ALSO THE WEDGESETTER FOR TRUE DIRECTION AND DISTANCE. BLOCKING TECHNIQUES: “ELBOWS AND ASSHOLES” FRONTLINE • CROSS OVER AND RUN TO ZONE WITH CORRECT DROP ANGLE. • LOOK UP THE WEDGESETTER TO INSURE THE RETURN. • KEEP HEAD ON A SWIVEL KEYING YOUR MAN AND DROP ZONE. • SWIVEL YOUR SHOULDERS AND HEAD SQUARE TO THE ALLEY TO ESTABLISH GOOD LEVERAGE ON YOUR ASSIGNED MAN . (MAN, TURNBACK, FINESSE EARHOLE OR CROSSING BLOCK TECHNIQUES) READ YOUR MAN’S COVERAGE, ATTACK YOUR MAN WHEN: …YOU REACH THE 30-25 YARD LINE. …YOU ARE 5 TO 10 YARD FROM THE WEDGE …YOUR MAN COMES TO BALANCE …YOUR MAN CHANGES DIRECTION
FOCUS ON THE MAN’S FEET. GET “65-35” TO THE ALLEY SIDE. START TO ATTACK AND SQUEEZE WHEN YOUR ASSIGNED MAN GETS WITHIN 5 YARDS FROM YOU (UNLESS HE COMES TO BALANCE OR CHANGES DIRECTION). ATTACK HIM BY USING YOUR KNIFE TECHNIQUE WITH POSITIVE SHIN ANGLES (PSA). JACK HIM UP FROM LOW TO HIGH WITH A 45-DEGREE TILT. POUND THE KNEES TO THE GROUND AND REDIRECT HIM AWAY. DON’T STOP YOUR FEET! 2. IF YOU ARE LATE ON YOUR MAN OR HE IS TOO FAST; USE YOUR FINESSE EARHOLE TECHNIQUE LEANING ON HIM AND RIDE HIM PAST THE RETURNER. 3. KEEP YOUR HEAD ON THE ALLEY SIDE AND MAINTAIN “65-35” LEVERAGE 4. NEVER LET THE COVER MAN CROSS YOUR FACE! MAKE HIM GO JUST ONE WAY – AWAY FROM THE SIDE OF THE RETURN. • FINISH!! IF YOU LOSE YOUR MAN, GET UP THE ALLEY AND BLOCK THE FIRST MAN YOU SEE. WE WANT TO SEE THEIR “ELBOWS AND ASSHOLES” BACKLINE WEDGE PLAYERS (THE DEAD BUG SOCIETY) THE WEDGE WILL STAY TOGETHER AND RUN THRU ANYTHING IN ITS’ WAY. EACH MAN IN THE WEDGE WILL BE ASSIGNED A MAN TO BLOCK. NOBODY SPLITS THE WEDGE! • THE WEDGESETTER (WS) WILL SET THE WEDGE 8 YARDS FROM THE FRONT OF THE RETURNER. (NEVER CROSS THE 5-YARD LINE, WHEN THE BALL IS KICKED INTO THE END ZONE.) • IF BALL IS KICKED OUTSIDE THE NUMBERS, WEDGE WILL BE SET NO WIDER THAN THE NUMBERS. • ENDS WILL BE ON EACH SIDE OF THE WEDGESETTER AND THE FULLBACK. THEY WILL FORM A TIGHT WEDGE WITH NO DAYLIGHT IN BETWEEN. • EVERYONE EXCEPT WEDGESETTER SHOULD BE FACING THE OPPOSING TEAM EVEN BEFORE THE WEDGE IS SET IN MOTION. • THE WEDGESETTER WILL GIVE A “GO, GO” CALL TO START THE WEDGE FORWARD. BLOCK YOUR ASSIGNED MAN OR MDM. ANYONE THAT ATTEMPTS TO BREAK OUR WEDGE WILL GET SMASHED LIKE A BUG!
RETURNERS THE DEEP MEN (DM) WILL BE THE DESIGNATED RETURNER. THE WEDGE MEN MAY HANDLE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF KICKS (SHORT KICKS, SQUIBS, LINE DRIVES AND POOCHES) • CATCH THE BALL WITH MOMENTUM HEADING UP THE FIELD WITH YOUR WEIGHT GOING FORWARD. “TIME THE CATCH” PRACTICE SOUND FUNDAMENTALS WHEN HANDLING EACH BALL: • LOOK THE BALL INTO YOUR HANDS. • TUCK IT AWAY TIGHT USING THE FOLLOWING 4 POINTS OF PRESSURE: 1. GET INTO THE HABIT OF KEEPING A TIGHT “V”GRIP ON THE NOSE OF THE BALL WITH YOUR FINGERS AND HANDS. 2. PUT PRESSURE ON THE REAR OF THE BALL WITH YOUR BICEP. 3. PUT PRESSURE ON THE SIDE OF THE BALL WITH YOUR FOREARM. 4. KEEP BALL TIGHT AGAINST YOUR BODY. 5. WHEN CONTACT IS ANTICIPATED TUCK THE BALL UP. • KNOW THE RETURN COMMUNICATION FIELD ZONES AS TO WHICH RETURNER HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY TO FIELD AND RETURN THE KICK. HE WILL MAKE A “ME, ME, ME” CALL OR A “YOU, YOU, YOU” CALL TO THE OTHER DEEP MAN. • BE AWARE OF WHERE THE BALL IS BEING KICKED (HASH OR MIDDLE). WATCH THE KICKERS ANGLE TO ANTICIPATE A CORNER KICK. (BALL READS) • ANY KICK THAT GOES DEEP INTO THE ENDZONE REQUIRES GOOD JUDGEMENT AS TO WHETHER TO RUN IT OUT OR NOT. THE DEEP MAN NOT RETURNING THE BALL WILL GIVE A “STAY”OR “GO” CALL. NO BALL IS TO BE RETURNED DEEPER THAN 3 YARDS. • A BALL THAT IS ANGLING OUT OF BOUNDS SHOULD NOT BE FIELDED. (GUARD THE BALL UNTIL IT GOES OUT OF THE FIELD OF PLAY)
NON RETURN MAN • MUST ECHO THE CALL BACK TO THE RETURNER • INSURE THE RETURNER CATCHES THE BALL CLEANLY. • A BALL THAT IS ANGLING OUT OF B OUNDS SHOULD NOT BE FIELDED. ( GUARD THE BALL UNTIL IT GOES OUT OF BOUNDS) • ALIGN YOURSELF 1 X 1 OFF THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE WEDGE. • THE WEDGE WILL NOT WAIT FOR YOU TO GET INTO POSITION. THIS MAY OCCUR BECAUSE THE RETURNER DID NOT CATCH THE BALL CLEANLY. • BLOCK ANYONE WHO THREATENS THE WEDGE. THIS MAY BE ANYONE WHO SLIPPED OFF THE FRONTLINE BLOCKER OR ANY EDGE PLAYER #9 OR #10. • IF NO THREAT TO THE WEDGE, THEN WORK YOUR WAY UPFIELD AND BLOCK MDM, THE BACK SIDE SAFETY OR KICKER. THE NON RETURN MAN MUST BE A BLOCKER. IF HE DOESN’T BLOCK , HE WILL NOT BE A DEEP MAN! RULES OF DOWNING A BALL • ANY MUFFED (BALL NOT FIELD CLEANLY) KICK-OFF THAT GOES INTO THE ENDZONE MUST BE COVERED AND DOWNED BY THE RETURN TEAM. IF THE OPPONENT RECOVERS IT IN THE END ZONE, IT WILL BE A TOUCHDOWN. • BOUNCING KICK-OFF THAT RICOCHETS OFF YOU, OR ONE OF OUR PLAYERS INTO THE ENDZONE CAN BE DOWNED THERE FOR A TOUCHBACK • IF YOU BRING THE BALL OUT OF THE ENDZONE INTO THE FIELD, YOU CANNOT GO BACK AND DOWN IT FOR A TOUCHBACK. A SAFETY WILL RESULT. • WHEN WE CATCH THE BALL IN THE FIELD OF PLAY AND OUR MOMENTUM CARRIES US INTO THE ENDZONE, WE HAVE TO RETURN IT OR ELSE IT WILL BE MARKED AT THE SPOT OF THE CATCH. THREAD THE NEEDLE……….SCORE LET’S GET IT STARTED!
RULES OF DOWNING A BALL • ANY MUFFED (BALL NOT FIELD CLEANLY) KICK-OFF THAT GOES INTO THE ENDZONE MUST BE COVERED AND DOWNED BY THE RETURN TEAM. IF THE OPPONENT RECOVERS IT IN THE END ZONE, IT WILL BE A TOUCHDOWN. • BOUNCING KICK-OFF THAT RICOCHETS OFF YOU, OR ONE OF OUR PLAYERS INTO THE ENDZONE CAN BE DOWNED THERE FOR A TOUCHBACK • IF YOU BRING THE BALL OUT OF THE ENDZONE INTO THE FIELD, YOU CANNOT GO BACK AND DOWN IT FOR A TOUCHBACK. A SAFETY WILL RESULT. • WHEN WE CATCH THE BALL IN THE FIELD OF PLAY AND OUR MOMENTUM CARRIES US INTO THE ENDZONE, WE HAVE TO RETURN IT OR ELSE IT WILL BE MARKED AT THE SPOT OF THE CATCH. THREAD THE NEEDLE……….SCORE LET’S GET IT STARTED!
KICK OFF RETURN BLOCKSFRONTLINE MAN OBJECTIVE: FRONTLINE BLOCKERS RELEASE TO AN ASSIGNED MAN. LANDMARK: 25-YARD LINE AIMING POINT: NEAR SIDE PEC – 65-35 STANCE: 45-DEGREE ANGLE FACING KICKER, HEAD & EYES UP WITH HANDS OPEN TECHNIQUE: FIND YOUR MAN AND ALIGN WITH LEVERAGE ON HIM. SNAP BELLY BUTTON AND RUN. SPRINT ON A LATERAL RUN BY OPENING YOUR HIPS. SNEAK A PEAK AT YOUR MAN AT 5 OR 6 YARDS. GET YOUR EYES ON HIS BELT TO THE NEAR HIP TO HIS FEET. STAY BETWEEN YOUR MAN AND THE BALL. GET A 65-35 RELATIONSHIP TO THE SIDE OF THE RETURN. ALWAYS JAB YOUR UPFIELD FOOT FIRST. SHOOT YOUR HANDS DOWN THE MIDDLE AND LOOK THE BLOCK IN. KEEP A 45-DEGREE TILT. EYES ON HIS THROAT, IF HE ELVATES – FINISH HIM! POUND YOUR KNEES ON CONTACT WITH A GOOD WIDE BASE (PSA), NEVER CROSS OVER YOUR FEET. KNOCK HIM ON THE ANGLE HE’S ON. STICK TO HIM LIKE GLUE. NEVER CATCH THE COVER MAN, ALWAYS DELIVER THE FIRST BLOW! IF THE COVER MAN IS FASTER, HE WILL CLOSE THE DISTANCE FASTER AND THEREFORE THE BLOCK WILL BE MAY OCCUR A LITTLE SOONER AND FARTHER UPFIELD. THIS MEANS THE BLOCK WILL BE REQUIRED TO LAST LONGER OR YOU MAY USE A “FINESSE EARHOLE BLOCK”. NEVER LET THE COVER MAN CROSS YOUR FACE! MAKE THE COVER MAN GO JUST ONE WAY – AWAY FROM THE SIDE OF THE RETURN. WHEN HE TRIES TO BREAK ACROSS YOUR FACE. SHOOT AND LOCK OUT YOUR PLAYSIDE ARM, SNAP YOUR EYES TO HIS FEET AND “SCRAPE PAINT” USING YOUR INSIDE ARM WITH A TIGHT ELBOW AND HAND OPEN. HOLD HIS PRESSURE WITH YOUR HEAD ACROSS. MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN POSITION. DO NOT TOUCH ANY PART OF HIS BACK. IF YOU THINK YOU MAY “CLIP”, PULL OFF. SIMPLY GET IN POSITION AND….FINISH HIM.
TURN BACK OBJECTIVE: BACKSIDE TACKLE BLOCKING THE FARSIDE THREAT #9 OR #10. LANDMARK: BETWEEN THE HASHES AIMING POINT: NEAR SIDE PEC – 65-35: STANCE: 45-DEGREE ANGLE FACING KICKER, HEAD & EYES UP WITH HANDS OPEN TECHNIQUE: • FIND YOUR MEN AND ALIGN WITH LEVERAGE ON THEM. • SNAP BELLY BUTTON AND RUN. • SPRINT ON A LATERAL RUN BY OPENING YOUR HIPS. • GET BETWEEN THE HASHES TO THE 25-YARD LINE. • SIDE PLANT, TURN & RUN. SNAP EYES & HIPS. • BLOCK MDM #9 OR #10 THAT THREATENS RETURNER • RE-ADJUST 65-35 ON THE COVERMAN. • ALWAYS JAB YOUR UPFIELD FOOT FIRST. • SHOOT YOUR HANDS DOWN THE MIDDLE AND LOOK THE BLOCK IN. • KEEP A 45-DEGREE TILT. • EYES ON HIS THROAT, IF HE ELVATES – FINISH HIM! • POUND YOUR KNEES ON CONTACT WITH A GOOD WIDE BASE (PSA), NEVER CROSS OVER YOUR FEET. • KNOCK HIM ON THE ANGLE HE’S ON. • STICK TO HIM LIKE GLUE. • NEVER CATCH THE COVER MAN, ALWAYS DELIVER THE FIRST BLOW! • IF THE COVER MAN IS FASTER, HE WILL CLOSE THE DISTANCE FASTER AND THEREFORE THE BLOCK WILL BE MAY OCCUR A LITTLE SOONER AND FARTHER UPFIELD. THIS MEANS THE BLOCK WILL BE REQUIRED TO LAST LONGER OR YOU MAY USE A “FINESSE EARHOLE BLOCK”. • NEVER LET THE COVER MAN CROSS YOUR FACE! MAKE THE COVER MAN GO JUST ONE WAY – AWAY FROM THE SIDE OF THE RETURN. • WHEN HE TRIES TO BREAK ACROSS YOUR FACE. SHOOT AND LOCK OUT YOUR PLAYSIDE ARM, SNAP YOUR EYES TO HIS FEET AND “SCRAPE PAINT” USING YOUR INSIDE ARM WITH A TIGHT ELBOW AND HAND OPEN. HOLD HIS PRESSURE WITH YOUR HEAD ACROSS. • MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN POSITION. DO NOT TOUCH ANY PART OF HIS BACK. IF YOU THINK YOU MAY “CLIP”, PULL OFF. SIMPLY GET IN POSITION AND….FINISH HIM.
PRE-KICK RETURN ALIGNMENT“TRIANGLE”FORMATION LEFT/RIGHT TACKLE: ALIGNMENT: TOP FOOT ON THE 41 YARD LINE FACING KICKER IN A SHORTSTOP POSITION. BALL IN MIDDLE: SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HASH AND THE SIDELINE. BALL KICKED ON NEAR HASH: 1 YARD OUTSIDE OF #’s BALL KICKED ON FAR HASH: 2 YARDS INSIDE OF #’s LEFT/RIGHT GUARD: ALIGNMENT: TOP FOOT ON THE 41 YARD LINE FACING KICKER IN A SHORTSTOP POSITION. BALL IN MIDDLE: 1 ½ YARDS INSIDE OF THE HASH BALL KICKED ON NEAR HASH: 1 YARD OUTSIDE OF HASH BALL KICKED ON FAR HASH: 2 YARD INSIDE OF HASH LEFT/RIGHT UPBACK: ALIGNMENT: TOP FOOT ON THE -46 TO 50 YARD LINE FACING KICKER IN A SHORTSTOP POSITION. BALL IN MIDDLE: SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GUARD AND THE TACKLE. BALL KICKED ON NEAR HASH: SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GUARD AND THE TACKLE. BALL KICKED ON FAR HASH: SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GUARD AND THE TACKLE. LEFT/RIGHT END: ALIGNMENT: BOTTOM FOOT ON THE 35 YARD LINE FACING KICKER IN A SHORTSTOP POSITION. BALL IN MIDDLE: SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GUARD AND THE TACKLE. BALL KICKED ON NEAR HASH: SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GUARD AND THE TACKLE. BALL KICKED ON FAR HASH: SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GUARD AND THE TACKLE. WEDGE SETTER: ALIGNMENT: BACK FEET ONTHE 25 TO 30 YARD LINE. (ADJUST TO KICKER) BALL IN MIDDLE: HEAD UP ON THE BALL. BALL KICKED ON HASH: SLIGHTLY INSIDE OF THE GUARD TO THE BALL SIDE. DEEP MEN: ALIGNMENT: HASH MARKS WITHBACK FEET ON THE 5 TO 10 YARD LINE (ADJUST TO KICKER) BALL KICKED ON HASH: ADJUST SLIGHTLY OVER TOWARDS BALL PLACEMENT.
WEDGE LEFT RETURN “YELLOW”TRIANGLE *COUNT DEFENDERS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, 1 THRU 10, NOT INCLUDING THE KICKER. (FRONT LINEMEN/ENDS – ALERT: ONSIDE KICK. ALWAYS TAKE THE BALL OF THE TEE WITH YOUR EYES) EFT TACKLE: ASSIGNMENT: MAN BLOCK #4 AWAY FROM THE RETURN. LEFT UPBACK: ASSIGNMENT: MAN BLOCK #5 AWAY FROM THE RETURN LEFT GUARD: ASSIGNMENT: MAN BLOCK #6 AWAY FROM THE RETURN. RIGHT GUARD: ASSIGNMENT: MAN BLOCK #7 AWAY FROM THE RETURN. RIGHT UPBACK: ASSIGNMENT: MAN BLOCK #8 AWAY FROM THE RETURN. RIGHT TACKLE: ASSIGNMENT: TURNBACK BLOCK #9 OR #10 AWAY FROM THE RETURN. LEFT END: ASSIGNMENT: MAN BLOCK #3 AWAY FROM THE RETURN. RIGHT END: ASSIGNMENT: SPRINT BACK TO THE WEDGESETTER AND LOCK ARMS WITH HIM. ON HIS COMMAND OF “GO” ATTACK THE COVERAGE TEAM AND BLOCK #2 OR MDM THAT THREATENS THE WEDGE. WEDGESETTER: ASSIGNMENT: SET THE WEDGE 7-8 YARDS FROM THE RETURNER. LOCK ARMS WITH THE RIGHT END. ON YOUR COMMAND OF “GO”,ATTACK THE COVERAGE TEAM AND BLOCK #1 OR MDM THAT THREATENS THE WEDGE. DEEP MAN: ASSIGNMENT: NON-RETURNER – INSURE THE CATCH OF RETURNER. GET 3X1 OFF THE EDGE OF WEDGE AND BLOCK MDM THRU TO THE BACKSIDE FOLDER OR SAFETY. DEEP MAN: ASSIGNMENT: RETURNER - CATCH THE BALL, HIT THE WEDGE FULL SPEED READ THE #2 COVER MAN FROM THE OUTSIDE. IF HE GOES OUTSIDE: CUT UP UNDERNEATH HIM. IF GOES INSIDE: CUT OUTSIDE OF HIM UP THE SIDELINE. “THREAD THE NEEDLE”………SCORE!