Special Teams

Special Teams

We receive a lot of compliments about our Special Teams section on FirstDown PlayBook and it’s not surprising. Oh we know that the Special Teams section is not why most coaches sign up but once the season gets going and the bullets start flying, that’s when this comes in very handy.

In fact we had one head coach who told us that his staff is using FirstDown PlayBook as reference tool and his offensive and defensive staffs really found it useful. Then he went on to say that in his opinion the real plus for his staff was the Special Teams section.

This does not surprise us. During the thirty some years that I coached I would always visit with high school or college coaches in the off season and one common request was “Coach, do you have any good stuff on Special Teams?”

I would always try to spend time on it but that’s the problem. There is only so much time. That’s what makes FirstDown PlayBook’s Special Teams section so great. It is essentially a Special Teams clinic on your laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Special Teams: Always Force The Punt

Special Teams: Always Force The Punt

by FirstDown PlayBook on Nov 18, 2023

It seems elementary but you must force the punt every time or you put your punt returner in an impossible situation and risk a fake....

Please Help Your Punt Returner

Please Help Your Punt Returner

by FirstDown PlayBook on Oct 23, 2023

Your Punt Returner needs your help and that means more than saying "catch the ball and make a big play". Be a coach and help the kid. ...

Charlie Coiner Featured on Coach And Coordinator Podcast

Charlie Coiner Featured on Coach And Coordinator Podcast

by FirstDown PlayBook on Oct 19, 2023

FirstDown PlayBook's Charlie Coiner was recently featured on the Coach And Coordinator podcast along with two other special teams coaches....

OU Kickoff Return Reverse Penalty

OU Kickoff Return Reverse Penalty

by FirstDown PlayBook on Oct 8, 2023

When a special teams coach dials up a kickoff return reverse there had better been a lot of practice time devoted to it. ...

Why FirstDown PlayBook Has No Competition

Why FirstDown PlayBook Has No Competition

by FirstDown PlayBook on Sep 30, 2023

FirstDown PlayBook is different and better than any other football playbook that you will find anywhere else. That's just a fact. Here's why....

Trick Plays & Special Teams Fakes

Trick Plays & Special Teams Fakes

by FirstDown PlayBook on Sep 24, 2023

Trick plays and special teams fakes are always a good thing to have in your playbook but only if you have worked them for a few weeks. ...

PAT/FG Block Effort Is Revealing

PAT/FG Block Effort Is Revealing

by FirstDown PlayBook on Sep 21, 2023

How hard does a defense play? Just watch them on PAT/FG Block. If they play hard on that special teams play then they play hard all the time....

Coaching Notes & Text Box Features

Coaching Notes & Text Box Features

by FirstDown PlayBook on Sep 16, 2023

FirstDown PlayBook has given you two distinct and powerful ways to be a better teacher. Coaching notes are a very important part of this....

Special Teams Kickoff Coverage Tips

Special Teams Kickoff Coverage Tips

by FirstDown PlayBook on Aug 26, 2023

It's that time of the year when special teams coaches who are a little long in the tooth expose a young coach's kickoff coverage coaching....

Simple & Deceptive Kickoff Returns

Simple & Deceptive Kickoff Returns

by FirstDown PlayBook on Aug 14, 2023

Keep your kickoff returns simple and deceptive and you will find that you are spending more of your special teams practice time on technique....

3 Common Mistakes Running A Football Scout Team

3 Common Mistakes Running A Football Scout Team

by FirstDown PlayBook on Jul 29, 2023

Recognizing your football scout team in a happy locker room after a win goes a long way to motivating that effort in the coming weeks....

How To Run A Football Scout Team (Part 1)

How To Run A Football Scout Team (Part 1)

by FirstDown PlayBook on Jul 27, 2023

Every good football coach knows the value of a good football scout team. Without a good look team, your starters will suffer on game day....