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.

New! Practice Scripts & Cards Made Easy

New! Practice Scripts & Cards Made Easy

by FirstDown PlayBook on Jun 8, 2022

The new FirstDown PlayBook Practice Scripts tool improves how football coaches prepare their practice cards and scripts....

Create An Explosive Sky Kick Return

Create An Explosive Sky Kick Return

by FirstDown PlayBook on May 27, 2022

Your opponent knows you have a great returner. You know they are going to sky kick the ball. You have a decision to make...

Flip Fake Field Goal Vs 6-5 Distribution

Flip Fake Field Goal Vs 6-5 Distribution

by FirstDown PlayBook on May 15, 2022

This fake field goal can be called vs a 6-5 distribution and even a balanced alignment like you will see in this video. ...

Texas Wesleyan On “Why FirstDown PlayBook”

Texas Wesleyan On “Why FirstDown PlayBook”

by FirstDown PlayBook on May 3, 2022

We like to step back every now and then and let coaches tell you what they think of us. Texas Wesleyan's Fran Johnson has the floor....

Attack Outside With This Kickoff Return

Attack Outside With This Kickoff Return

by FirstDown PlayBook on May 1, 2022

Kickoff return coaches are almost forced to move more players forward in the formation. That does not change the width of the field though....

Your Kickoff Return Formation

Your Kickoff Return Formation

by FirstDown PlayBook on Apr 17, 2022

When we ask the question, "What is your kickoff return formation?" We get that sideways look that says "What are you talking about?"...

Swinging Gate Formations

Swinging Gate Formations

by FirstDown PlayBook on Mar 30, 2022

The Swinging Gate formation can be very effective if for no other reason than it eats up your opponent's practice time preparing for it....

Big Field Kickoff Returns

Big Field Kickoff Returns

by FirstDown PlayBook on Mar 21, 2022

Big field kickoff returns allow your return team to use the entire width and depth of the field as you game plan each special teams week....

Punt Return Unit Vs Shield Punt

Punt Return Unit Vs Shield Punt

by FirstDown PlayBook on Mar 14, 2022

One of the special teams phases that can be overwhelming for a young football coach is the punt return unit. There are so many moving parts....

Kickoff Return Technique: Ball-Flight-Returner-Man

Kickoff Return Technique: Ball-Flight-Returner-Man

by FirstDown PlayBook on Mar 5, 2022

Kickoff return technique can quickly break down in a game. We have taught these four words as the play evolves. BALL-FLIGHT-RETURNER-MAN ...

7 Tips For Fast Field Goal Success

7 Tips For Fast Field Goal Success

by FirstDown PlayBook on Feb 15, 2022

Here are 7 tips that will help your field goal unit be ready when you need to execute a fast field goal for three critical points....

PAT Field Goal Snapping Cheat Sheet

PAT Field Goal Snapping Cheat Sheet

by FirstDown PlayBook on Feb 5, 2022

PAT and field goal snapping is one of the toughest and most under appreciated jobs in football. If you don't have one it can ruin your season....