Special Teams Trick Play


By FirstDown PlayBook on Aug 6, 2019

A special teams trick play can come in all shapes and forms. In fact sometimes, the special teams coach doesn’t even consider it a trick play. They consider it part of the game call sheet. Today’s play might just fall into that category.

You see it a lot in college and professional football and even sometimes in high school. It’s 4th and long at the opponents 30 yard line or so. Your odds of converting that fourth down and keeping the drive alive are minimum at best.

Kicking a field goal is a possibility but nobody on your staff is willing to bet the farm on that either. Punting is an option. However, if the ball goes into the end zone it’s a net ten yard gain or so. You’re in a close game and your defense is playing well so what do you do?

Is It Really A Special Teams Trick Play? Maybe…

There is another option. If executed properly it can result in a big play and make their offensive coordinator’s life miserable.  If executed properly it can force him to call plays with his heels on his own goal line. By lining up in a field goal formation your opponent is going to assume that you are kicking the field goal. Odds are they may try to mount a rush expecting a low drive kick. They also may be looking for a fake because they understand the field goal is a long shot.

What they probably won’t be expecting is a direct snap to your Kicker. A kicker who has worked daily on a soft pooch punt to the corner, inside the ten yard line. The defense probably won’t have anyone back there allowing you a chance to pin their offense inside of their own 10 yard line to start their next series.

Most kickers I have coached take great pride in this kick and work at it to perfection. It’s a lot like a chip shot in golf that some Kickers can get to lay down right at the 5 yard line.