Kickoff Return Technique: Ball-Flight-Returner-Man

The more you can incorporate buzz words into your teaching, the better off you will be with getting your players to execute during a game. Simple phrases that can be repeated to themselves in the heat of battle are helpful. We want to look at one example today that we have used when teaching the front line kickoff return technique.

Any time you are coaching a big field play like a kickoff return there is a lot going on. It is also happening very fast. These are the type of plays where execution and technique can easily break down. This ends up leading to a missed block and sometimes even a penalty. For this reason we have taught our players to repeat these four words as the play evolves. BALL-FLIGHT-RETURNER-MAN. Here is what it means.

Ball

As your front line players are lining up and the ball is about to be kicked, the first job is to make sure that exact thing happens. They must remind themselves to see the ball leave the kicking tee. It’s harder to do than it gets credit for. Let’s face it, those guys on the kickoff cover unit are fast and athletic. If not, they would not be on that unit.

Split Them With A “Big Field” Kickoff Return

The cover guys are going to try to out run the front line before they ever get the chance to retreat and get their hips flipped. Your front line blockers know this. If they are not disciplined, they will cheat and leave early. We all know what eventually happens when the opposing special teams coach notices this on game tape. No one ever wants to give up an onside kick.

Flight

Anyone who has played the outfield in baseball knows this. You have to find the flight of the ball off the bat to get under it to make the catch. Same thing here. When the ball leaves the tee, this is the first chance to know the angle of the block. It is also your first clue about where it will take place. Is the ball going to land near the sideline or in the middle of the field? Is the ball kicked deep or is it going to end on the 15 yard line?

Related: What’s Your Kickoff Return Formation?

Many a block has been missed on kickoff return before the blocker ever turned to use his kickoff return technique. That’s because the departure angle of the blocker was so wrong that they had no chance to even start the block. It is always important for the blocker to understand the geometry involved here. They must know the angle from where the ball is kicked and where it lands.

Returner

This is a very under coached thing with kickoff return technique. The flight of the ball will get your players started with their departure angle, but that’s not enough. Your returner is really ground zero for a kickoff return. Every kickoff return is an offensive play with an offensive formation. The returner is going to where the ball is kicked and the blockers need to use this.

It is impossible for your blockers to get back to their landmark if they keep their eyes on their blocking assignment the entire time. Their kickoff return technique won’t matter if they get outrun to the ball every time. As they retreat they can get to a good spot by looking at the returner to get clues about where the cover guy is heading.

Man

Yes, eventually the blocker will get his eyes back around to find the man he is blocking. As he is doing this, he is also getting into a football position to execute the block. As this happens, he is also sorting out any twists or stacks that have occurred with the coverage. “Man” is a good word to force your mind to get back to the task at hand.

Blocked Punt? Check Your Splits.

Now for those of you who may think that this clinic talk and never usable on the field, I can only say this. While coaching in the SEC, I can recall more than once, players repeating Ball-Flight-Returner-Man to themselves as we practiced and before taking the field for a kickoff. Why? Well if you ask me, it’s because with four simple words the players knew that this gives them a chance to remember their job and succeed.