Defending/Covering Kick-off Returns
 

Having participated in a number of tournaments, most of the rules regarding kick-offs are pretty much the same:

1) The kicking team selects which portion of the end zone the kick will be returned from which is anywhere along the goal line and usually between the numbers.

2) The receiving team lines up at a specified yard line (their own 30 or back further in the case of the Seawall Brawl) and the kicking team lines up at another pre-determined yardline (the receiving teams 40 or back further in the case of the Seawall Brawl)

3) The switch is then turned on and the play is resolved.

To me there is nothing more frustrating then putting together a nice drive and scoring only to give up a touchdown on the kick-off return. Or starting a game giving up a touchdown on the opening kick-off.

My question is, when putting together a kick coverage team how do you build it? Are you using faster, offensive players to cover the kicks? Players that will hold their lanes regardless of speed/strength. What strategy do you employ?

I also see most coaches placing the Kick returner right in the middle of the field. Doesn't this force you to cover more of the field then if you placed him by one of the numbers?

Thank you for your responses. Sometimes I feel like I am better off having 11 guys on spinning dials across the 40 yard line. LOL.

Joe G

I Could Show You Better Than I Can Tell Ya...
 

...but we can talk about it AFTER I run one back on ya in Virginia!!! :rtfl: :rtfl: :rtfl:

Seriously, I use my DEs, LBs and DBs on my Kick Off team. I have already tweaked all of my guys to at least cover Kick Returns from my own 30. The SWB calls for Kick Returns from your own 30, so that means I only have to cover 40yds. As long as I don't flip-flop my DEs and take my own guys out, I'm fairly confident I can cover the Return. thmbsp$ ppls$ :cool:

mid ohio we line up in the same kick off formation as the pros, kicking team at the 30, receiving team starts to line up at the 50, so we need to have fast, straight running players to get downfield and cover kicks for the kicking team. i also like to keep my kicker on a prongless base and keep at least 2 guys back (sometimes more) as safety coverage. my kicker saved a td for me already this season!thmbsp$

i like to use more defenders (LB, CB, DB) and then some back up WR and RB as the speed guys....with a couple of wedge busters in the middle.

U Saw The 1st Return For Td, Here's #2
 

huh!
 

Am I missing something here. Where is the TD?:confused:

The Original Question...
 

...was How to DEFEND the KR.

After my 1st TD, the Kicking Team made their adjustments, stayed in their lanes and stuffed the return at the 30!!!

Since I mainly use split squads on my teams, the KO team is comprised of DBs and LBs, with maybe just the DEs reppin' the DL.

Oh...okay!
 

I gotcha now bro.:o

I use my rb's, wr's , lb's and Kurt Warner as a safety.
I even think my Eric Dickerson has more than 2 special teams tackles this year.

How do you manage to keep a guy/guys back & still make a tackle?

thar she goes
 

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING SINCE 2001 AND HAVE HAD OVER 20 KICKOFF RETURNS AND ONLY GAVE UP A COUPLE,NOT BRAGGING. I USE PRIMARILY MY DE'S, LB'S AND DB'S MAYBE SOME QUICKER OL, MOST OF MY STRENGTH IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD SET AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE OUT TO EITHER SIDE , WITH A WEDGE SET 15 YDS BEHIND THEM,I DONT PAY THAT MUCH CONCERN TO THE END RUNNERS COMING DOWN CAUSE MOST TIMES THY GET CAUGHT UP OR WONDER OUT OF BOUNDS, WE PLAY NFL RULES ON KO'S IN THE GLEFL , YOU MUST HAVE A VERY FAST RETURNMAN.flg$ drl$$

I send defenders in waves. The way I play is kicking team lines up at 50 and receiving team thirty and back. The kicking team can kick it either down the middle or at the left or right numbers. This is announced after setup so the receiver can be placed. My first wave of six playes (de and lb's) goes first then my second wave of three players then finally my last two safety's. When lined up the lines are ten yards apart.

Either put them on stationary bases if allowed . There is also a way to tweak a base to make it stationary .

How I defend kickoffs!
 

I pretty much have 9 straight running guys of various speeds run down field. That way they cover various levels/areas of the field instead of just a straight line of guys (even taking opposition blocking into consideration). I also have two loopers running in the opposite direction on the outside of my coverage so that they loop back to cover in between the hash marks at the point of kickoff while the other guys are down field. You can also use 1-2 stationary men as mentioned earlier.

Here is my setup left to right:

X>
< X
X>
X>
X>
X>
X>
X>
X>
< X
X>

Rules On Kor.
 

EACH LEAGUE HAS THIER OWN RULES GOVERNING KICKOFFS WHICH I THINK IS COOL (MORE TO CHOOSE FROM) WE USE ABOUT THE SAME AS THE NFL, WE TRIED TO CHANGE THE RULES TO THE SAME AS SEASON ONE IN WHICH THE RECIEVING TEAM LINES UP AT THIER OWN 20, AND THE KO TEAM LINES UP AT THE OPPONENTS 30 (ONLY 10 YDS APART ) WITH THE RETURN MAN AT THE 10(ALWAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD (DONT KNOW WHY) AND YOU RUN IT FROM THERE, NOW WE ACTUALLY KICK THE BALL WITH THE TTQB, U GET 3 TRIES TO KICK IT IN PLAY, HAS TO GO PAST OPPONENTS 40 YD LINE ,IT CANHIT OUT OF BOUNDS AS LONG AS IT DIES IN,AND DEPENDING HOW FAR IT TRAVELS IS HOW MANY SEC. BOARD IS RUN TO SIMULATE HANGTIME , AFTER THAT ALL NON-ENGAGED PLAYERS ARE TURNED AND RETURN IS A GO THATS ALL IM GONNA SAY CAUSE MY HAND HAS A JONES LOL . mgngcrz