Win the Opener: Preseason
Preparation for Special
I t’s a great honor to represent Grand
Forks Central High School and a plea-
sure to share some thoughts in regard to
Teams preseason preparation for special teams.
The AFCA has been a big part of my pro-
fessional life, and I appreciate all of the
positive changes that have taken place
within the organization in recent years.
By North Dakota standards, Grand
Forks Central, with an enrollment of 1,300
students is a large school. Even though we
typically have 120-130 players involved in
the program, it’s always a challenge to find
quality players for our special teams.
Fielding not only the specialists themselves
(i.e. kickers, punters, long snappers,
returners), but also the players who fill the
other positions on special teams, is at the
top of our priority list. Like many high
schools, we have been forced to occasion -
ally share placekickers with the soccer
team, which leads to creative practice
schedules for those kids. With no spring
practice, we stress kicking game prepara-
tion beginning with the first day on the field
in the fall. Our feeling is that if it’s a major
concern and potential problem for us, it has
to be for our early season opponents as
Mike Berg well. It seems that everyone is ready to go
offensively and defensively when the sea-
Head Coach son begins, and rightfully so with summer
team camps, passing leagues, tourna-
Central High School ments, etc. If there’s an “edge” to be had,
special teams can be the difference maker
Grand Forks, N.D. in the opener. As I look back on a long list
of openers, I know that too many of them
were lost early in my career due to poor
special teams play on our part. We are
determined to have our special teams fully
prepared for the first kickoff of the year.
Special Teams Philosophy
There is no debate within our staff, the
best players must be on the field for ALL
special teams. This is not the place to give
a kid a chance to play. There are very few
situations in football where the ball travels
as far or the potential for a big play exists
as on special teams, and we take no
chances in that regard. We make a big deal
about the kicking game, and over the years
intense competition has developed in order
to be on the field for special teams. As one
example, the greatest honor on our team is
to be a member of “The Chargers,” our
kickoff unit. Tryouts are held after practice,
competition is fierce, and lightning bolt
decals are placed on the back of the hel-
mets of the 11 players who earn the honor.
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •
As coaches, we must sell the attitude that
we expect to block kicks, to score, and to
make big plays on special teams. Although
we would literally like to spend one-third of
our practice time on the kicking game, for
us that’s unrealistic. Our philosophy is that
it’s more than just time — it’s staff prepara-
tion, it’s meeting time, it’s QUALITY prac-
tice time, and it’s leaving no stone
unturned.
Special Teams Staff Organization
Our staff consists of nine contracted and
two or three volunteer positions for the
freshman through varsity teams. Individual
specialty time is provided during our
“Victory Period,” when four of the five var-
sity coaches work with specialists in all
grades. Victory Period is scheduled early in
practice, primarily to set the tone and
stress the importance of the kicking game.
It also gives the varsity coaches a chance
to work with the younger players, if even for
a short period of time. The period ends by
bringing the field goal team together for
one attempt with no time outs remaining.
We set the ball down at a spot on the field
and start a verbal countdown while the
team members hustle to get the kick off
before time expires.
Victory Period Assignments
Specialists
Long Snappers: Landry
Punters: Schramm
Kickers/Holders: Berg
Returners: Bergh
Non-Specialists
Frosh/Soph Line: Baker
Varsity Line: Strande
Backs: Philpot
Receivers: Solberg
Quarterbacks: Nelson
Just as with offensive and defensive
team periods, varsity kicking game team
periods are directed by a coordinator. We
have tried other methods, but have found in
our situation that having a single coordina-
tor is more effective than assigning certain
special teams to various coaches. The
coordinator is responsible for the design
and schemes of the entire kicking game, as
well as goal charts, scouting reports, cut
ups, etc.
Varsity Special Teams Position
Assignments
Coordinator: Landry
 Kickoff Thursday, August 10 - Day 1
Kicker: Landry Morning
#1 & 3: Bergh Helmets & Shoulder Pads
#2 & 4: Nelson 7:30 a.m.: Meeting: Practice procedures
#5: Berg 8:00: Form run - stretch/cal
Scout Team: Schramm 8:20: Victory Period
8:35: Offensive drills
Kickoff Return 8:55: Defensive drills
Front: Landry 9:15: Team pursuit drill
Wings: Schramm 9:25: Break
Backs: Nelson 9:55: Form run - stretch/cal
Return: Bergh 10:15: Offensive team
Scout Team: Berg 10:30: Defensive team
10:45 : Punt team
Field Goal/PAT 11:00: Test: 40 yd dash,
Line: Landry pro agility, bench press
Wings: Bergh 11:50 : Charger try out
Ends: Schramm 12:00 : Strength make up
Kicker/Holder: Berg
Scout Team: Nelson Afternoon
Helmets & Shoulder Pads
Punt 5:30 p.m.: Meeting
Line: Landry 6:00: Form run- stretch/cal-
Arrows: Berg Victory Period
Backs: Nelson 6:30: Field goal/PAT team
Punter: Schramm 6:40: Kick block team
Scout Team: Bergh 6:50: Offensive drills
7:00: Offensive team
Punt Return 7:35: Defensive drills
Front: Landry 7:45: Defensive team
Ends: Nelson 8:20: Conditioning
Cornerbacks: Schramm 8:30: Strength make up
Return: Bergh
Scout Team: Berg Friday, August 11 - Day 2
Morning
Special Teams Preseason Helmets & Shoulder Pads
Practice Organization 7:30 a.m.: Meeting
Our preseason schedule consists of 8:00: Form run - stretch/cal
three days of helmets and shoulder pads, 8:20: Introduce tackle circuit
generally followed by two weeks of practice 8:35: Victory Period
before the first game. Depending upon 8:50: Defensive drills
school orientation, class starting date, etc., 9:05: Defensive group/team
the varsity practice schedule looks like this: 9:40: Break
Day 1-5: 8 a.m.-noon and 6-8:30 p.m. 10:05: Form run/agility
Day 6-9: 8 am - noon 10:10: Offensive drills
Day 10-13: 6 - 8:30 pm 10:25: Offensive group/team
We are able to devote more time to 11:00: Punt return drills
special teams during preseason than once 11:10: Punt return
school begins, and we make every effort 11:25: Conditioning
to do so. Listed below are schedules for 11:35: Team strength —
the first two days of practice, as well as Manual resistance
the first day in full gear. The coaches work 11:50: Charger try out
on both sides of the ball, as do most play- 12:00: Test make up
ers, so we are forced to make time for
offense, defense, and special teams daily. Afternoon
Note the time devoted to special teams — Helmets & Shoulder Pads
every day of preseason practice will 5:30 p.m.: Meeting
include similar amounts of time for the 6:00: Form run- stretch/cal —
kicking game. Victory Period
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •
6:30: Field goal/PAT team
6:45: Punt drills
6:55: Punt team
7:10: Offensive drills
7:30: Offensive team
7:50: Defensive drills
8:00: Defensive team
8:20: Conditioning
8:30: Strength make up
Monday, August 14 - Day 4
Full Gear
7:30: Meeting
8:00: Form run - stretch/cal
8:20: Tackle circuit
8:30: Victory Period
8:40: Kickoff return drills
8:50: Kickoff return team
9:05: Offensive drills
9:15: Offensive group/team
9:55: Break
10:20: Form run/agility
10:25: Defensive drills
10:35: Defensive group/team
11:15: Mini football
11:35: Conditioning
11:45: Team strength: manual resistance
12:00: Charger try out
Afternoon
Helmets & Shoulder Pads
5:30 p.m.: Meeting
6:00: Form run-stretch/cal-
Victory Period
6:00: Form run-stretch/cal-
Victory Period
6:30: Field goal/PAT team
6:40: Punt team
6:55: Defensive drills
7:10: Defensive team
7:35: Offensive drills
7:50: Offensive team
8:15: Conditioning
8:25: Strength make up
Pre-Season Checklist
Is there a more important game than the
opener, particularly in high school football?
Considering the off-season demands made
on football players, and the relatively small
number of games compared to other
sports, the opener often sets the tone for
the entire season. Because we are not
allowed to scrimmage other schools, the
first time we step on the field, it’s for real.
We can’t afford to leave anything to
chance, and if we are going to lose the first
game, it won’t be due to lack of prepara-
tion. The worst thing that could happen
would be to let one get away because of a Special Situations We spend considerable time practicing our
situation which we were unprepared for. I ___ kick block - edge edge and middle blocks. Although simple in
once spoke at a clinic about preseason ___ kick block - middle design, they have been quite successful.
preparation and was told by a coach that ___ questionable kick
Diagram 1: Edge Block Right
there was no way they could prepare ___ special formation adjust
everything for the opening game. My ___ substitution procedure
response was, “How can you not?” The fol- ___ time out procedure
lowing chart is our pre-season checklist for ___ pre game
special teams, and is very similar to our ___ halftime warm up
offensive and defensive charts. It is the ___ sideline procedure
coordinator’s responsibility to see that we ___ net procedure
are adequately prepared for every situation
which appears. Punt Return
___ hammer Edge Block Right
Kickoff ___ 10 up middle Right C: Align on line of scrimmage,
___ deep middle ___ twins middle attack one yard in front of holder, you are
___ deep corner ___ inside 10 yd line the block man.
___ squib ___ short punt Left C: Align on line of scrimmage, man
___ pooch ___ fair catch coverage on up-back.
___ onside - shift ___ defend fake S: Align three yards deep, head up on
___ onside - angle ___ bad snap up-back, man coverage.
___ onside - middle ___ 10 up block F: Align three yards deep on tight end,
___ after safety ___ special block head up, man coverage.
___ last chance block Right E: Align head up on tight end,
Kickoff Return drive him down into C gap.
___ wedge We’ve been at this long enough to know Left E: Align on outside shoulder of tight
___ vertical better, but still take for granted that kids end, you are the recovery man.
___ wall know things which we think are obvious — Rip: Align head up on up-back, attack
___ cross and find out that they don’t know them at his inside shoulder.
___ hashmark kick all! As an answer, we have developed a list Liz: Align in C gap on block side, attack
___ unbalanced kick of critical reminders and coaching points for the holder.
___ onside each special team. Although the list is post- ST: Align in B gap on block side, attack
___ squib ed along with other kicking game informa- the holder.
___ pooch tion, it is important to cover the “obvious” T & N: Align in A gaps, attack the holder.
___ protect things in meetings. Fair catch rules, live
Diagram 2: Middle Block
___ after safety ball/dead ball, when to handle punts, block-
ing behind a play, etc., are typical of the
Punt kinds of things that can end up getting you
___ spread beat because they simply weren’t covered.
___ tight The bottom line is that we can’t expect kids
___ uncovered to know anything unless it’s been taught.
___ Fire call
___ react to block Regular Season Practice Schedule
___ react to fair catch Although the focus of this article is on
___ freeze preseason special teams preparation, Middle Block
___ from end zone emphasis on the kicking game remains Right C: Align on line of scrimmage,
___ take penalty high during the regular season as well. outside shoulder of upback, you are block
___ all fakes Time devoted to the special teams during a man.
___ take safety typical week would look like this: Left C: Align on line of scrimmage, out-
___ Gopher punt Monday: 20 min. of special teams drills. side shoulder of upback, you are recovery
Tues./Wed.: 15 min. of Victory Period man.
Field Goal/PAT and 20 min. of team period. S & F: Align head up on upbacks, man
___ normal kick Thursday: 20 min. of special teams coverage.
___ no time outs script. Defensive Ends: Align head up on tight
___ take penalty ends, man coverage.
___ Fire call Kick Blocks Rip & Liz: Align in A gaps, attack the
___ react to block Between extra point and field goal holder.
___ all fakes attempts, the kick block team will likely have Tackles: Align head up on guards and
___ free kick a number of opportunities to get on the field. drive them to B gap.

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •

 Nose: Align head up on center, let him
snap and get his head up, drive straight back.
Conclusion
Preparing special teams in high school
requires coaches to deal with situations not
always associated with college football.
1. The time element.
2. The necessity of organizing practices
for two-way players.
3. Sharing specialists with other sports
during the season.
4. Staff size.
These issues can be adequately dealt
with if the staff places special teams at the
top of the priority list. We certainly don’t
have all of the answers, but feel that the fol-
lowing points are essential in preparing
special teams to be the difference maker:
1. Keep the best players on the field —
find another place to be a nice guy.
2. Practice must include special team
position drills, not just team periods.
3. Avoid wasting practice time, post
updated depth charts and scout teams
daily.
4. Use a checklist that contains every
situation your team is likely to face.
5. Create an environment where there is
competition to be on special teams.
6. Make special teams special.
I would like to thank the AFCA for the
opportunity to contribute to the Summer
M a n u a l, and hope that I’ve provided
information that can be useful to some
degree.

Tentative Schedule of Major Events

79th AFCA Convention • January 6-9, 2002
San Antonio Texas
8 a.m.: Registration/Exhibit Hall opens
8 a.m.: Junior College Program
8 a.m.: High School Program
9 a.m.: Football Operations Meeting
10 a.m.: College Assistant Coaches Enrichment Session
11:30 a.m.: AFCA Kickoff Luncheon
2:30 p.m.: Grant Teaff, Director’s Report to Membership
3:15 p.m.: Coach TBA
4:30 p.m.: The Master Coach
6 p.m.: Assistant Coaches Business Sessions
7:30 p.m.: AFCA Tailgate Party

Tuesday, January 8
7 a.m.: Club 35 Breakfast & Meeting
8 a.m.: Registration/Exhibit Hall opens
8 a.m.: Coach TBA
8 a.m.: Coach TBA
8 a.m.: PDS Breakout Sessions
9:10 a.m.: Coach TBA
9:10 a.m.: Coach TBA
9:10 a.m.: PDS Breakout Sessions
10:20 a.m.: Coach TBA
Noon: Sears/AFCA Awards Luncheon
3 p.m.: Coach TBA
4:10 p.m.: Coach T B AT B A
Sunday, January 6 6:15 p.m.: AFCA Coach of the Year Reception
All Day: Committee Meetings 7:30 p.m.: AFCA Coach of the Year Banquet
9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Registration
Non-NCAA Coaches only Wednesday, January 9
2 p.m.: NAIA Business Meetings 7 a.m.: FCA Breakfast
4 p.m.: NCAA Division Business Meetings 8 a.m.: Registration/Exhibit Hall opens
4 p.m.: High School and JUCO Forums 8:45 a.m.: Chalk Talks (Off., Def., ST)
6 p.m.: “Buzz Sessions” 10:15 a.m.: Chalk Talks (Off., Def., ST)
7:30 p.m.: Assistant Coach of the Year Technique Clinic Noon: Division I Recruiting Seminar & Luncheon
9:30 p.m.: BCA Meeting Noon: I-A Legislative Committee Meeting
1 p.m.: All-Division Head Coaches Meeting
Monday, January 7 3 p.m.: I-A Head Coaches’ Meeting
7 a.m.: President’s Breakfast

Make Plans Now to Attend the 2002 A F C A C o n v e n t i o n

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •
 American Football Coaches Association
Code of Ethics Summary
“The ultimate success of the principles and
standards of this Code depends on those for
whom it has been established — the football coaches.”
Ever since the AFCA adopted its first formal Code of “PURPOSE: The Code of Ethics has been devel-
Ethics in 1952, the organization has had a keen oped to protect and promote the best interests of the
awareness of its importance and has done all in its game and the coaching profession. Its primary pur-
power to keep the public aware of the AFCA’s con- pose is to clarify and distinguish ethical and
cern with morality and integrity. approved professional practices from those consid-
ered detrimental.
A complete copy of the Code of Ethics is sent to
every member.Vital tenets include: “Its secondary purpose is to emphasize the purpose
and value of football and to stress the proper func-
“PREAMBLE: The distinguishing characteristic of a tions of coaches in relation to schools, players and
profession is its dedication to the service of humanity. the public.”

“Those who select football coaching must under- The AFCA Code of Ethics deals at length with the
stand that the justification for football lies in its spiri- following subject areas:
tual and physical values and that the game belongs,
essentially, to the players. Article One: Responsibilities to players

“The welfare of the game depends on how the
coaches live up to the spirit and letter of ethical con-
duct and how the coaches remain ever mindful of
the high trust and confidence placed in them by their
players and the public.
Article Two: Responsibilities to the institution
Article Three: Rules of the game
Article Four: Officials

“Coaches unwilling or unable to comply with the princi- Article Five: Public Relations
ples of the Code have no place in the profession...
Article Six: Scouting
“The Code should be studied regularly by all coach-
es and its principles should always be followed. Article Seven: Recruiting
Violations of the Code should be reported to the
Ethics Committee.” Article Eight: Game day and other responsibilities

Article Nine: Acceptance of all-star assignments and

other all-star coaching honors

Be A Responsible Member Of
The Football Coaching Profession
Follow The AFCA Code Of Ethics

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •