Kickoff Coverage Containment Drill: Mastering the Containment
The Kickoff Coverage Containment Drill is designed to refine a kickoff coverage unit’s ability to maintain proper alignment, contain the returner, and limit explosive returns. This drill emphasizes discipline, communication, and physicality within the coverage unit.
Purpose
- Unit Alignment: Reinforces the importance of maintaining proper alignment and spacing within the kickoff coverage unit.
- Containment: Develops the ability to contain the returner within the coverage area, limiting explosive return opportunities.
- Tackling Approach and Pursuit: Enhances tackling approach technique and pursuit angles for making plays on the returner.
Description
Drill Setup
- Put 2 players (if possible, pair them up the same way they would be on kickoff coverage in a game.) as kickoff coverage players on one sideline on yardlines 10 yards apart, i.e., one on the 20 yard line and one on the 10 yard line.
- Place a returner on the opposite sideline in the middle of those two. In our example at the 15 yard line.
Drill Execution
- On command, the two cover players sprint forward to the far hashmark.
- When they reach the near hashmark, the returner begins to run in a straight line toward them.
- When they reach the far hashmark, the returner is free to run anywhere, his “sidelines” being the goal line and the 40 yard line.
- The coverage players must keep him “between” them, decreasing the distance as they get closer to the returner.
Coaching Points
- Alignment and Spacing: Emphasize the importance of maintaining proper alignment and spacing between the two coverage players.
- Communication: Encourage clear and effective communication between coverage players to coordinate their efforts.
- Pursuit Angles: Teach proper pursuit angles to effectively approach the returner for a tackle and limit his return yardage.
- Tackling Approach Technique: Reinforce proper open field tackling fundamentals as they approach the returner and perform a proper open field form tackle, ideally working together all the way through the form tackle.
Equipment
- Footballs
- Cones for setting up the drill (optional)
By consistently practicing the Kickoff Coverage Containment Drill, special teams units will develop the cohesion, discipline, and physicality necessary to excel in kickoff coverage.
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