Punt Coverage Drills: Mastering the Lane Integrity
The Punt Coverage Drills are designed to refine the fundamental techniques and coordination of a punt coverage unit, emphasizing lane discipline, physicality, and pursuit angles.
Purpose
- Lane Discipline: Develops and reinforces the importance of maintaining proper lane assignments and spacing within the punt coverage unit.
- Physicality: Enhances the physicality and aggression necessary for winning one-on-one battles and securing coverage lanes.
- Pursuit Angles: Improves the ability of coverage players to take efficient pursuit angles to tackle the returner.
Description
Drill Setup
- The punt team will line up on the 40 yard line.
- Optional: Mark lanes on the field using cones to define each player’s coverage area.
- A returner stands in the endzone. Either in the middle or at the numbers if you want to practice directional punts.
Drill Execution
- On the snap count, the long snapper snaps the ball to the punter.
- The punter will throw the ball to the returner in the end zone. – If he can’t throw that far, a coach can throw it to the returner from the 20 yard line, after the punter has simulated his kick.
- The punt coverage team gets into their coverage lanes and breaks down.
- The returner will run to either numbers sideways when lined up in the middle or towards the other side’s number when lined up on the numbers.
- All players on the punt coverage team will run through until they tag the returner’s hip.
Variations
- Varying Returns: Give the returner the freedom to decide not to run free when he sees an opening in the coverage to keep the punt coverage team honest.
- Add Blockers: Add blockers with hand shields that try to block coverage players from their desired path, forcing them to fight the blocks and teach them to get back to their lane as quickly as possible once they’ve beaten their block.
Coaching Points
- Lane Discipline: Emphasize the importance of maintaining strict lane assignments and avoiding over-pursuit.
- Physicality: Encourage physicality and aggression when engaging blockers, focusing on proper hand placement and leverage.
- Pursuit Angles: Teach players to take efficient pursuit angles to tackle the returner while maintaining lane integrity.
Equipment
- Footballs
- Hand Shields (Optional)
- Cones (Optional)
By consistently practicing the Punt Coverage Drills, your special teams units will develop the discipline, physicality, and communication necessary to excel in punt coverage.
Originally contributed in 2007 by Coach Randy Hedberg, at that time Head Coach at St. Cloud State University – The St. Cloud State Huskies are playing in the NCAA II North Central Conference (NCC).
Randy Hedberg is now the Associate Head Coach at the NDSU Bisons, which play in the NCAA Div I MVFC
