Kickoff and Punt Coverage

Special teams coach Mike Sweatman breaks down kickoff and punt coverage, the two phases where one blown lane turns a good kick into a return touchdown. Across 38 seasons of coaching, 23 of them as an NFL special teams coach, Sweatman built coverage units on alignment, effort and discipline rather than exotic schemes. This clinic session lays out his coverage objectives, philosophy and the rules he taught every cover man.

What you'll learn

• The "Force Multipliers" concept for getting more efficiency and better results out of your coverage teams
• Building a special teams routine, training your personnel and using the special teams huddle
• Why alignment is the critical detail on both kickoff and punt coverage, and how to stay onsides
• Sprinting at full speed, avoiding blockers and outrunning cross blocks
• Why the first player downfield forces the issue, and when to play blockers: inside the 30 or within 15 yards of the ball carrier
• Never trading one for one, getting back to your lane and never losing containment
• Tackling on coverage: wrapping up the ball carrier and not breaking down too soon
• Kickoff coverage objectives, philosophy and coverage schemes
• Responsibilities by kick and return direction, including the deep middle kick and punts angled left, right or straight ahead

Who it's for

High school and college special teams coordinators, and head coaches who handle the kicking game themselves. The teaching is technique and discipline first, so it fits any kickoff or punt formation you already run.

About the coach

Mike Sweatman coached for 38 seasons and spent 23 of them as an NFL special teams coach with the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and New York Jets. He was a member of two Super Bowl champion Giants teams.

Part 1 of Coach Sweatman's three-part special teams series. Runtime: about 61 minutes.