Building a Kick Return Team from the Ground Up
by Andy Merfeld
Description
Whether you primarily coach on offense, defense, or special teams, field position is king. One of the ways you can help your team win the battle of hidden yardage and dominate field position is by building an explosive kick return unit.
Coach Merfeld’s two-part series will allow you to build your kick return team from the ground up. He details a comprehensive plan for the unit which includes everything from practice drills and blocking techniques to return schemes, game-planning, and situational calls.
In this first course, Coach Merfeld goes through a detailed teaching progression for each type of block used on the kick return team. He uses game film as well as film of individual and group drills for each technique. Finally, Coach Merfeld discusses how coaches can put all the pieces together to run the “Power” return scheme.
In the second course on the kick return unit, Coach Merfeld covers a variety of change-ups for the Power return detailed in the first course. He also details the process of breaking down an opponent, game-planning, situational planning, and much more! You can purchase both courses in the Kick Return Bundle!
As an added bonus, Coach includes the Powerpoint used in this presentation. Coaches are also encouraged to contact Coach Merfeld to get access to the Hudl film used in this presentation.
This course includes more than two hours of quality content and will help you take your kick return team to the next level, whether you're a veteran special teams coordinator or a young coach just taking over the unit.
Lessons
The Coach
Andy Merfeld has experience coaching at the small-college and high school levels and specializes in coverages, defensive back play, and special teams. His CoachTube courses focus narrowly on very specific topics, which allows coaches to effectively implement the strategies and processes he discusses.
He currently is the corners coach and special teams coordinator at Benedictine College (NAIA – KS) and previously coached at Upper Iowa University, the University of Minnesota Duluth, and Edgewood High School (WI). Relevant coaching achievements:
- Benedictine College (CBs). In 2019 the Ravens led all NAIA and NCAA schools with ten blocked punts, and also led the NAIA in punt return yards at the end of the regular season. In 2020 the team again led the NAIA in blocked kicks, and also finished sixth in punt return yards. The defense finished 3rd in the NAIA in sacks, 4th in interceptions, 2nd in rush defense, and led all NAIA and NCAA schools with four shutouts in ten games. In 2022 the Ravens blocked eight total kicks and were fifth in the country in kickoff return average. In 2023 Benedictine had the top special teams unit in the NAIA, again leading the country in blocked kicks (T-1st), finished 4th in the NAIA in gross punt, 4th in gross kickoff average, 5th in punt return average, and 9th in NAIA in KOR average.
- Upper Iowa (DBs). In 2017 the Peacocks finished second nationally in punt return touchdowns and fifth in punt blocks. They also finished 10th in the country in pass defense.
- Minnesota Duluth (Def. GA). In two years the Bulldogs compiled a 22-4 record, including three postseason wins and a #3 national ranking in the 2014 season.
- Edgewood High School (DC, strength and conditioning). In 2011 the Crusaders set the school record for wins and advanced to the WIAA state semifinals for the first time.
This Course Includes
| 24 hours on-demand video |
| Streaming from mobile and TV |
| Lifetime access |
| Certificate of completion |
| 100% money back guarantee |
Course Info
| Rating: | (3) |
|---|---|
| Caterory: | Football/Special Teams |
| Bookings: | 19 |
| Duration: | |
| Videos: | 16 |
