KICKOFF TEAM

WESTERN
WASHINGTON
UNIVERSITY
 KICK OFF GOALS

1. HOLD OPPONENT TO LESS THAN 19 YDS A RETURN.

2. PLAY PENALTY FREE.

3. OPPONENT DRIVE START INSIDE OWN 28 YARD LINE.

4. CAUSE A TURNOVER.

5. BALL KICKED OUTSIDE OF THE HASH.

6. HANG TIME OF 4.0.

7. 100% ASSIGNMENT EXECUTION.

 KICKOFF TEAM

ALIGNMENTS, ASSIGNMENTS and TECHNIQUES must be executed to perfection in order to be successful.

The kickoff is the most aggressive play in football. We must have men on this team with tremendous intensity,
hustle, a great desire to hit, and a “reckless abandonment”. A big play on any kickoff (great hit, forced fumble or a
tackle inside the 20 yard line) will ignite great momentum within our team.

We will have several types of kickoffs:

1. Deep Left 5. Missile (Obvious on side kick-right or left)
2. Deep Right 6. Bunt (Surprise on side)
3. Sky (Right or Left) 7. Kickoff (Punt) after a safety
4. Pop left

Huddle Procedure - Huddle on the Side line

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 KICKOFF PROCEDURES
All players should align in a 2 point stance at the 25 to 20 yard line facing straight ahead. The kicker will
give a signal that he is ready to begin his approach to the ball. When the kicker lowers his arm we must be
in our stance ready for the movement of the Kicker. All other players must time your approach so that you
are going full speed when the ball is kicked…We must have a great get off.

We will start each deep kick sprinting 15 yards straight down the field. This area is defined as the “Read
Zone”. Each player should read his “triangle”. We must recognize (Define) the angle of the kick, the
direction of our opponent’s return, and which man is attempting to block us and by what “leverage”.

We must keep proper leverage and spacing from one another as we cover downfield. After sprinting
straight downfield for the initial 15 yards and recognizing the direction of the return we must be extremely
disciplined in converging on the ball. Contain men must never allow any member of the return team to get
outside of you, 21 Man Rule: (outflanked) maintain outside position and be alert to a reverse. If any
member of our kickoff team needs to avoid a blocker he must immediately return to the same “tube”after
defeating the blocker. In the event that you ever feel yourself following a teammate down the field simply
widen yourself out 5 yards.

We must always keep the ball on our inside shoulder and make the tackle on our inside shoulder. This
is absolutely critical. Failure to maintain the proper leverage by keeping the ball on our inside shoulder
will result in a long return. Men responsible for force, contain and safety positions must keep the ball on
their inside shoulder. Most kickoff returns that go for touchdowns or long gains are due to the safeties and
scrapers allowing the ball to get outside of them.
 KICKOFF
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5 5
10 10
15 15
20 20
25 25
30
35 CONTACT ZONE 30
35
40 40
45
50 AVOID ZONE 45
50
45 45
40 40
35 READ ZONE 35
30 30
25 K1 K A1 25
K2 K3 A4 A3 A2
K4
20 K5 A5 20
15 15
10 10
5 5
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VIKINGS
 KICKOFF Left Deep Left Kick
K1 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind) A1 - Safety - 15 yds. Never let ball get outside
K2 - Contain. The ball must never get outside (21 man rule). A2 - Contain. Never let the ball get outside (21 man rule).
K3 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder A3 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind don’t cross hash)
K4 - Head up to the returner A4 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder
K5 - Head up to the returner A5 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder

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5 R 5
10 10
15 15
5-7 yds
20 20
25 25
30 30
35 15 yds 35
40 40
45 45
50 50
45 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
25 K1 A1 25
K2 K3 K A3 A2
K4 A4
20 K5 A5 20
SCRAPER SAFETY SCRAPER SAFETY
15 15
10 10
5 5
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VIKINGS
 LEFT DEEP LEFT ALIGNMENTS

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 A5 A4 A3 A2 A1
K
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 A5 A4 A3 A2 A1
K

LEFT DEEP LEFT ALIGNMENTS

 LEFT DEEP LEFT ALIGNMENTS

SAFETY
K1 K2
SCRAPER K3 K4 K5 A5 A4 A3 A2 A1SAFETY
CONTAIN FORCER K
HEAD UP HEAD UP FORCER FORCER SCRAPER CONTAIN
TO RET TO RET

LEFT DEEP LEFT ASSIGNMENTS

 KICKOFF Middle Deep Left Kick
K1 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind)
K2 - Contain. The ball must never get outside (21 man rule).
K3 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder
K4 - Head up to the returner
K5 - Head up to the returner
A1 - Safety - 15 yds. Never let ball get outside
A2 - Contain. Never let the ball get outside (21 man rule).
A3 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind don’t cross hash)
A4 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder
A5 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder

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5 R 5
10 10
15 15
5-7 yds
20 20
25 25
30 30
15 yds
35 35
40 40
45 45
50 50
45 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
25 K1 K A1 25
K2 K3 A4 A3 A2
20 K4 K5 A5 20
SCRAPER SAFETY
SAFETY
15 SCRAPER 15
10 10
5 5
G G
VIKINGS
 KICKOFF Right Deep Left Kick
K1 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind) A1 - Safety - 15 yds. Never let ball get outside
K2 - Contain. The ball must never get outside (21 man rule). A2 - Contain. Never let the ball get outside (21 man rule).
K3 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder A3 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind don’t cross hash)
K4 - Head up to the returner A4 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder
K5 - Head up to the returner A5 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder

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5 R 5
10 10
15 15
5-7 yds
20 20
25 25
30 30
15 yds
35 35
40 40
45 45
50 50
45 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
25 K1 K2 A1 25
K A3 A2
K3 K4 A4
20 K5 A5 20
SAFETY SCRAPER SAFETY
15 15
SCRAPER
10 10
5 5
G G
VIKINGS
 KICKOFF Right Deep Right Kick
A1 - Safety - 15 yds. Never let the ball get outside K1 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind)
A2 - Contain. Never let the ball get outside(21 man rule) K2 - Contain. The ball must never get outside(21 man rule)
A3 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind) K3 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder
A4 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder K4 - Head up to the ball
A5 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder K5 - Head up to the ball
Kicker - Safety. Keep ball on inside shoulder.

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5 R 5
10 10
15 15
5-7 yds
20 20
25 25
30 15 yds 30
35 35
40 40
45 45
50 50
45 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
25 A1 A2 K K1 25
A3 K3 K2
A4 K4
20 A5 K5 20
SAFETY SCRAPER
15 SAFETY SCRAPER 15
10 10
5 5
G G
VIKINGS
 LEFT DEEP LEFT ALIGNMENTS

K
A1K1A2K2 A3K3 K4
A4 K5
A5 A5 K5 A4K4 A3 K3A2 K2
A1 K1
K

RIGHT DEEP RT ALIGNMENT

 LEFT DEEP LEFT ALIGNMENTS

CONTAIN
SAFETY SCRAPER FORCE SAFETY
FORCE CONTAIN
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 A5 A4
HEAD UP A3
HEAD UP
TO RET A2
FORCE
A1 SCRAPER
K TO RET

RIGHT DEEP RT ASSIGNMENT

 KICKOFF Middle Deep Right Kick
A1 - Safety - 15 yds. Never let the ball get outside K1 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind)
A2 - Contain. Never let the ball get outside (21 man rule) K2 - Contain. The ball must never get outside (21 man rule)
A3 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind) K3 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder
A4 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder K4 - Head up to the ball
A5 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder K5 - Head up to the ball
Kicker - Safety. Keep ball on inside shoulder.

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5 R 5
10 10
15 15
5-7 yds
20 20
25 25
30 15 yds 30
35 35
40 40
45 45
50 50
45 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
25 A1 K K1 25
A2 A3 K3 K2
A4 K4
20 A5 K5 20
SAFETY SCRAPER SAFETY SCRAPER
15 15
10 10
5 5
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VIKINGS
 KICKOFF Left Deep Right Kick
A1 - Safety - 15 yds. Never let the ball get outside K1 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind)
A2 - Contain. Never let the ball get outside(21 man rule) K2 - Contain. The ball must never get outside(21 man rule)
A3 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind) K3 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder
A4 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder K4 - Head up to the ball
A5 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder K5 - Head up to the ball
Kicker - Safety. Keep ball on inside shoulder.

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5
R 5
10 10
15 15
5-7 yds
20 20
25 25
30 15 yds 30
35 35
40 40
45 45
50 50
45 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
25 A1 A2 K K1 25
A3 A4 SAFETY K3 K2
K4
20 A5 K5 20
SAFETY
15 SCRAPER SCRAPER 15
10 10
5 5
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VIKINGS
 KICKOFF Left Sky Right Kick
K1 - Safety - 15 yds. Never let the ball get outside A1 - Contain. Keep the ball on the left shoulder(21 man rule)
K2 - Contain. Never let the ball get outside(21 man rule) A2 - Force. Keep the ball on the near shoulder
K3 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind) A3 - Force. Keep the ball on the near shoulder
K4 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder A4 - Head up to the ball
K5 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder A5 - Head up to the ball
Kicker - Pooch the ball between the 27-30 yd line and between the numbers and the sideline

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5 5
10 10
15 15
20 R 20
25 25
30 30
5-7 yds
35 35
40 40
45 15 yds 45
50 50
45 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
25 K1 K A1 25
K2 K3 A3 A2
K4 A4
20 K5 A5 20
SAFETY SAFETY
15 SCRAPER 15
10 10
5 5
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VIKINGS
 KICKOFF Right Sky Left Kick
A1 - Contain. Kept the ball on the right shoulder(21 man rule) K1 - Safety - 15 yds. Never let ball get outside
A2 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder K2 - Contain. Never let the ball get outside(21 man rule).
A3 - Force. Keep the ball on the right shoulder K3 - Scraper. Lber depth (5-7 yards behind)
A4 - Head up to the ball K4 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder
A5 - Head up to the ball K5 - Force. Keep the ball on the left shoulder
Kicker - Pooch the ball between the 27-30 yd line and between the numbers and the sideline

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5 5
10 10
15 15
20 20
25 R 25
30 30
5-7 yds
35 35
40 15 yds 40
45 45
50 50
45 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
25 A1 K1 25
A2 A3 K2
A4 K K4 K3
20 A5 K5 20
SAFETY
15 SCRAPER SAFETY 15
10 10
5 5
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VIKINGS
 KICKOFF Right Pop Left Kick
A1 - Receiver stay wide catch ball. Ball must go 10 yards. K1 - Screen Tackles, can block after ball goes 10 yards
A2 - Screen tackle, can block after ball goes 10 yards. K2 - Safety attack 30 and sprint to position over kick
A3 - Screen Tackle, can block after ball goes 10 yards K3 - Screen Guard, can block after ball goes 10 yards.
A4 - Screen Guard, can block after ball goes 10 yards K4 - Safety attack 30 and sprint to position over kick
A5 - Screen Guard, can block after ball goes 10 Yards K5 - Screen Center, can block after ball goes 10 yards.
Kicker - Pop the ball between the 45-50 yd line and between the numbers and the sideline

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5 R R 5
10 10
15 15
20 U U 20
25 25
30 30
35
E E 35
40 40
45 45
50 50
45
T G C G T 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
25 A1 K1 25
A2 K2
A3 A4 K K4 K3
20 A5 K5 20
SAFETY SAFETY
15 15
10 10
5 5
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VIKINGS
 Middle Bunt Onside Kick
A5 and K5 - Sprint as if it were a regular kickoff then attack and block the outside number of the CENTER and
prevent him from recovering the ball.
A4 and K4 -Sprint as if it were a regular kickoff then go recover the football. If you are not in position to
recover the ball then block the “most dangerous man” out of the play.
A3 and K3 - Sprint as if it were a regular kickoff then attack the inside shoulder of the GUARD to your side,
kick him out and prevent him form recovering the ball.
A2 and K2 - Sprint as if it were a regular kickoff then attack the inside shoulder of TACKLE to your side, kick
him out and prevent him from recovering the ball.
A1 and K1 - Sprint as if it were a regular kickoff then drop back underneath as a safety to your side. Keep the
ball on your inside shoulder should our opponents try to advance it.
Kicker -Take normal steps as if you were kicking the ball deep. At the last moment, bunt to the midpoint in the
largest “hole” between the CENTER and either GUARD. Follow the bunt and recover it. Your actions and
accuracy are absolutely critical to the “surprise”. The ball must travel 10 yards.
25 25
30 30
35 35
40 40
45 45
50 50
45 T G C G T 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
25 A1 K K2 K1 25
A2 A3 A4 K4 K3
20 A5 K5 20
15 SAFETY 15
10 SAFETY 10
5 5
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VIKINGS
 KICKOFF Right Onside Kick Left
K1 - Contain. Kept the ball in bounds A1 - Force. Go for the ball look for fumble
K2 - Force. Go for the ball catch at highest point A2 - Safety - Middle of the field 28 yard line
K3 - Force. Go for the ball catch at highest point A3 - Force Go for the ball catch at highest point
K4 - Force Go for the ball catch at highest point A4 - Safety. Over the ball 28 yard line.
K5 - Go for the ball catch at highest point K6 - Force. Go for the ball catch at highest point
Kicker - Kick the ball so that it takes a high hop behind the front line of the good hands Team.

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5
10 s s 5
10
15 15
20 20
25 25
30 30
35 35
40 40
45 45
50 50
45 x 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
K
25 K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 A4 A3 A2 A1 25
20 20
15 15
SAFETY SAFETY
10 10
5 5
G G
VIKINGS
 KICKOFF AFTER A SAFETY
BASE COVERAGE

10
0
<1

>
20
0
<2

>
R

30
0
<3

>
<4
0

40
>
50
0
<5

>
40
0
<4

>
<3
0

30
>
0
<2

20
>
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 P A5 A4 A3 A2 A1

SCRAPER SAFETY SCRAPER SAFETY

1. HUDDLE ON THE SIDELINE.

2. RESTRAINING LINE IS THE 20 YARD LINE.
3. WE WILL USE OUR SAME COVERAGE. ALIGNMENT WILL BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
5’S ALIGN 2 STEPS BEHIND THE PUNTER. ALL OTHERS TAKE THEIR ALIGNMENT OFF 5’s
4. PUNTER HAS SHORTER, SLOWER APPROACH. BE ALERT TO HIS STEPS. DO NOT BE OFFSIDES.
5. 10 YARD RULE (FREE BALL) AND FAIR CATCH RULES APPLY.
 MISSILE KICKOFF
4 OPTIONS (Based upon our opponents alignment we are going to determine what number of men
they have aligned to each side and then the kickers will signal.
Option 1) 3 men aligned to our right, the left kicker (LK) gives the signal and kicks to the right
Option 2) 4 men aligned to our left, the right kicker (RK) signals, and kicks to the left
Option 3) No one in the middle, or 1 man in the middle, BOTH kickers signal and bunt
Option 4) Pooch the ball over the head to our right. The left kicker signals and kicks
G G
5 5
10 10
15 15
20 20
25 25
30 4 30
35 35
40 40
45 45
2
50 1 50
45 3 3 45
40 40
35 35
30 (5-7) (5-7) 30
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 LK RK A4 A3 A2 A1
25 25
1 2
20 20
15 15
10 10
5 5
G G

VIKINGS