Special Teams Special Teams Special team consists of the kicking game. Kicking extra points, kickoffs, punts and returning kicks and punts are all part of the kicking game. Teams have different players they use on these teams. Many are backup players for the starters. These players work hard at their positions to help the team on kicks.
Teams have specific players to return kicks.
These players are called return specialists . They are skilled at catching a high punt or kickoff with three or four players ready to tackle them. If a punt is high and the returner does not want to run with the ball he calls for a fair catch . On kickoffs teams form a wedge to block for the returner. Having a good return team can get to good field position and have less distance to go to score a touchdown.