Special Teams
Special teams in American football handle all plays involving kicking and are responsible for both field position and scoring opportunities outside of regular offensive and defensive plays. Kickoffs, punts during turnovers, field goals, and extra point attempts after a touchdown is scored. When punting, the goal for the kicking team is to keep the receiving team as far away as possible to prevent their offense from scoring on the following drive. Key players for special teams include the kicker, punter, long snapper, and return specialists. On the receiving end, return specialists use a variety of tactics to bring the ball as close to the opposing end zone as they can before the offense takes the field.
A team's special team unit is usually a decisive factor in close games since kicks are doable in comeback situations. On the defensive side of special teams, players attempt to block kicks and rush the kicker in a similar way that the defense rushes the quarterback. Though special teams make up a smaller portion of the game compared to offense and defense, they are vital in dictating field position, capitalizing on scoring chances, and occasionally providing game-winning moments with clutch kicks or returns. If the special teams unit and a a regular play team are on the field at the same time, that results in a penalty.
