Coach ,

There’s an argument to be made for using an onside kick all of the time. Kevin Kelley made a living on it and it proved to be a huge factor in winning for the 9x state champion. Here are the statistics behind why he does it:

However, today we are looking at the obvious onside-kick situation that must be executed, and the factors that go into it that increase the chances for success. We will take a look at one of Coach Kelley’s favorites that work well in this situation, but first, let's talk about personnel.

#1) Onside Kick Team Personnel 

Coach Tom Everson looks for certain kinds of personnel. He relates this to the other skills these players might have like having #1 who can jump. A number 3 and 4 that have good ball skills, maybe baseball middle infielders, etc.  He lays out the personnel preferences for the Onskide Kick team in this video (click on image for video):

Video: Onside Kick Personnel

#2) Onside Return Team Personnel and Alignment

Aligning to receive the onside takes some detail as well. Coach Andy Merfield lays out the plan for how they will align and secure the ball for the win. From where they are positioned to their stance, to signaling a fair catch is important here, and Coach Merfield covers that in this video (click on image for video):

Video: Obvious Onside Kick

#3) The Copter Kick

As mentioned earlier, Coach Kelley has a favorite onside kick for this situation which he calls copter. The way the ball is teed and the exact spot on the ball is kicked make this a difficult onside to field. Check out his coaching points in the video (click on image for video):

Video: Copter Preview

The attention to detail is so important on this play, especially as we head into the post season. It is a play that can win the game for you on the recovery, and give you a chance to pull out a win in a desperate situation.  

Whether you work it every week or if it hasn’t received much attention, as the competition gap gets tighter, the chances of this situation coming up is greater. Reviewing now can pay some big dividends in the near future.

Always be growing!

Coaches Clinic Community