Special teams are units in American football and Canadian football that are on the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, and field goal attempts. Most special teams players are back up and third string players from other positions. United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Canadian football is a form of football closely related to American football in which two teams of twelve players each compete for territorial control of a field of play 110 yards (100. ... A free kick in American football occurs after an offensive player in possession of the ball is tackled in his own endzone. ... Todd Sauerbrun, one of the NFLs top punters, punts the ball for the Carolina Panthers. ... A field goal (formerly goal from the field) is a general term used in some sports wherein a goal may be scored either during general play (from the field) or via some sort of free shot. ... Backup in computer engineering refers to the copying of data for the purpose of having a second copy of an original source, in case of damage to the original data source. ...

Special teams include a kickoff team, a kick return team, a punting team, a punt return team, a field goal team and a field goal block team.

There are also specialized players on these teams, including:

• Placekicker (K) - handles kickoffs and field goal attempts.
• Holder - Usually positioned 7-8 yards from the line of scrimmage, he holds the ball for the placekicker to kick. The holder is often a backup quarterback, or a Punter.
• Long snapper - A specialized center who snaps the ball directly to the holder. Is often a backup tight end.
• Kick returner (KR) - returns kickoffs.
• Punter (P) - handles punts
• Punt returner (KR) - returns punts

Because these aspects of the game can be so different from general offensive and defensive play, a specific group of players is drilled in executing them. Though fewer points are scored on special teams than on offense, special teams play determines where the offense will begin each drive, and thus it has a dramatic impact on how easy or difficult it is for the offense to score. Placekicker is the title of the player on an American football team who is responsible for the kicking duties of points after touchdowns (PATs), field goals, and, in many cases, kickoffs. ... A field goal (formerly goal from the field) is a general term used in some sports wherein a goal may be scored either during general play (from the field) or via some sort of free shot. ... In American and Canadian football the line of scrimmage is the imaginary transverse line crossing the football field across its narrower dimension, which passes through the last position of the football, after the end of the most recent play and following the assessment of any penalty yards. ... The quarterback is a position in the offensive backfield of American and Canadian football, directly behind players of the line. He is generally the leader of the offensive team when it is on the field, responsible for initiating play by receiving the snap of the ball from the center. ... Todd Sauerbrun, one of the NFLs top punters, punts the ball for the Carolina Panthers. ... The offensive team or offense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage in possession of the ball. ... Todd Sauerbrun, one of the NFLs top punters, punts the ball for the Carolina Panthers. ... A punt is a play in Canadian football and American football in which the football is kicked downfield to the opposing team. ...

Because they take the field sometimes fewer than ten times a game, most special teams players are exceptionally intense during play, making kick and punt returns home to some of the most exciting (and hardest hitting) action in a game of football. Though this makes for good spectating, it also leads to a fairly high rate of injury among special teams players, and as a result, many starters are hesitant to take up a special teams role.

See also

• Offensive team
• Defensive team
• American football/Glossary

The offensive team or offense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage in possession of the ball. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... The following terms are used in American football and Canadian football. ...

External links

• Football 101 - Special Teams Positions