Gaining Possessions Using the Onside Kick

with Kevin Kelley,
New England Patriots Offensive Analyst in 2021-2022;
Presbyterian College Head Football Coach in 2021;
Pulaski Academy (AR) Head Coach from 2003 to 2021;
2016 All-USA Coach of the Year;
2021 Innovator in Analytics Award Winner (Entertainment Analytics Conference);
2021 inductee - Arkansas Sports Hall of FameKelley's teams were 216-29-1 and won nine state titles;
featured on ESPN, HBO Real Sports, Fox Business News as well as in Sports Illustrated and Time Magazine

Kevin Kelley has put together a championship program that is unique in a variety of ways. His team almost never punts, almost always onside kicks, has averaged 500 yards per game on offense and has had an incredible eighteen-year run in which his team has won the state championship game nice time!

The onside kicking strategy developed when Kelley realized that opponents were starting from their own 33 yard line on regular kick offs and from their 47 yard line on unsuccessful onside kicks. With the onside kick, his team was only giving up 14 yards of field possession, but with a chance to get the ball back.

In this video, Kelley teaches key aspects of the onside kick including how they place the ball on the tee, motions to approach the ball and successful techniques for recovering the ball. You'll see a traditional onside kick, multiple types of squib kicks, as well as a unique drop-kick onside kick.

Benefits to the onside kick:

• Provides extra possessions for your offense
• Affects opponents preparation and overall game plan
• Lessens the chance of a big return
• Creates field position advantages later in the game by kicking it over the opponent's head
• Inspires creativity and enthusiasm in your players and coaches
• Easy to install (20 minutes per week)

Coach Kelley uses game video to demonstrate his multitude of kickoffs. You will see "Onside Left" used with two kickers; the "NBA," which is a long onside kick; the "Super Squib" which is aimed at an opposing player; the "Super Middle" with everyone in the middle; the "Copter;" the "NFL" that drives the ball high into the air; and a "Dropkick" onside kick off that most coaches don't even know its legal!

Kelley discusses the advantages of each kickoff and how to align and kick the ball for each.

With so many misdirection and deceiving onside kick plays, your special teams will finally become truly special!

77 minutes. 2014.