Special Teams Guide to Mastering Field Position, Kickoffs, Kick Coverage & the Return Game

with Tom Radke,
St. James Academy (KS) Head Football Coach & Special Teams Coordinator;
2020 & 2021 Kansas 4A State High School Football Champions;
2020 & 2021 Kansas 4A Football Coach of the Year;
2020 Kansas City Chiefs’ Eric Driskell Coach of the Year;
Piper High School (KS) Head Coach from 2006 to 2010;
St. Thomas Aquinas (KS) Assistant Coach from 2004 to 2005;
played college football for Iowa State University

St. James Academys Tom Radke knows what it takes to build a football program installing a detailed infrastructure that positions the program for long-term, sustained success. Coach Radke is also the special team’s coordinator for the Thunder, which is a testament to the importance he places on the special teams’ phase of the game.

In this instructional coaching video, Coach Radke equips you with the knowledge and tools necessary to elevate your team's kicking game to new heights.

By providing a deep dive into the kicking game basics – using a combination of special teams stats, examples of the importance of field position and ST coordinator strategies – Radke offers a game-tested approach to improving your special teams.

Coach Radke employs a combination of engaging visual aids, such as kickoff-return diagrams and easy-to-follow game-film clips, to arm you with a clear understanding of the process involved to install a kicking game that fits the parameters of what you want to accomplish.

Kicking Game Essentials
The video begins with Coach Radke laying out a plan for building a solid kicking game foundation with a comprehensive exploration of kicking basics, as well as essential kicking techniques, rules and kicking game strategies that every coach needs to know.

Radke explains that once you possess a deep understanding of kicking fundamentals, you can build a strong base for your team's kicking game development.

Coach Radke presents a deep analysis on the importance of field position in football and how strategic kicking decisions often impact the outcome of a game. Radke explains how building a kicking game that consistently wins the field position battle, creates advantageous situations for your team, while applying additional pressure and stress on your opponents will set your team up for long term successes.

4 Kickoff Returns, 10 Effective Kickoffs
Coach Radke provides valuable insights into coordinating the kicking game, including how to effectively integrate the kicking units into your overall game plan. By developing a plan to coordinate your kicking game, you can maximize its impact and improve your special team's performance.

This video features four highly effective kick returns – each designed to enhance your team's starting field position, while keeping opposing kick-coverage units guessing and on their heels. Kick returns showcased in this section include: a sideline kickoff return, the middle-wedge kick return, the squib-kick return and using your hands team to thwart opponents’ onside kicks.

Radke also details 10 different kickoffs designed to keep your opponents on their toes and set up kick coverage units to defeat blocks and swarm returners, limiting their options and pinning them deep.

An exciting onside kick is also showcased, with Coach Radke offering an in-depth look at it in diagram form while providing objectives, player responsibilities, tips to help onside-kick recovery and onside-kick execution coaching points for kickers.

This video by Coach Radke is a must-have resource for any football coach seeking to improve their team's performance. By providing a comprehensive overview of the kicking game, including key fundamentals, strategies and effective drills that improve performance, this video empowers you to make informed special teams decisions and achieve success.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your team's kicking game to the next level!

56 minutes. 2025.