WINGS ALIGNMENT
Coaching Points
•Base field goal or Try alignment.
•Focus, discipline and effort are keys to success.
•Linemen must watch the ball, and not react to the defenses attempt to draw them offsides.
| Position | Technique |
|---|---|
| Center | Take a wide base and deliver a perfect snap, at the holder. Do not rush the snap, but once delivered punch up “through the window” maintaining a solid base to help secure the middle. |
| Guards | Take a 3-point balanced stance, aligned toe-to-heel with the center (helmet of bottom of center’s numbers) in a “foot-to-foot” type split. On the snap, take a quick six-inch spike step behind the center’s foot. Brace the center’s near hip while striking up through your blocking zone (A-gap). Do not move the outside foot. If there is no defender in the A-gap, still brace the center’s hip. |
| Tackles | Take a 3-point balanced stance, aligned foot-to-foot with the guard. On the snap, take a quick six-inch spike step behind the guard’s foot. Brace the guard’s outside leg while striking up through your blocking zone (B-gap). Do not move the outside foot. If there is no rush in the B-gap, strike with your outside arm to help the end. |
| Ends | Take a 3-point balanced stance, aligned foot-to-foot with the tackle. On the snap, take a quick six-inch spike step behind the tackle’s foot. Keep the outside foot in place. Stay low and punch the inside gap with the inside hand and shoulder. Punch the outside gap with the outside hand. |
| Wings | Take a balanced 2-point stance, with the inside foot behind the groin of the end. The depth is measured by an arm’s length from the end. On the snap step out three to six inches with both feet, while violently throwing the arms out. Feel the inside rusher, while seeing the outside rusher. Do not chase defenders. |
| Holder | Call out the alignment (Wings, Stack or Gate). Verify the correct kicking spot and keep your eyes on the kicker until he is ready. Then turn to the center, calling out “ready”. Catch the snap and place the ball for the kick. |
| Kicker | Bring the tee onto the field if one is allowed. Mark the kicking spot (set the tee or mark the spot on the ground) 7⅓ yards behind the LOS or offset if necessary. Align yourself to execute the kick and signal the holder that you are ready. On the snap, kick the ball through the uprights. |
We can align in our “Stack” alignment for field goals, as well as point-aftertouchdowns. There are certain things that we like to do out of this field goal alignment, however personnel has a tremendous impact on the ability to use this formation. We have found that tight end type players, as opposed to running back type players for the stack position helps with the protection. As such, four bigger receiver type players will make this alignment more productive.
Coaching Points
• This can be a base formation, or used as a change of pace to break tendencies.
• Align the stack to the kicker’s foot side since it is easier to push the rush beyond the block spot.
• No inside penetration.
| Position | Technique |
|---|---|
| Center | Take a wide base and deliver a perfect snap, at the holder. Do not rush the snap, but once delivered punch up “through the window” maintaining a solid base to help secure the middle. |
| Guards | Take a 3-point balanced stance, aligned toe-to-heel with the center (helmet of bottom of center’s numbers) in a “foot-to-foot” type split. On the snap, take a quick six-inch spike step behind the center’s foot. Brace the center’s near hip while striking up through your blocking zone (A-gap). Do not move the outside foot. If there is no defender in the A-gap, still brace the center’s hip. |
| Tackles | One tackle moves opposite the “stack” and aligns between the end and tackle. Take a 3-point balanced stance, aligned foot-to-foot with the guard and or tackle. On the snap, take quick six-inch spike steps behind the guard’s or tackle’s foot. Brace the tackles’ or guard’s outside leg while striking up through your blocking zone (B-gap or C-gap). Do not move the outside foot. If there is no rush in the gap, strike with your outside arm to help. |
| Ends | Take a 3-point balanced stance, aligned foot-to-foot with the tackle. On the snap, take a quick six-inch spike step behind the inside player’s foot. Keep the outside foot in place. Stay low and punch the inside gap with the inside hand and shoulder. Punch the outside gap with the outside hand. |
| Wings | One wing moves to the “stack” and aligns behind the other wing. Take a balanced 2-point stance, with the inside foot behind the groin of the end or wing. The depth is measured by an arm’s length from the player in front. On the snap step out three to six inches with both feet, while violently throwing the arms out. Feel the inside rusher, while seeing the outside rusher. Do not chase defenders. Allow no inside penetration. |
| Holder | Call out the alignment (Wings, Stack or Gate). Verify the correct kicking spot and keep your eyes on the kicker until he is ready. Then turn to the center, calling out “ready”. Catch the snap and place the ball for the kick. |
| Kicker | Bring the tee onto the field if one is allowed. Mark the kicking spot (set the tee or mark the spot on the ground) 7⅓ yards behind the LOS or offset if necessary. Align yourself to execute the kick and signal the holder that you are ready. On the snap, kick the ball through the uprights.. |
The swing gate or “huddle muddle” has both proponents and opponents. There is no question that teams that use this style of PAT add practice time for their opponents. If teams are not prepared to defense the swing gate or the defenders have a momentary lapse, then scoring the additional points is very simple. The argument against its use is that teams are resorting to trickery to score their two-point plays, as opposed to relying on their offensive system. Regardless of which side of the argument you support, there is no question that the swing gate adds practice time and may keep your opponent from having additional practice time to put in a PAT/FG block scheme.
Since we do not huddle after a touchdown, when “gate” is called by the holder, the center will line-up one yard outside the hash mark [two yards with college hash marks]. The left end, tackles and guards align with one-foot splits, in a two-point stance at 45° angle with the goal line. The left wing will stack one yard behind the right tackle. There are some coaches that have the players align with their backs to the goal line. Either alignment facilitates the communication process.
The right end will set up over the football in the middle of the field. He is the initial snapper (“IS”) and play-caller, though the holder could be designated as the play caller. The right wing will split the distance between the hash and the right sideline, or just above the numbers, one to two feet off the ball. This makes our IS eligible. The holder will align six yards deep, offset two yards to the right of the IS. The placekicker will align at 7⅓ yards directly behind the IS.
The IS will stand with the ball positioned in the middle of his body. Then based upon the call will quickly make a quarter turn (drop or stagger the foot to the play side) to facilitate an underhand toss (shovel) to the right or left. We do not have the IS snap the ball between his legs. If the actual kick will be attempted, they just turn and jog to their appropriate alignment.
The IS will watch the reaction and the alignment of the defense to the formation. It is imperative that the IS does not place his hand on the ball until he is ready to execute a play that requires him to actually snap the ball. Once he places his hand on the ball, he cannot take it off. The decision is based upon:
1. Attack Right (“Reno”)
• Does the defense have less than three defenders to the right?
2. Attack Left (“Vegas”)
• Does the defense have less than six defenders to the left?
3. Kick the Point (“Red”)
• Alignment properly defended, or
• Game is out-of-hand.
About the Author of this post:
Jerry Campbell has over 30 years of high school and college coaching experience. He has experience as a head coach, offensive coordinator, and various position coaches. He has written numerous football coaching articles in various publications, is the author of over 30 books on coaching football, and has produced 12 coaching video series. Additionally, he is a nationally sought after speaker on the coaching clinic circuit.