Soccer Special Teams Training – How To Break The Wedge

Special teams can make the difference between who goes home victorious and who suffers defeat.

Simply put, the job of the receiving teams is to advance the kickoff return as far down the field as possible. With a couple of key blocks, he gets the ball into the end zone. Setting up those key blocks starts with the wedge.

The wedge, as we all know, is a wall of players behind which the returning man locks himself in hopes of finding the opening that can propel him for big yards or a 6-point run.

The kicking team sends out their wedge runners and busters, running at top speed, risking life and limb as they throw their bodies at the players forming the wedge. Sometimes wedge busters are successful and stop big runners. However, there are plenty of times that they are not, allowing the big push to shift the run back. Boost that can change the outcome of the game.

How do we become more effective at breaking the locking wedge of comeback teams? Don’t try to run over or knock down blockers. Instead, split up the blockers.

Run straight at the blocker at full speed, selling him on the fact that you plan to run him over. No matter how skilled and practiced you are, at the last moment you will be bracing yourself for impact. Instead of making head-to-head contact, split up the blockers, run between them taking the best angle towards the ball carrier. Not only does it reduce the risk of injury to you, but you’ll often find yourself in a position to make the tackle, stopping a long kick return and avoiding any return that changes momentum, like a 6 pointer.