What do the special teams do?

• A. Play on offense
• B. Kicking the ball or returning a kicked ball from the other team and are frequently labeled kicking or receiving teams
• C. Play on defense only
• D. Manage the clock

Answer: (B)

Special teams handle the kicking plays in football. Their job is to kick the ball or to field and return kicks from the other team. This unit comes on the field for kickoffs, punts, field goals, and extra points, and includes the teams that block, return, or cover those kicks. Because of that focus, they’re known as the kicking team when they kick and the receiving team when they are on the other end trying to catch or return the ball. The option about managing the clock isn’t specific to this group, since clock management is a broader part of the game rather than a characteristic of the special teams unit.