What does the term 'special team' mean in American Football?

Answer 1

any team not the offense or defense, kick off, kick return, punt team , punt return

Answer 2

Special teams are units that are on the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, and field goal and extra point attempts. Most special teams players are second- and third-string players from other positions.

Special teams include a kickoff team, a kick return team, a punting team, a punt return team, a field goal team and a field goal block team.

There are also specialized players on these teams, including:

Placekicker (PK)—handles kickoffs and field goal attempts.
Holder—Usually positioned 7-8 yards from the line of scrimmage, he holds the ball for the placekicker to kick. The holder is often a backup quarterback or a punter.
Long snapper—a specialized center who snaps the ball directly to the holder. The long snapper is often a backup tight end.
Kick returner (KR)—returns kickoffs.
Punter (P)—kicks punts.
Punt returner (PR)—returns punts.
Gunner—player on kickoffs and punts who specializes in running down the field very quickly in an attempt to tackle the kick returner or the punt returner.
Wedge Buster—player whose goal is to sprint down the middle of the field on kickoffs. While ideally, their goal is to reach the kick returner, their immediate goal is to disrupt the wall of blockers (the wedge) on kickoffs, preventing the returner from having a lane in which to get a substantial return. Being a wedge buster is a very dangerous position since he may often be running at full speed when coming into contact with a blocker.
Because these aspects of the game can be so different from general offensive and defensive play, a specific group of players is drilled in executing them. Though fewer points are scored on special teams than on offense, special teams play determines where the offense will begin each drive, and thus it has a dramatic impact on how easy or difficult it is for the offense to score.

Answer 3

Special teams are the members of the football team that do not play offense or defense (Actually some guys play on offense or defense and special teams)

Special teams are the players that come out during kickoff's, punts and field goals.

Answer 4

These are players that have special skills and functions. Some of them also play during regular downs, such as most linemen, but place kickers and other kickers only play duing those limited plays where kicking is the likely move.

Same is true for kick returners. These can require very critical, specialized skills, and the coaches may not want to risk injury to them during regular play.

You may ocasionally hear about a place kicker who draws a huge salary, but is only actively involved a few minutes out of every game. These men don't always make the most points, but are key to moving the ball at critical times and, sometimes, simply to get the ball to a good field position.

Answer 5

the special teams are the third group of players on the football team. you have offense which has the ball and tries to score. you have defense which tries to keep the other team from scoring and the special team which kick field goals, extra points, punt and do kickovffs.

Answer 6

Special teams are units that are on the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, and field goal and extra point attempts. Most special teams players are second- and third-string players from other positions.

Special teams include a kickoff team, a kick return team, a punting team, a punt return team, a field goal team and a field goal block team

Answer 7

Special teams are units that are on the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, and field goal and extra point attempts. Most special teams players are second- and third-string players from other positions.

Special teams include a kickoff team, a kick return team, a punting team, a punt return team, a field goal team and a field goal block team.

There are also specialized players on these teams, including:

Placekicker (PK)—handles kickoffs and field goal attempts.
Holder—Usually positioned 7-8 yards from the line of scrimmage, he holds the ball for the placekicker to kick. The holder is often a backup quarterback or a punter.
Long snapper—a specialized center who snaps the ball directly to the holder. The long snapper is often a backup tight end.
Kick returner (KR)—returns kickoffs.
Punter (P)—kicks punts.
Punt returner (PR)—returns punts.
Gunner—player on kickoffs and punts who specializes in running down the field very quickly in an attempt to tackle the kick returner or the punt returner.
Wedge Buster—player whose goal is to sprint down the middle of the field on kickoffs. While ideally, their goal is to reach the kick returner, their immediate goal is to disrupt the wall of blockers (the wedge) on kickoffs, preventing the returner from having a lane in which to get a substantial return. Being a wedge buster is a very dangerous position since he may often be running at full speed when coming into contact with a blocker.
Because these aspects of the game can be so different from general offensive and defensive play, a specific group of players is drilled in executing them. Though fewer points are scored on special teams than on offense, special teams play determines where the offense will begin each drive, and thus it has a dramatic impact on how easy or difficult it is for the offense to score.

For the purposes of scoring in fantasy football (American), points scored on special team returns are typically credited to the defense.

Answer 8

It is either the kicking or receiving (or defensive) unit whenever a punt, field goal, extra point, or kickoff occurs. Typically its a mix of players that are reserves for the regular offensive and defensive units.

Answer 9

Special teams simply mean kickers, punters, kick returners, and punt returners.

Answer 10

"Special teams" refers to the kicking and coverage units of a team i.e. extra point, field goal, punt, kickoff, punt return, kickoff return and etc.