Coaches,

Do any of you punt in MM level(7-9)? I don't remember any teams that we played last year punting at all but was thinking that maybe it is something that I should try to implement instead of always going for it on 4th and very long. What has been your experiences with this at this age?

Using a traditional punt formation....very very bad.

Using a quick kick formation....very very good.

You are asking for trouble. But if you choose to go down this scary path I would go with a short snap and a roll out with a rugby kick. And while he is rolling out, just have him run it.  😛
There is just so much that can wrong and how far do you think it could actually be kicked. I have seen more than a few punts at that age end up being downed behind the los.

The one rule in our favor would be that you can't rush any field goals or punts. It sounds like the quick kick/rugby kick would work best. Could the quick kick be done out of the DC UBSW formation?

The one rule in our favor would be that you can't rush any field goals or punts. It sounds like the quick kick/rugby kick would work best. Could the quick kick be done out of the DC UBSW formation?

R

The problem with the no rush punt thingy is nobody is playing football so if the punt return man actually catches it of even fields it quickly he is now at a HUGE advantage. You may as well just go for it.

Quick kicking out of the UBSW would work beautifully and no one knows you are kicking so you will see some pretty good 30-40 yard punts with the roll since no one is deep to return it.

Do it quick and rugby style like Rob suggest....you will need a right footed kicker. Practice it as a group 5 times every single practice. You will be very happy with the results.

I have a film clip I will post up...Super Smurfs quick kicking out of the Beast.

Whose ball is it?

Beats me.  I just know we don't want it.

Thanks for posting the video. Pretty cool and like you said, they don't know it's coming.

We punted a few times. The Punter was allowed to take the snap from under center, back up and then punt. No rushing of punts or field goals/XPs. It was one of the few phases of the game we didnt really have trouble with.

We only punted on 4th down in the opponents end of the field.

Our league doesnt let you rush punts at mitey mite

Pop Warner Mighty Mites you can't rush.  So just have the punter walk up and have the center hand him the ball so it doesn't hit the ground, then he can back up and kick.  We had a little guy that could BOOM them during MM, so used him for great field position.

We used to punt starting in 4th grade.  Complete joke Most punts even unrushed were barely past the secondary.  We now walk off 30 yards and go but, the ball cannot go inside the 20 when you punt.  We start Punting, with no Rush, this year (6th Grade). These kids can get some foot on it.  A punt Must Be Declared in 6th and 7th grade (no Fakes). 8th grade its Katie Bar The Door.    There are no Returns either until 8th grade.  Ball is dead where its caught or comes to rest.  Some teams dont put a return man back. 

PAT are the same way when kicked.  A muff snap can be recovered and placed but one over the head, or wide either direction, is No Good 

A funny story from a few years back.  We did have on 6th grader who could pummel a football.  With a roll he was getting 35 plus Not bad!!  Decent height etc.  The first game of that season we were at our 35 and decided to punt on 4th down.  Kid takes the snap and all you heard was THUMP/WHAP!  The ball is going back over the kids head and we lost 7 yards.  WTF?  Center comes off rubbin his Arse like crazy.  Ball hits foot, ball drills the center a new hole and flies backwards. His dad said he had a Bright Red Point of the foot ball mark an his Arse when they got home.

Such is life in Youth Ball.  Never heard of a Leather Enema until then!!  🙂

The one rule in our favor would be that you can't rush any field goals or punts. It sounds like the quick kick/rugby kick would work best. Could the quick kick be done out of the DC UBSW formation?

If you're playing under rules that don't allow a rush, then dicussion of quick kick, rugby kick, etc. is immaterial.  The next question is whether the defense is allowed to run it back; if not, then discussion of coverage is immaterial too.

If it's no rush, no return, just have the kicker take the snap hand-to-hand (unless your rules require a thrown snap on kick plays), then walk the ball back & out to wherever he has the best chance to get the punt off over the DL who are standing there with their hands up, without the punter's having to take the ball back too far.  If you have a player better at place kicking than anyone you have at punting, then use the place kick instead of the punt.

If it's no rush, but a return is allowed, then spread your team out as they would be for a kickoff.

Our league allows a rush but if you are in a punt formation the D can't cover the center.  We didn't punt much last year (3rd graders), but did need to in a few games.  Lucky for us our punter was also one of our best RBs so we had him kick rugby style and faked it about half of the time. We averaged a net of around 20 yards per punt.

http://www.hudl.com/team/117647/highlights/69769821

This year it looks like we will be able to punt on MM. But if they allow it, it will just be the punter and the ball and where the ball ends up, that is where the offense starts. Previously we just marched off 35 yards.