Thom Rainer: Six Pastoral Lessons from a Coach Whose Team Never Punts

If you have followed my writings for any length of time online, you know of my almost rabid enthusiasm for football. College football in particular. And especially the Alabama Crimson Tide.

So when I saw this video online last week, I found Coach Kevin Kelley’s strategy fascinating. I can’t begin to imagine the reaction at Bryant-Denny Stadium if Nick Saban were to go for it on fourth down every time and attempt an onside kick on nearly every kickoff. It likely wouldn’t be pretty.

I realize they are talking about high school football here, but I identified six lessons pastors can learn from Coach Kelley and his unorthodox strategy. Keep reading

In American and Canadian football, the ball is punted downfield to the opposing team, usually on the final down, with the hope of giving the receiving team a field position that is more advantageous to the kicking team when possession changes.

The team in possession of the ball will typically punt the ball to the opposing team when they are on their final down (fourth down in American football, third down in Canadian football), do not want to risk a turnover on downs by not gaining enough yardage to make a first down and are in such a field position that they do not believe they can successfully make a field goal. The purpose of the punt is for the team in possession, or "kicking team", to move the ball towards the opponent's end zone in order to maximize the distance the receiving team must advance the ball in order to score a touchdown when they take possession of the ball.