Special teams is the part of football parents follow least closely, which is too bad, because it is where games turn.
The five special teams situations you will see in a youth game:
Kickoff: starts each half and follows every score. The kicking team kicks from their own 35 (or wherever the youth league sets it). The receiving team tries to return it as far as possible.
Players are sprinting downfield and blockers are trying to create a lane for the returner. It looks chaotic.
It is not. Everyone has a lane assignment.
Kickoff return: same play from the other side. The returner catches the ball and tries to advance it. If the ball lands in the end zone and the returner does not come out, many youth leagues allow a touchback, which places the ball at the 25 or 20.
Punt: the offense punts on 4th down when they do not think they can convert and do not want to give the other team good field position. The punter kicks the ball downfield. The coverage team runs down to tackle the returner.
Field goal: three points for kicking the ball between the upright posts. At the youth level, this is less common because the kicking skill takes time to develop. Many programs do not attempt field goals until 13-14.
Extra point: after a touchdown, the offense can kick a one-point extra point or run a two-point conversion. The two-point conversion is more common at youth levels where kickers are still developing.
Why coaches care about special teams: field position determines scoring probability in football more than any other single factor. A team that consistently starts drives at their own 40 has a structural advantage over a team starting at their own 15. Special teams is where that margin lives.
If your kid is on the kickoff coverage unit, their job is to stay in their lane and make the tackle. It sounds simple. It is not