What is a punt return? A punt return is one of the receiving team’s options to respond to a punt. A player positioned about 35–45 yards from the line of scrimmage (usually a wide receiver or return specialist) will attempt to catch or pick up the ball after it is punted by the opposing team’s punter.
But what are the critical elements of a punt return?
- Catch the ball
- Understanding where you’re at in the field position
- Make the determination to fair catch the ball
- Communication with the team about how the ball was kicked. If the ball either touched one of your teammates or it’s perfectly kicked.