Holders and Returners: The Overlooked Special Teams Jobs

By 4Football Staff · October 9, 2026 · 10 min read

Holders place the ball for kicks and returners catch punts and kickoffs. A look at both jobs, the skills they require, the rules that apply, and the other unsung roles around them.

Special teams get a few seconds of attention on television and a long list of footnotes in the rulebook. Kickers and punters get the credit when a kick goes well. But two other groups of players decide whether the play works at all, and they rarely make the highlight reel unless something goes wrong.

One group sits on the ground a few yards behind the line, takes a snap in a moment, and turns a spinning football into a perfectly placed target. The other waits far downfield, alone, watching a ball come down from the sky while eleven opponents sprint toward him. Holders and returners are the connective tissue of the kicking game, and each job carries a surprising amount of skill.

This article covers both: what they do, how they train, what rules apply to them, and the related roles that fill out a special teams unit.

The holder: the person who makes the kick possible

On field goals and extra points, the holder kneels on one knee about seven yards behind the line of scrimmage, catches the snap, and places the ball upright on the ground for the kicker. The sequence takes a fraction of a second. If everything goes right, the kicker never has to adjust. If the hold is off by even a small amount, the kick can fail.

The holder has to do several things at once.

• Catch the snap cleanly. The snap arrives quickly, sometimes off target. The holder must handle high, low and wide snaps without losing time.
• Spot the ball in the right place. Before each kick, the kicker marks a spot on the ground or points to it, and the holder places the ball there. The kicker's steps are measured from that exact location.
• Set the laces. In a placekick the ball is usually placed with the laces facing away from the kicker, toward the goal posts, so the kicker's foot meets a smooth surface. Holders learn to find the laces as the ball arrives.
• Tilt and angle the ball. Some kickers want the ball angled slightly toward or away from them. Holders adapt to each kicker's preference.
• Hold it still. A holder presses a finger on top of the ball so it stays steady as the kicker approaches. The finger is removed as the kicker's foot arrives.

Holders and kickers practice together nearly every day, because the two rely on a shared rhythm. A kicker who has a regular holder develops a feel for exactly how long the hold takes. If the holder changes, even a good kicker may need time to adjust.

Who usually holds

On many NFL and college teams the holder is the punter, since punters catch snaps all the time. On others, a backup quarterback holds, because quarterbacks are comfortable handling a football and often have good hands. Some holders are the kicker's roommate or close friend, a fact that tells you how much time they spend together. At smaller schools the holder might be whoever is most reliable.

A holder is also a decision maker on some plays. If the snap is bad, the holder can pick up the ball and run or throw, though fakes planned in advance are more common than improvisation. Coaches sometimes call fake field goals as trick plays. The holder usually has the option to take off if the kick cannot be made, and the rulebook treats the play as a normal scrimmage play from that point. For more about trick plays, you can read about fake punts and trick plays, which covers the same logic.

When the hold goes wrong

The most common holding problems are simple. The holder catches the ball late and places it too slowly. The ball is not upright. The laces face the wrong way. The ball wobbles or moves as the kicker approaches. A kicker can often compensate for small errors, but a larger one leads to a miss. Because a kicker's confidence depends on trusting the hold, a team that struggles with the operation may change holders just as often as it changes snappers.

The returner: catching in traffic

Return specialists have two main assignments: catching punts and fielding kickoffs. Sometimes the same player does both, and sometimes different players split the roles.

Returners are usually fast, elusive players who have the vision to find running room and the toughness to take hits. Many are also wide receivers, running backs or defensive backs. The job requires two skills that are not always found together: hands that can catch a ball in difficult conditions, and the ability to run through a crowd after the catch.

Punt returners

A punt returner stands deep, often around where the ball is likely to land, and watches the kick. He has several decisions to make as the ball descends.

1. Catch or let it go? If the ball is likely to bounce into the end zone for a touchback, the returner may let it go. If it is likely to roll and give the kicking team a chance to recover, he may try to catch it. A ball that hits the ground is live, so letting it bounce is a gamble.
2. Fair catch or return? If defenders are too close, the returner can signal a fair catch by raising one arm above his head and waving it. He then cannot run, but he is protected from contact. If he sees room, he can catch and run.
3. Which direction? Punt coverage teams fan out across the field, and the returner chooses a lane based on their positions and the blockers in front of him.

The most important skill is ball security. A dropped punt is a turnover waiting to happen, and a muffed punt can lead to points for the opponent. Coaches teach returners to track the ball with their eyes all the way into their hands, to catch it away from the body, and to protect it with both hands and arms after the catch.

Rules protect returners who signal for a fair catch. The kicking team must allow an opportunity to make the catch. Interfering with that chance results in a penalty, typically 15 yards, though the exact penalty varies by level. This rule and others on punts are covered in our overview of punt returns; see punt return schemes for how teams plan the blocking.

Kickoff returners

A kickoff returner catches the ball near his own goal line and tries to bring it back toward midfield. The blocking schemes used for kickoff returns have been reshaped by rule changes in recent years, particularly in the NFL, so the specifics vary. The returner's basic job is the same: catch cleanly, decide whether to run or take a touchback when the ball lands in or near the end zone, and follow the blocks.

The decision about a touchback is not simple. If a returner catches a kick in the end zone, he must decide whether to run it out or kneel. The spot of a touchback differs by level and has changed over time. A returner who runs the ball out from deep in the end zone risks being tackled inside the 20 and giving the offense a short field. The right choice depends on how much room he sees, the score and the clock. See kickoff return schemes for the formations that teams use.

The qualities of a good returner

Returners share a handful of qualities:

• Reliable hands in all conditions, including wind, rain and bright lights.
• Vision to read the coverage team and see where blockers are creating space.
• Patience to let a return develop instead of running into traffic.
• Burst to accelerate through a gap.
• Courage, since the returner is often hit by players running at full speed.
• Ball security. A returner who fumbles repeatedly will lose his job quickly.

The best returners also understand situations. On the last play of a half, for instance, a returner may try for a big play. Late in a close game, he may choose safety. Coaches teach those distinctions through film study and practice.

Other overlooked jobs on the kicking teams

Holders and returners are not the only specialists who keep the kicking game running. Several roles appear on punt and kick units that fans rarely notice.

Terminology varies by team and by level, and a few of these jobs have changed because of rule revisions. Some of these players are starters on offense or defense who also play special teams, while others are special-teams-only players. A roster spot on the 53-man active roster often goes to someone whose main value is on these units. Our teams pages list rosters, and you can search for players by position in the players section.

A field goal try, step by step

Imagine a hypothetical field goal attempt in a close game, and follow the holder through it.

1. The kicking team lines up. The holder kneels at his spot, extends his hands toward the long snapper, and tells the kicker the ball will be ready when he is.
2. The kicker walks off his steps from the spot the holder is about to use. The holder watches him, because his hands have to be where the kicker expects them.
3. The snapper sends the ball back. The holder has a window of well under a second to catch it, turn the laces to the front, and set the point of the ball on the grass.
4. The holder pins the top of the ball with one finger. The kicker's foot arrives, and the holder takes the finger away at the last instant.
5. If the snap was poor, the holder makes a decision: set the ball anyway and hope, or pick it up and try to run or throw for the first down or a score.

Notice that the holder is making decisions at every step, and nearly all of them are invisible to a television viewer. A holder who is calm and accurate gives the kicker confidence. A holder who is rushed makes the kicker's job harder.

Reading return statistics

Return numbers look simple but need context. Common ones include the number of returns, total return yards, average yards per return, longest return and touchdowns. Some points to keep in mind:

• Average per return depends on the choices around it. A returner who calls for a fair catch often will have fewer returns and a different average than one who returns nearly every punt.
• Fumbles and muffs matter. A returner with a good average but several turnovers may cost his team more than he gains. Check fumbles alongside yards.
• Blocking and coverage play a big part. A strong return can reflect the blockers more than the returner, and a weak one can reflect poor blocking.
• Kickoff rules shift the numbers. Because kickoff rules have changed more than once, comparing return stats from different periods can mislead.

You can look up current return numbers on our leaders pages and compare returners on their player pages.

The rules that matter to these roles

Several rules shape what holders and returners can do.

• A fair catch is a no-run signal. The signal is a raised arm waved from side to side. Once it is given, the returner may not advance, and the kicking team may not hit him.
• Muffed balls. If a returner touches a punt and does not catch it, the ball is live. Either team may recover it, with some restrictions that depend on the level.
• Blocking rules for returns. Blocking on kick returns is regulated more tightly than on ordinary plays, with limits on blocks from behind and low blocks. The specifics change by level and by year.
• Protection of the kicking unit. Rules protect players who are in vulnerable positions during a kick, and contact aimed at the kicker or holder can be penalized. Check the rulebook for the specific language in your league.

If you want to see these rules in action, our Play section offers beginner-friendly explanations of the basics, and the rulebook for your level is the final word.

Developing the skills

Holding and returning are learned through repetition. Holders practice catching and placing the ball hundreds of times, often with a partner who snaps at different speeds and heights. They work on the exact angle of the ball and the pressure of the finger on top. Returners practice catching punts from a machine that launches balls at different heights and spins. They work on catching with the eyes, running routes after the catch, and securing the ball.

At lower levels, these jobs are sometimes assigned to whoever is available, and the quality of special teams varies widely. Coaches who invest time in them can gain a field position advantage that is easy to underestimate. A single muffed punt or botched hold can change a game, and a returner who delivers one big return can swing momentum.

The short version

• The holder catches the snap and places the ball for a field goal or extra point. Speed, accuracy and a steady finger on the ball are critical.
• Holders are often punters or backup quarterbacks, and they practice daily with the kicker.
• Returners catch punts and kickoffs and decide whether to return, fair catch or let the ball go.
• Ball security is the returner's first duty.
• A fair catch is signaled by waving one raised arm, and the kicking team must give the returner a chance to catch.
• Gunners, personal protectors, jammers and wedge blockers fill out the kicking units.
• Rules change by level, so check your own league's rulebook for details.