Sussex Lions Flag Football

Coach’s Manual

 

 

Introduction

 

This manual has been put together as an aid in getting organized and managing a smooth running flag football team. It is a compilation of methods and ideas from a number of former and current coaches.  The type in bold are the questions we asked the coaches, followed by each of their responses.  Their responses are separated by a dotted line.  Use it as a guideline; you do not need to follow these recommendations to the letter. Feel free to modify them to fit your team as you wish. Please be aware that these suggestions can be invaluable and make for a hassle-free season. The methods you utilize can make for a positive atmosphere for you, the players and their parents. Please do not hesitate to contact any member of the flag football committee if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.  The Name’s & Phone number’s of the committee members is on the last page of this booklet.

 

It is very important that you never leave practice until all of the kids are picked up.  We recommend that you stress with the parents that they need to be on time to pick up their children.

 

What should the coach do before the first practice?

 

Get organized. Familiarize himself with the rules and have a summary of the rules for the players/parents.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1. Hold informal coaches/parents/player meeting. Introduce parents & players to coaching staff.

2. Stress the League’s commitment to player safety including guidelines.

2. List equipment that must be supplied by parent including helmet and non-metal football shoes.

3. Provide practice schedule.

4.Emphasize the importance of attending practice, being on time. Notifying coaches if player cannot attend practice.

5. Detail what is expected of players during practice including attentiveness, respect towards players and coaches.

6. Detail code of conduct of players and parents during scrimmages and games.

7. Require parents to provide coaching staff with any medical condition a player may have that could impact his/her health. Require parents to provide emergency contacts including telephone numbers, pagers/cell phone numbers.

8. And don't forget the "treat list"!!!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Attend a required coaches meeting (great to get any issues/concerns addressed up front and that there is mutual agreement). The coaches on a team should also discuss and agree to a plan in running the team.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Make up schedules for games, practices, snacks, chain gang, and referees. Decide on some plays that he/she would like to teach both passing and running.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Meet with the parents and go over the rules and expectations of the parents and kids. Then set the best practice times and answer questions.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Phone the family, introduce themselves and let the parents know the specifics of the practices.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

As soon as the coach gets his roster, he should contact the parents of each player to set up a time and place for the first practice.  If you are practicing at the park or at the high school tell the parents how they can tell which team is yours in case another team is already using the area that you planned to use when you arrive.  Print each players name on stickers that you can put on the helmets.  One on front and one on back works best.  If you do not have stickers, tape that you can write on will also work.  Put together a letter or list of rules that you expect the players and parents on your team follow.  It is also a good idea to let the parents know what they can expect from you and the other coaches.  (Ex.  How you will run practices, how you will discipline the players for bad behavior, how you will choose what positions kids get etc)  Make sure that all of your equipment is in your bag.  Besides the flags, belts, football, and kicking tee that are already in the bag, you will need something to mark a field such as orange cones, or old rags.  It doesn’t need to be fancy but it is important for the players to get use to having sidelines and goal lines right away.  You will also be able to use this for games and races during your practices.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Make the decision and commitment to never yell at a player for screwing up a play.  These are young children, and will not always perform as they have been taught.  Yelling at them will not help them.  Patiently explain to them what they did wrong and how to do it better.  This will get better results than yelling.  Save any yelling that may need to be done for discipline problems.  Making that decision before the season starts will help during the entire year.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

If you already have assistant coaches, figure out where each coach’s strengths are and then split up the responsibilities accordingly.  The head coach is not always the best at calling plays or even teaching plays.  A good leader will designate responsibilities to those best to carry them out.  If you do not have assistant coaches already in place, let the parents know this when you call to notify them that their child is on your team and ask for their help as an assistant coach.  If your knowledge of the game is limited, try to find a parent who has more knowledge and look to them for guidance. There are always people who are willing to help if you just ask.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Meet with all parents together and let them know what your goals are for the kids and what is expected of the boys and parents as the season progresses. (Attendance, cooperation - kids & Parents)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Have information ready to hand out to the parents explaining what is expected of them and their children.  Have nametags ready for the kids to put on their helmets.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Call the kids, tell them what to bring, where they will practice, what to wear and the coaches phone number.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call each child to introduce him/herself and let them know they are looking forward to coaching them

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Review the rules thoroughly.  Including the goals/mission of the league.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Get a team roster together w/ practice & game schedule attached.  Make copies of the rules. Distribute to the parents at the first practice.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Draw a few plays up, and laminate them.  

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Make sure all the equipment is in the bag.  Add a set of at least 4 orange cones so a makeshift field can be used at practice.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Call all members of the team and introduce themselves to the players and the parents. Set up a practice schedule and make  it fit the most amount of players. Tell what is to be expected from the players as far as practice and games.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1.  Handout for parents regarding coaching philosophy, game schedule, practices, snack schedule at games, events, etc.

2.  Have a written plan on what will be worked on in the first practice(s). Be ORGANIZED!!!!

3.  Make sure flags, balls and equipment are in good shape.  Put cones for makeshift field in the team bag. 

 

 

 

 

What things would you recommend a coach cover in the 1st couple of practices?   (All Grades)

 

1. Rules 2. Basic Positions and Formations

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1. Conduct player skills assessment, 40-yard dash, punting, passing, kicking. Identify skill position players.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

#1) Rules   #2) The meaning of "TEAM"   #3) Fundamentals (blocking, flag pulling, etc.)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The fundamentals, team concepts and good sportsmanship.  Good sportsmanship for parents and kids alike.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1. Tell all of the players as a whole what you expect out of them in regards to behavior, effort and attitude.  Also let them know what consequences there will be for bad behavior. (running a lap etc)  Let the players know how you will be selecting what positions each player gets and stress that this is a team sport and that every single position is important.  (You must remember to always treat every position as important during each practice and game.  Many times coaches only concentrate on the running backs and the quarterbacks.) 

      

2. Get kids out on the field with shirts tucked in, flag belts on properly, helmets on and instruct the player to always have their mouth guards in so they get use to them.  (Flags should hang down at sides not in the front or back.  If the belt that the player is using does not fit that way, have them wear a different one.) 

      

3.  Run some races to find out who your speed kids are.   (See section on how to determine what positions each player gets for help with picking your running backs)

      

4. Teach the proper way to block and explain that every player must block no matter what position he/she plays.  (See section on fundamentals) 

      

5. Have kids try out for center position.   (See section on how to determine what positions each player gets)

      

6. Look for quarterback.   (See section on how to determine what positions each player gets)

      

7.  Line the kids up on the line of scrimmage and teach them a few basic plays.  (See section on offensive plays)  Get some parents out on the field as a defensive line so the lineman can practice their blocking and stack the kids that are not on offense on the side that you are running to, even if they are not in a proper defensive position.  This will give them practice at pulling flags and will give the running backs and wide receivers practice at blocking.  This will also give the ball carrier better practice at running around defensive players.  Make sure that the parents who are rushing are aware of how the kids are suppose to block so they can help the blockers with their technique during these plays.

      

8.  Do some drills or games to help with the flag pulling.  (See section on drills)

      

9.  Line up a full defense and teach the kids the responsibilities of each position.  Ask for parent help again to put together an offense.  Have the kids that are not on defense run with the ball and have parents do the blocking.  This will give the defense a better game type situation in which to practice. 

      

10.  Sometime before the first game find someone who can kick and punt and teach the kids what to do on kick-offs and punts from both sides of the ball.  When kicking or punting it is wise to keep one or two kids back in case the ball carrier gets past the rest of the team. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1. Fair clean play - cover sportsmanship rules  2. Offense and defense line-ups  3. Run through fund. to get a feel for the kids level of skill  4. Blocking a tackling drills  5. Keep kids focused - change drills 3-4 times to keep interest.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1) Proper clothing and equipment that they should wear  2) Proper 3 point stance  3) Go over the rules of the game i.e. off sides, holding, etc.  4) Proper positioning of defensive player for pulling flags.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

This is for fun. A lot of hard work goes into the program by coaches, parents and players. Work hard, listen, and do your best - but remember that this is for fun.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Evaluation of skills- speed/running, kicking, punting, receiving, and passing.  Choose quarterback and assign likely offensive positions.  Then, begin putting in basic offensive plays/formations.  Assign defensive positions based on size and speed.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

We did a lot of skill testing to find out who could handle what on the field. We asked what position they wanted to play and why they felt it would help the team for them to play there. We ended every practice with a flag pulling game.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

What things would you recommend a coach cover in the 1st couple of practices?     (1st & 2nd Grade)

 

1. Emphasize attentiveness. 2. Describe the term "offense" and "defense". 3. Describe special teams. 4. How points are scored. 5. Mouth guards required! Helmets snapped during practice. 6. Passing, catching and hand off drills. 7. 3 point stance. 8. Blocking technique. 9. 45 second play clock. 10. "The huddle".

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Get to know the kid's names and let them get to know the coach. Run some drills to see where the kids' strengths are (i.e.: running, passing, kicking, catching, etc).

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Same because you need to make sure the kids are "all on the same page"

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Good sportsmanship, introductions to the basic football drills, and getting a feel for the player’s skill level

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Running, stretching, catching, blocking, listening

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Get them to understand "right" and "left" for offense & defense.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

       

Have a mini- run, pass, & kick contest.  Give each child a chance to compete.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

       

Break down into small groups of 2-3 players each.  Work on various aspects of the game, most importantly the 3-point stance, snapping the ball, blocking, passing, running pass patterns, and kicking.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

       

End each practice with a couple of games of Pom-pom.  This is a big hit with the players!  They learn, through play, how to pursue, run, and grab flags, and understand the field boundaries.  

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

What things would you recommend a coach cover in the 1st couple of practices?     (3rd & 4th Grade)

 

1. Rules 2. Basic Positions and Formations 3. Techniques for tackling, handing off, passing, pass coverage, 4. Responsibilities of each player - for example if the defensive end is supposed to contain he should be instructed that's what is expected of him.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Run drills, find out talent

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

What fundamentals do you feel are most important and how have you taught them in the past?   (All Grades)

 

It is important that the players are taught what they are expected to do and told how to do it. For example, often a player is just told to cover the receiver but not told how he is supposed to do it.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Passing Drill. QB's throw ball 10 yards while on knees. Rotate hips, bring ball up to ear, pass ball while rotating hips forward. Follow through bringing throwing arm across chest. Linemen. 3-point stance. Stress balanced position, feet shoulder width apart. If hand is knocked out, player should not fall forward. Receivers. Look ball into hands. Do not turn and run until solid catch is made. Running backs. Balanced stance. Look straight ahead. Take handoff and accelerate towards hole.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

#1) Flag pulling - we do a flag pulling game at the end of each practice #2) Blocking / Rushing - we do a game to see who is the 1st to get to the QB or if they can protect the QB for "x" seconds

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Playing as a team. Cheering each other on. Grabbing the flags. Getting to know their "job" or position in a play. Learn the basics of flag football. Have fun.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Knowing what all the different positions are and their responsibilities. This is to help reinforce the team concept and to show how important everyone’s position is. Teach the kids the importance of good sportsmanship and respect. Also basic blocking and proper flag pulling.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Blocking, although not the most glamorous job, is the most important job on offense.  If you teach proper blocking, and the players execute the blocks well, almost anyone can run the ball.  Stress that this is a team effort and that the plays can only work if everyone does his/her job.  Explain what will happen if no one blocks.  Keep in mind that in flag, the blockers can cross the line of scrimmage even on a passing play.  Proper blocking technique includes

 

a. On the line ?

Teach your lineman to line up so that there is about an inch between their foot and the foot of the lineman next to them.  This will eliminate them tripping each other and at the same time will keep the gaps small.

Bending the knees (not the back) so that the blocker has a low center of gravity,

Keeping the hips square to the person being blocked (many kids tend to twist their bodies),

Using small steps to get more power,

Keep their knees bent and stay on the balls of their feet so they can easily move to the side to close the gaps that the defense will try to rush through.

Getting their body in between the rusher and the ball carrier and have them push the opposite way the play is going,

Never blocking in the back and not getting his/her arms up near the neck or head of the opponent.

      

b. Blocking while running in open field ?

Just before contacting the opponent, bend the knees a little, make contact with the opponent at the chest level and then push with a little bit of upward pressure to take away the opponents center of gravity (make sure that they do not push their arms up to the throat as this is dangerous and illegal)

Position your body so it is between the ball carriers route and the opponent.

Never blocking in the back, (you can only block in the front or side of opponent)

Not getting his/her arms up near the neck or head of the opponent

 

On defense shedding a block and going around blockers is a big key.  One of the first things that the kids need to be taught is that they do not have to come in contact with a blocker if there is a quick way around them.  Many kids have a tendency to want to block the offensive player.  Let them know that their goal is to be on the other side of the blocker so they can pursue the ball carrier.  If they cannot get around the blocker quickly, then they need to go through him/her. 

      

When rushing from the line of scrimmage, teach them to go between the blockers if possible.

Remind them often that they can use their hands as long as they are not holding on to the opponent.  Teach them to have their arms extended out with their elbows bent some when they come into contact with the blocker.  This way they can keep the blocker from pushing them with their arms and will still be able to push away or to the side because their arms are not straight.  Show them that by moving a little to the side while pushing the blocker in the same general direction as the blocker is going they can often use the blockers momentum against them.  Also let them know that sometimes pushing the blocker into the path of the ball carrier will make the ball carrier change directions and make it possible for a teammate to grab the flag.  Tell them the importance of always looking for who has the ball so they know where they want to be on the field.

      

When being blocked while running in the open field, it is important to keep the blocker as far away from their body as possible using their hands outstretched if front of them.  Remind them that their goal is to get past the blocker and to the ball carrier.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1.  Blocking - work with 1 on 1 drills and use parents as defense when running full offense 

2. Center to qb exchange - most critical at all ages have more than one qb and center work each practice 

3 flag drills on defense using

4 corner drill and return drills.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I stress defense so I try to impress upon the kids to position themselves and get in front of the ball carrier so they make the runner have to slow down and also that gives them the option to pull either flag.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Blocking, stance - By practicing them a lot

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Good sportsmanship Playing fair and listening - Respect for coaches, refs, parents and towards ALL other players

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Blocking. We tried to do a lot of 1 on 1 and 2 on 2 blocking drills to teach the kids to take the person you are trying to block in the direction you wanted him or her to go. Flag Pulling. We tried to teach them to slow the runner down and turn them inside to get some help instead of trying to pull the flag from the side. Catching a Pass. Tried to teach thumbs together if the pass is high and pinkies together if the pass is low.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1.  Blocking, blocking, blocking!!!!! We use one on one drills of players similar size.  Teach each player technique for blocking.  Then, put it together in a line.  Also, cannot forget to teach QB and RB to block as they are often lead blockers coming around an end. 

2.  Flag pulling- we did a game at each practice where we set up a small area using cones about 4 yards by 8 yards (to begin with).  One player carries the ball and the other tries to come forward and pull the flag (ie. one-on-one).  We then expand this to 2 on 2, 2 on 3 and 3 on 3,  making the width of the field slightly larger with more players.  This way, there is also a lead blocker for the runner, so blocking is refined as is flag-pulling.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

What fundamentals do you feel are most important and how have you taught them in the past?      (1st & 2nd Grade)

 

Passing plays, if the receiver can catch. Hands off the ball more than once during a play. Go around the sidelines vs. straight down the middle of the field.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Stance - step by step

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The most important thing to point out is the team concept.  Pointing out to them why a practice place succeeds.  Compliment the players often, especially the offensive line.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

What types of plays on offense have you found to be most successful?     (All Grades)

 

QB Run Right/Left and RB Run Right/Left

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Basic plays from the pro-set formations. If everyone started with the same basic formations as a foundation to their plays then the kids could be more prepared for learning additional plays every year instead of starting from scratch every year. The most successful plays seemed to be the misdirection plays.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Running around the end is one of the more popular plays and can be very effective if the blocking is done well.  You may want to line up two or three wide receivers to the side you are running for additional blocking.  By doing this several times, you can also set the defense up to expect the run to go that way every time you line up that way.  This can make a bootleg, reverse or pass back across the backfield a very effective play because the defense will be cheating to the strong side. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

       

Another good play is a short pass to a lineman in the defensive backfield.  A fake run to the outside before the pass is very helpful on this type of play.  Passing to the lineman is also a great way to give them a chance to carry the ball.  This type of play works especially well when you only need a few yards.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1. Outside sweeps  2. Mis-direction 3. Rollout passes

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Mis-direction - It seems that most kids on defense will flow in the direction that the ball carrier has initially gone - so when the ball is reversed it catches them off guard

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

We actually had success by "mixing up" our offensive plays.  We used misdirection (reverses and fake handoffs), runs up the middle, and the common runs around the end.  These were done by RBs and the QB (reverses by WRs).  Then, we would do some basic pass plays- screens, down-and-outs, and crosses.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Sweeps and short passes. Also worked alot with motion on the skill players.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

What types of plays on offense have you found to be most successful?     (1st & 2nd Grade)

 

Misdirection, reverse.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Running

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1.  Simple sweeps to the left & right.  The team worked out of the shotgun formation.  This worked well, as it neutralized the other team's big defensive playmakers if they lined up over the center. It was very effective.  We had fewer bad snaps than the teams that took the snap under center.

 

2.  Reverses - a favorite with the players - very exciting play

      

3.  Simple 3-5 step roll outs, then pass to a receiver running a buttonhook to the same side of the field.  Surprisingly high percentage of completions.  We were frustrated by other pass routes which were difficult at times to execute. 

 

What types of plays on offense have you found to be most successful?    (3rd & 4th Grade)

 

Running and passing

 

 

What types of defense have you found to be most successful?

(All Grades)

 

Man-to-man at cornerback / (3) Linebackers / everyone else on the line

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

A 5-3-3 or a 6-2-2

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stress that it is a team effort just like offense and that every job is important.  It is a natural instinct in the kids to go towards the ball.  It is very important to have some players stay to the opposite side of the field as the play is going to protect against reverses and such.  Your challenge will be to find the players who have enough discipline and patient to play in those spots.  (Usually a defensive end or the corner back)  Be sure to praise them during the game every time that a reverse is run and they were still in their position.  It will help them with the discipline necessary to do their job.

      

It is important to have a player responsible to turn any outside runs back to the middle of the field.  Like the player that will stay home to guard against reverses, this takes patience and discipline.  The best way that I found to teach the kids the importance of this is to line them up in their position and have them look toward the sideline.  Ask them how many teammates they see.  Then have them look toward the middle of the field.  Ask how many teammates they see now.  Then explain that the most important part of their job is to turn the play into the rest of their team so that if they miss the flag, someone else can pull it.  Let them know that even if they get blocked, if they were able to turn the play in, they did their job GREAT.  Be sure to praise them during the game for doing that.  It will help them with the discipline necessary to do their job

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

1. Aggressive rush by front line  2. Strong players on ends or corners  3. Fast players as safety

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

We played alot of standard defense without a whole lot of blitzes. We had 10 on the field at a time so we had 3 on the line with 4 linebackers 2 corners and a safety. We used the outside linebackers to contain and the inside to cover or run down the backs.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Basic formation of four defensive lineman, two cornerbacks to contain, two outside linebackers who usually blitzed from the end at the snap, two middle linebackers, and one safety.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

What types of defense have you found to be most successful?

 (1st & 2nd Grade)

 

       5-2 with 2 defensive backs. Although during a game situation it seems you are placing players towards the strength of the offense covering holes from the success of the previous play.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Block your man. Watch where the ball is going or which team members move.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

All on line except 3-4 players as linebackers

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

5 X 2 zone

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

We played basically a zone defense.  The players have a tendency to chase all over the field, and on cutback plays, the other team would get a huge gain or a touchdown.  With the players generally responsible for an area of the field, we were more organized on defense.  Also, it always kept a defensive player in the area of where a pass may be thrown, so we always had a chance to defend them.  We played 3 down linemen, 3 linebackers, 2 cornerbacks, 2 safeties.   

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

What types of defense have you found to be most successful?

(3rd & 4th Grade)

 

1. 7-8 man all out rush - create confusion in backfield  2. Corners stay home - linebackers contain sweeps  3. 1 man safety - usually fastest player on team

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

4 X 4 man on man

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

How do you determine what positions each player gets?

 

Based on the first couple of practices, a players skills must fit the position he's put into.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

First 1 or 2 practices are 'secretly' run as try-outs to determine which positions each individual excels at. I also make a point to know what each players "wish" is and I make sure that they get to play that position at some point in the season (for example, play QB at the end of a game if we're winning).

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Determine speed and agility, ability to throw, catch or kick during first couple of practices.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I ask what position they played last, which position they would like to play and then evaluate all the players. All the kids have a primary position on offense and defense. When they learn their primary position the they earn more playing time at their secondary position (which is usually a position they want to try).

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~