Boomer007

Without knowing anything about your players abilities, I'd say keep it simple at first. Use a form of zone blocking (where each lineman calls out his assignment at the LOS). Once you are confident that the linemen understand the basics, and can block well, introduce second level blocking, traps, pulling, and actual sets for indvidual plays. The worst thing you an do is try to install some extreme blocking scheme with linemen that don't know the fundamentals of blocking.

Arrg! The wing-t! In my experience, the wing-t is a very difficult offense to defend, but a great offense to run....sorry, I digress (I just posted about the need of a defense to stop it). Anyway, as a long-time youth football head coach (now on my second "tour" with my youngest son), I would say that most teams do not put their best player at QB. I've also found that until about 5,6 or 7th grade, there is no such thing as a poised youth QB with a rocket arm and pinpoint accuracy. Not to mention that the wing-t is a running offense. The only thing I've really needed out of my QBs is the ability to lead a huddle, and make a clean hand-off (and the ocassional bootleg run). In a Wing-t, the best player is probably going to be the wing. The toughest runner will play FB. Understand too that when you are new on a team, there will be an adjustment period for you, your child and the coaching staff. Just because you think your child is a stud doesn't mean he is. And if he is, it'll take time for the coaches to learn that. I have had many parents tell me how great their child is, and in many cases, they weren't even the best in their position. In the end, good players will show themselves often. If your child is a "stud", then he'll rise to the top. If you have a good coaching staff, then they'll see that and play him where he will help the team most. As for my style, I have no "stars" or "studs" on my team. Only players. Everyone gets the same coaching and the same chances to earn a spot. Sometimes attitude and work ethic beat out talent. At the end of the day, is your child being taught to play the game in a fundamentaly sound, safe and fun way? If so, nothing else really matters and the wins and loses will take care of themselves. Remember, these kids have many years of two and three-a-days filled with screaming coaches ahead of them. Make sure they are having fun now, and learning to play the game the right way.

Hello all, I've read this forum for awhile, and finally decided to sign on and get some input from other youth coaches out there. First, a little back-ground. I am the head coach and defensive coordinator for a 4th grade team. We play in a league that requires players over 90lbs to be "patched", meaning they cannot carry the ball, and must play the line on both sides of the ball. I have coached many of these boys since they began in 2nd grade, and we have made the play-offs both of the past two years. The first year, we were beat 39-16 in the first round by the eventual champion. Then last year, we were beat 13-0 in the first round by the eventual champion. As for our team, we are the biggest team in our conference (21 players on the roster, 8 of which are patched (over 90 lbs)). You would think with a team this big, it would be a youth coaches dream. Well, not so much. Of the 8 patch players, only 3 are athletic and have a love of the game. The other 5 are all over the board in terms of ability: 1 that has the ability, but only exerts himself a few times a game, 1 that is brand new to football and will be a good little player by the end of the season. 2 that are there more for their parents and don't really seem to care one way or another about the game. And finally, my biggest player: 165lb. 5'0". He does next to nothing. Seriously, he will only block the nearest man IF someone else is already blocking him...it's very frustrating. Now, on to my issue: We lost our opening game 39-13 against the second best team in our league. We have a week (well, really only three practices) until we play the best team in our league. They run a wing-t, with a very shifty back. I've had the 5-3 defense installed since our first year, and we consistantly finish in the top three or four teams in the league (12 team league) in defense. HOWEVER, with this years group, we are getting almost nothing from our front 5. I probably made a mistake in putting our two best D-linemen at the ends, with our third best at NT. I'm not convinced a 5-3 can stop the wing-t, and even less convinced we can do it with these big men (boys). I have to play each player a minimum of 15 plays (that includes special teams plays). Is there something I am not doing that could make a 5-3 better against a wing-t? Is a 5-3 even the best option, and if not what can I install in only three practices. I don't mind not winning, it's the lack of effort that frustrates me.