41 replies to this topic

[rlwjr]

I can't remember where I read it, cause I've been reading so much FB stuff lately, but this is an interesting play that I think would work.......

Tell your QB to pick a DB to throw DIRECTLY AT...... just like he's throwing it to the DB. Then you have the end run a pattern that takes him right in front of the DB that is targeted. Most youth DB's, when they see the ball coming right for them, will sit and wait for the ball to get there. Your receiver runs right across his face and catches the ball on the run in front of a flat-footed DB.

I haven't tried it yet, since we just started practice yesterday, but I'm dieing to try this in practice to see how well it'll work!

[Coach Rob]

There are some exceptions, like Coach Rob's current league but most of them do not.

Before they allowed the QB to run in our league, we'd have someone make a quick pitch to our reg QB giving them the option to run at that point.

From what I could tell, just about every team would send a rusher every play.

We only ran into a few teams that decided not to rush on a consistent basis. Not a smart idea. You get detroyed if you don't send a rusher 95% of the time unless you have a stellar defense against the pass.

The offense has two choices. Either get your play off quickly, before the rush is a factor, or try to have your qb juke the rusher and buy time. It seems to me the best teams would do the former, executing quick strike plays.

From watching the 12-14 age group, the receivers can fly down the field faster and the QBs seem more adept at scrambling. The 6-10 y/o group needs more of the quick strike play strategy. Teaching our kids to be "actors" on the fakes paid big dividends on our misdirection plays. You don't have a lot of time with a rusher coming full speed, so any time you can buy with a fake helps a lot.

CRob

[Husker Fan]

I'm also having trouble getting the kids out of the huddl efast enough. What I do is show each kid thir position (I have them color coded),and give them a quick run down on what I want them to do. I switch up players almost every play to spread the ball around. Should I just assign each kid one position for a whole drive? That's what I'm thinking of doing from now on.

Texas,
The first year I coached I did what you are doing - moving kids between positions, but I usually did it between games and not during. However, I still ran into the issues you note and issues with running the right route etc. during the play and just executing the play the way it should have been. This last year, I assigned each player a position/color (I also use the color technique for positions) which they had for most of the season and was much more successful. I did change centers out at mid-season and had 3 QB, so when one wasn't playing QB he had a set receiver slot. In my playbookook (see the playbook link), it may look like I have a lot of plays, but I have many of the same plays that just go to different players. So, I may have 4 inside reverses, but they go to different positions/players and attack different parts of the fields. Same thing with the passing attack. Each position hasv arious routes and attack different parts of the field. That allowed me to distribute the ball to every player on the team during a game and attack the part of the field I needed to. By keeping them in the same positions/color and practicing these, I only had to flash the play to them in the huddle and they were ready to go. We were probably the quickest team in and out of huddles in the league.

For my passing plays, I designate a primary reciever and that is what the QB is looking for. Takes some of the uncertianty out of the equation. If that reciever is not open I made sure they understood that they did not have to throw it and it was better to get another offensive play than an interception. I was fortunate in that I had QBs that understood the game and this concept. Also, as they developed they began to be able to look for alternate recievers if the pass was too dangerous. However, I found that most of the time the primary reciever is open and it is a matter of QB experience and patience that is the key. For example, letting the pattern develop and the player clear of traffic instead of throwing too quick and into traffic.

Can't wait until the fall season is here again!
Husker Fan

[Johnp2]

Most of the 5 on 5 leagues do not allow the quarterback to run. There are some exceptions, like Coach Rob's current league but most of them do not. Typical I-9 and NFL flag rules allow any number of rushers if they start the play 7 yards back from the los. The referee places a bean bag to mark the spot. Once the ball is snapped, if you began the play behind the marker you can rush. In turn the qb cannot run. From what I could tell, just about every team would send a rusher every play. The offense has two choices. Either get your play off quickly, before the rush is a factor, or try to have your qb juke the rusher and buy time. It seems to me the best teams would do the former, executing quick strike plays.

I guess I can see this. I can only assume because there are fewer defenders on the field, that they are trying to give the defense an advantage. We played a seven on seven game this season (our opponent was a player short so we went with seven also) and I was amazed at the "room" we had on offense. It was our most productive offensive game, and I thought about you boys on here playing 5 vs. 5. I assume they are very offensive-minded leagues---and I loves me some offense. ;-)

Orange, you would LOVE having eight defenders on the field. I faced some pretty stingy defenses. For some reason last season (6-8) was a full-throttle offensive league, but this season (8-9) those kids learned to play some defense. We had one of the most aggresive defenses in the league. Our weakness was the "best player on offense". We had trouble stopping speed.

[Texas_D_Coach]

Well I haven't updated in a couple of weeks so I figured I would let everyone know how we are doing.

We have finally settled in to a rythm on offense. We have a fixed QB and C, and a RB who plays that position most of the time. We let the rest of the kids rotate in as WR or RB.

After losing our 1st 4 games we finally won one this last weekend. Funny story too, as we went up 20-6 on the other team by halftime and their HC was going berserk screaming at the Ref about bad calls (and one of his parents who was helping run the chains got kicked out of the game for mouthing off to the ref too). We ended up winning 26-14 and I thanked the ref after the game for his services and for doing a good job despite the jerk coaching the other team.

The kids are all getting ball touches so they are happy.

My DC was out of town the 2nd and 3rd game, and running the team all by myself was ######. There is no time to think much less make adjustments on defense and offense. At least for me having a DC is the only way to go. He sees things I don't see and vice versa. It definitely makes our team better having 2 coaches.

We have 1 more game and then the playoffs. I'm excited about how the season is turning out.

[rushbuster70]

Well I haven't updated in a couple of weeks so I figured I would let everyone know how we are doing.

We have finally settled in to a rythm on offense. We have a fixed QB and C, and a RB who plays that position most of the time. We let the rest of the kids rotate in as WR or RB.

After losing our 1st 4 games we finally won one this last weekend. Funny story too, as we went up 20-6 on the other team by halftime and their HC was going berserk screaming at the Ref about bad calls (and one of his parents who was helping run the chains got kicked out of the game for mouthing off to the ref too). We ended up winning 26-14 and I thanked the ref after the game for his services and for doing a good job despite the jerk coaching the other team.

The kids are all getting ball touches so they are happy.

My DC was out of town the 2nd and 3rd game, and running the team all by myself was ######. There is no time to think much less make adjustments on defense and offense. At least for me having a DC is the only way to go. He sees things I don't see and vice versa. It definitely makes our team better having 2 coaches.

We have 1 more game and then the playoffs. I'm excited about how the season is turning out.

Good luck with the rest of the season...I myself prefer to call everything myself.I have my brother help me out and hes awesome about this.He looks for things then will let me know, but I will make all the calls on offense & defense.(lol i know i'm selfish)

[pointyfootball]

Good luck with the rest of the season...I myself prefer to call everything myself.I have my brother help me out and hes awesome about this.He looks for things then will let me know, but I will make all the calls on offense & defense.(lol i know i'm selfish)

That's because you're a control freak like I am! I think it's just because we know what our kids can do and what we want, so it's hard to trust someone enough to give them that control. What you do is kind of what I did last year and I really liked it b/c I had the best handle on what each of the kids could do and how I wanted to attack offensively & defensively.

This year I'm going to TRY and pass off some of the responsibility, just because I also coach 2 soccer teams and might have to miss a football game or two. My plan is to have a DC and also have a parent who is helping me by watching the other team's D and what they're doing.

[rushbuster70]

That's because you're a control freak like I am! I think it's just because we know what our kids can do and what we want, so it's hard to trust someone enough to give them that control. What you do is kind of what I did last year and I really liked it b/c I had the best handle on what each of the kids could do and how I wanted to attack offensively & defensively.

This year I'm going to TRY and pass off some of the responsibility, just because I also coach 2 soccer teams and might have to miss a football game or two. My plan is to have a DC and also have a parent who is helping me by watching the other team's D and what they're doing.

Haha I'm somewhat of a control freak.But your definitely right.I'm all about playing the kids to the best of there ability.I know what they can do because of things we do in practice.So thats why I prefer to make the calls and make things work.This season may be different because of having my old assistant coach come work with me.He may run the defense but i'm not sure yet.We will see.I'm just ready for the season to get started and get the fun going though.Luckily I have my QB coming back from last season.The best pure QB I have ever had.He's a lefty and can toss the ball the length of the field easily while reading field.I taught him to read half of the field left to right.He picked it up so easily and is going to be an awesome QB when he gets older

[Texas_D_Coach]

That's because you're a control freak like I am! I think it's just because we know what our kids can do and what we want, so it's hard to trust someone enough to give them that control. What you do is kind of what I did last year and I really liked it b/c I had the best handle on what each of the kids could do and how I wanted to attack offensively & defensively.

This year I'm going to TRY and pass off some of the responsibility, just because I also coach 2 soccer teams and might have to miss a football game or two. My plan is to have a DC and also have a parent who is helping me by watching the other team's D and what they're doing.

Haha I'm somewhat of a control freak.But your definitely right.I'm all about playing the kids to the best of there ability.I know what they can do because of things we do in practice.So thats why I prefer to make the calls and make things work.This season may be different because of having my old assistant coach come work with me.He may run the defense but i'm not sure yet.We will see.I'm just ready for the season to get started and get the fun going though.Luckily I have my QB coming back from last season.The best pure QB I have ever had.He's a lefty and can toss the ball the length of the field easily while reading field.I taught him to read half of the field left to right.He picked it up so easily and is going to be an awesome QB when he gets older

I understand the total control thing, but here's my perspective. I let all of the dad's help coach during practice. That way they see first hand what we're doing, and they also see first hand who has speed, catching ability, throwing ability, etc. When it comes to gametime I make all of the decisions, but I know I have everyone's buy in because they've seen everything in practice. That way during the game if certain kids touch the ball more than others, they understand why (although I try to get every kid ball touches). Having those extra pairs of eyes help me out immensely because I have a tendency sometimes to get tunnel vision and only concentrate on what my players are doing rather than what the other team is doing.

It's working for me so far. Everything is a work in progress so it's nice to hear everyone's methods and why they like it. That's why this forum is so great.

[rushbuster70]

Texas Coach

I totally see your point of view.Trust me we keep count of all the touches each kid gets...We usually have a coaching staff of at least 3 and we have had up to 5 coaches.So we all know what to expect of the kids and each other.

I definitely see were your coming from though.

[Texas_D_Coach]

New season new problem.

This spring season I've got 2 kids playing QB on our team. One of them started out doing really well at the beginning of the season, but has really digressed the last couple of games. The first 2 games he was excited, and really leading the team, telling people where to go, what to do, a real vocal leader). The last couple of games he seems to have shut down, and I'm not sure why. He is the more accurate of the 2, and I have been pushing him to make sure not to throw interceptions (I tell him to keep looking for an open reciever and not just throw it up for grabs), and to make quicker decisions on his throws (there have been several instances where we had guys open streaking down the field and he would not throw it to them, and intead kept looking for a shorter reciever to get open). He also makes poor decisions when blitzed.

My fear is that I have scared him into not throwing the ball and just letting it fly every now and then.

My second QB has a little bit stronger arm, but his footwork is not nearly as good as the other kid, and he is not as acurrate, but he doesn't get as panicked at the blitz.

Should I back off of them a little and tell them to just go for it, or should I keep trying to coach them to be careful and protect the ball. I am torn here.

[rushbuster70]

Texas,

I have 2 QB's also...My first QB is amazing.Kid can do everything you want from a QB.However sometimes he gets a little wild and will make bad decisions.He sounds like your QB a little...Basically what I do to control is have him make sure he knows the primary WR is on the play and who his check down WR is on the play.If he knows where those 2 are then he will be fine.Again I usually do this after he has thrown an INT or he is a little rattled.It usually calms him down and gets things back into place for him...