BulldogJim

Rex Ryans 46 defense:  $19.95
Offensive Football Strategies:  $23.95
The complete Guide to Linebacking: $19.95
Football Coaching Bible: $21.95

Getting your butt handed to you:  Priceless.

Few things off the field can prepare you for on the field.  The knowledge that is obtained from the books and videos is useless if you cannot apply them.  Advice from fellow coaches such as Mr. Gregory will take you alot further than the books from the experts.  Unfortunately, few books are written for that level.  Even fewer are worth the cost.  Take the experience you have, add what you learn from watching film of other games and the advice from other coaches.  Stick all that in a bowl, mix it up, throw it in the oven and see what comes out.  Do that over and over.  It will never be done, but as long as it's better, you are cookin something good.

Remember:  The first person to run the Wishbione was a genius.  The last was unemployed.

If you are looking for something for you team to read or watch, I would suggest more inspirational than instructional.  Unless you are a coach, most of the reading or video's would cure insomnia.  I find most of it exciting and insightful, however, I am obsessed with game think of little else.  The average human would rather shop around for car insurance than read a book on football strategies and philosphy.

Just my 1 and 1/2 cents worth.

Playoffs start this week for us!

Go Dawgs!

The youngest division we have is 8 yols or younger and not more than 95 lbs.  My son's first season in our league he was 6, turned 7 after the 7th game of the season.  He is now 12 and is playing his 5th year of tackle.  If they are physically and mantally able to play at that age, why not?

BulldogJim.

If you are going to coach, I would not suggest putting him anywhere.  Gather all the tools you need.  Teach him and work with him as much as possible before the season.  But be very careful as far as decisions on position that you make.

I am a head coach of my sons team.  He also wanted to play a position that I thought he could play.  I worked with him but when it came down to it I made one of my assistant coaches responsible for that area make the decision.  My boy did not get what he wanted, by far,  but rather is playing in a position that he is better suited and that is most benificial to the team: OG.  They tried to throw him a bone by making him center and he did OK.  Just OK.  But I had to overide my OL coach after the 2nd preseason game and pulled a Donald Trump on my son:  Your Fired!  He made the move well and now I run up his backside all day and he takes pride in that.

Do what is best for you and your son on your time.  But do what is best for the team on the teams time.  A Father's blindness can be a tricky thing to judge.  I, just me and my opinion because I do not trust myself, prefer to let others have more of a say when it comes to my son.  He'll make his own way.  That is the beauty of this game.

Congrats!

Keep plugging.  D Book on it's way.

Ryan's son Rex, a very successful Defensive coordinator also wrote a couple of books on his fathers 46. He simplifies it for college and HS levels. However, he spends a great deal of time on pass coverage adjustments as the run adjustments in a 46 are pretty basic and straight forward. More than 60% of the books that I have read will not translate to youth levels. It works great but only when used in conjunction with another scheme. Check out Rex Ryan's books.