Help! Coaching Youth Football This Year

#1
vol66

vol66

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#1
I'm looking for some good reviews of coaching material, i.e. books, dvd's etc...Can anyone make any recommendations? Specifically, regarding basic fundamentals of QB play, like center/qb exchange, qb footwork etc...age group 10 yrs...thanks.
 
#2
#2
P-M-B-9780470084632-BEPDF.jpg
 
#3
#3
Don't overcomplicate it. You need 5 or 6 runs and 2 or 3 pass plays and that's it.

If you're really unsure what to do, you can find a ton of stuff on YouTube as far as drills and instruction.
 
#4
#4
I haven't coached at that level, but I see many coaches get overly enamored with their systems at those ages when individual skills are far more meaningful to the players in the long run. JMO.
 
#5
#5
If they can line up right and know the play. You are doing a damn fine job in youth football.
 
#7
#7
GAVol said:
Don't overcomplicate it. You need 5 or 6 runs and 2 or 3 pass plays and that's it.
Click to expand...

Volst53 said:
If they can line up right and know the play. You are doing a damn fine job in youth football.
Click to expand...

Never coached but this is really good advice. The only thing I would add is make sure they are having fun!
 
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#8
#8
Make sure you have good line coaches. Basic formations, go power formations in youth football.

Lots of tosses stuff like that.
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#10
#10
To me, here's what it comes down to. Figure out the necessary fundamentals for each position and get EVERYONE on board as much as possible. And do this by breaking down each skill to its most basic component and teach constantly.

The reason I say the first part is that you never know who has certain skills that might be overlooked because of certain biases. Chances are good that if you see a large player, he would be stuck on the line. There's nothing wrong with teaching him how to carry the ball; heck, you might discover an unusually nimble ballcarrier who's a load to bring down. Or you might discover a slow but quick small guy who can be an excellent center.

As far as systems go, go as basic as possible that has versatility for the present and the future. Personally I'd look at something like the most basic I-formation, with one type of motion for each position.

I can't stress this enough: make sure you have someone coaching the offensive line who can explain the "why" in addition to "how".
 
#11
#11
Find your best athlete, put him in the shotgun and tell everybody to block the man in front of you. I watched a team absolutely demolish eveybody they played with this Meyeresque attack.

Seriously though, just keep it very simple. We ran the Power T way back when.
 
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#12
#12
vol66 said:
I'm looking for some good reviews of coaching material, i.e. books, dvd's etc...Can anyone make any recommendations? Specifically, regarding basic fundamentals of QB play, like center/qb exchange, qb footwork etc...age group 10 yrs...thanks.
Click to expand...

Take a look at this DVD from John Booty.

His sons have played at the DI level and in the NFL.
 
#13
#13
I'd run a simple I-formation and a wildcat set with your best runner taking the snap. If your best runner can throw the ball as well put in a halfback pass.

Defensively I'd run a 4-4.

If they can do the fundamentals well you will do well.
 
#14
#14
Sorry I'm a month behind. :)

I've coached 9/10s the last two years and going on my 3rd year (no kids, just love coaching).

Dave Cisar at Youth Football Plays and Playbook is an excellent source. I run similar things to what he does and use his materials as a guide. Our league prevents us from doing a few things he does, but overall he presents things very well.

QB footwork, play, and throwing can be tricky at this age. Honestly, I prefer not do deal with it. While they're certainly important as they grow older, I found that trying to teach some of those concepts to a 9 or 10 year old gets the kid thinking about a lot of stuff outside of just playing football. Cisar eliminates the position by using single wing football.

My first year at this level I ran double wing and pro set formations. Double wing was QB footwork intensive. Seeing as we can only practice two/three times a week, I began moving more to the pro set.

If you're dead serious about coaching quarterbacks past this age, you might consider Darin Slack's videos for quarterback play. Some great stuff there, but a lot of his material would be over the head of 9/10s. But, if you're looking to drill in concepts of footwork and arm motion, that's the source without a doubt.
 
#18
#18
When my nephew was 6 his team only had 3 or 4 plays. He told the coach they were going to lose unless he added some more plays and started throwing the ball.
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#19
#19
My kids have only had two practices so far...one in pads one without. We're allowed to practice 3 times a week through this month and we'll start ramping that up this week.

Saturday's practice looked pretty good, even without my projected starters at the running back positions (I basically use two running backs and two fullbacks...no quarterbacks per say in the single wing). I've just got a ton of speed.

Two years ago I ran the double wing and throught I was doing pretty good with two nice wingbacks and decent sub and a good fullback. The fullback went down with a broken rib and my sub became the starter there. My new sub at running back was terrible to put it nicely.

Last year, using the single wing, I had 3 good backs and 3 decent ones...but of the six only one had really good speed.

This year, holy cow. I've got four or five kids with that really good speed and two more really good boys to plug in at the fullback spots. I'm looking at plugging in some spread "jet sweep" before the season starts to take advantage of it. I'm thinking we'll sweep left, and then come back and sweep right. We'll rinse, repeat, and start faking the sweep after that.

I'm excited to get this season started!
 
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