USA Coaching Clinic NotesCharlotte, NCJune 12, 2010

Dynamic Warm Up by Chase Reese with Velocity SportsThe days of jumping out of the car with mom or dad and running a lap to get ready are over. We must get the kids prepared to play by using a dynamic warm up to prevent injuries. Cold muscles are like a cold rubber band, they will snap if not easily warmed up. The most effective type of warm up is a 2 part warm up.

A. Start out with form running to raise the core body temp and get the blood pumping. B. Dynamic stretching, holding each stretch for at least 15 seconds. Examples of

dynamic stretches are straight leg marches, moving quad stretches, supine leg kicks.

Very important to monitor form running and stretching to ensure they are doing it correctly. Kids should form run with proper technique, up on toes, elbows at 90, hands going cheek to cheek. Arms should not cross the body.

2 important things that many kids don't warm up or strengthen are hips and core. Incorporate hip flexes like drive ups, drive outs, knee circles and cow stretches to get flexibility in hips. Do bridges and super mans daily for core strength.

Coaching Advice by Coach Tom Merritt, retired after coaching football for 38 yearswww.fastandfuriousfootball.com. Great coaching resource2 big things have changed in coaching football: A. Strength training B. Video: video everything and learn from it. Watch film over and over and find out from watching it why a play did or did not work.

As a football coach you can never stop learning. Coaching football is all about teaching technique and fundamentals. Break everything down bit by bit and then turn around bit by bit and teach it step by step. If you have a kid who does a great job at a particular skill, then use that kid to teach the other her kids. Football has to be a lot more than blocking and tackling, it teaches many many life lessons and you have to convince parents of this and keep them interested in the program and their Childs improvement. Teach the kids the LOVE of the game and sportsmanship, teach them all like they are important and for them to give it all they have at practice and in a game.

Safety is very important in teaching technique and fundamentals. Coach Merritt buried a player of his a few years ago who died as a result of an injury suffered in a game and it was one of the hardest things he has ever had to do in his life.1. Keep the head out of football, see why you hit and keep your head up.2. Teach proper technique at all times.3. Check equipment for proper fit4. Make sure the field you are playing and practicing on is safe.

5. Have a plan for emergencies, such as bee stings, know who is allergic.6. Know about your players preexisting conditions.7. Make sure your kids have insurance.8. Supervision, make sure the kids are supervised by capable assistants at all times.

Have a parent meeting at the beginning of the year 1. Get to know parents as best you can. The more you can find out about a kid, the more you can do to help him.2. Tell parents what is expected of them at practice and at games.3. No matter what, have the kids’ best interest at heart, have a plan for parent interactions. 4. Communicate with parents what kids can do to improve.5. With any parent interaction, always keep composure. When you lose composure it stops being about the kids and starts becoming about you. Have compassion towards the kids and the parents, no matter how hard it seems to be.6. Go over league rules with the parents 7. Go over a calendar with practices and games with the parents so they will know what it going on, explain how practices work and what you will be doing in practice.8. Parents more than anyone kill their kids expectations, explain this to them during the meeting.

Try as best you can to start as many players as you can. If you can't start 22, then have a great substitution plan where kids who can play get in the game. Have an assistant assigned to this and make sure kids are rotation in and out of the game and in practice.

#1 rule in coaching these kids is no profanity and to treat hem like you would want you son treated, treat them like they are your own kids.

Don't worry about what other coaches are doing, out teach them and out coach them. You do that and you will win.

Come up with a practice plan for each practice on things you want to accomplish. Start out on August 1st and plan each day until you first day. Go backwards and plan what you want to accomplish each day. Stick to your daily practice plan, if you are working in a specific period and something is not working, stop and get back to it tomorrow, don't neglect something you have planned in order to work on something that isn't working, get back on it tomorrow and stick to your plan.

In practice match big kids on big kids, skill level on skill level. Don't pair an "All American" against a kid who is just learning. It won’t benefit either one and the new kid could have a bad experience and never come back.

Change things up in practice; don't do the same thing over and over. Doing the same thing can become non productive. Do drills, drills, drills that focus on things they will be doing in a game. This is more beneficial than scrimmaging all the time.

Be careful how you demonstrate on kids in practice, this too can have a negative effect if it is a bad experience.

Keep practice fun for the kids. Kids got to believe they will win.Don't do mean things for discipline, talk discipline over with you assistants prior to the season and come up with a plan. Make quick discipline for practice errors, bigger ones are game time suspensions.Love the kids up and be positive.

Building Effective Practice Schedules and Practice Organization by Darryl ThomasBusiness principles apply the same way in running a successful business and how you manage your football team. Successful programs are run just like successful businesses, to be successful you have to plan properly, before you plan you have to know where you are going.V-VisionS-StrategyE-Execution

What is the VISION of my team, what is my Mission Statement? (Come up without one)Share that vision with your assistants and team.

If I have a clearly defined vision, what strategy will I use to achieve my vision?How am I going to execute on this strategies?

During initial practices take the majority of time to analyze and assess every single player and determine strengths and weaknesses of this players and your overall team. After this initial evaluation, focus on maintaining your strengths and focus on improving your weaknesses. It is a must you assess, evaluate and analyze each player and document ire strengths and weaknesses. Create a form and write it down and compare after a few days. Come up with a plan on what to focus on and improve. Remember some kids learn different than others. When teaching use all of the different type’s instruction, tell them, then show them, then let them demonstrate at slow speed until they understand. Adapt all of the learning styles so you won't leave anyone out. Allow some of the kids who have an understanding of what you are looking for to demonstrate the skills and drills you are teaching. Some weaknesses:Overweight kidsScared kidsKids with no clueIdentify the weaknesses and focus on them

Assess and analyze you assistant coaches as well. Who has what strengths and who has weaknesses? What do they know and what are they best at?

Develop a practice plan:Identify your staff and their availability early and make sure everyone is on the same page. Try to get there 15 minutes early everyday to go over the days practice and set up for what you will be doing. Resources: (Human and Systematic) what shield space will you need, what equipment will you need to accomplish the days planned activities?Determine the time table you have to accomplish things prior to the next game. Look backwards from each game and systematically plan on what you want to get done and do it!

Scrimmages don't teach much, you practice schedule needs to focus on skill development. Coach fundamentals and technique everyday through skill building drills. Teach the kids technique and fundamentals and they will be able to execute what you have taught them come game time. This is truly coaching!

Teach them the basics and once those are masters you can build on them and add new things. Use reps, reps, reps, reps to build skills. Don't even need to use contact all the time, but reps build confidence and success in the kids.

Don't forget to coach special teams and apply the same things you are teaching with offense and defense. Special teams will win ball games for you.

When you are planning your schedule come up with a plan for the first few weeks that assess and evaluate based on your teaching of skills and fundamentals and conditioning. As you get closer to games start planning for that specific game and put in things you want to accomplish in that game. Plan backwards, if I know I am playing Brevard this Saturday then my plan for the week will be focusing on things I want to accomplish to beat Brevard.

Have a plan for getting kids in the game, have kids 2 deep at each position and get them in! Have an assistant in charge of substitutions to get the kids in the game.

Prior to games simulate game time situations from the sidelines, running plays in, signaling plays in, changing offense and defense, changing to special teams etc. Do it in practice so they don't look lost in a game.

Jeff Pucek, Charlotte Latin High School DLine coach: DLine playStress fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals during practice! Kids will rise to their level of their training and preparation, you build that foundation by teaching fundamentals and that will lead to success. Stay positive and give the kids what they need.

OLine and DLine are "trench warfare". Up front is where the action happens, the QB can't throw and the RB can’t run if the line doesn't block.

Teaching points: 1. Stance and starts: stagger stance, off foot on instep of other. Fire both hands to center mass for attack. Fire off low and hard on MOVEMENT (defense). Come off as hard as you can for 2 or 3 steps, create a new line of scrimmage 1 to 2 yards behind the original line of scrimmage.

One drill to use is pair kids off and bark out signals and have defensive person to go off of movement, try to draw them off with signals. Teach kids to fire their hands inside and fire off low and get separation from the offensive blocker.

2. BBD: Bust, Bench, DisengageCome off the ball and BUST him in the mouthHit him and lock out, BENCH him offFind ball and DISENGAGE blocker and get to the ballReestablish the line of scrimmage on their side of the ball

3. Attack and follow the V of the neck and teach kids how to defeat the various blocks they will encounter. A. Reach block: attack the V and reestablish the LOS on their side of the ball B. Base block: attack V and push him back where he came from. C. Double team: defeat the base man and stay low and get skinny, maintain gap integrity. D. Down block: fight pressure with pressure

Things to stress DL: stay low, stay square with feet and eyes, stay off of LB's and introduce yourself 1st to the offensive person. INTRODUCE YOURSELF FIRST!!!!!DEnds will kill you or make your day, make sure they stay square and stay at home when play goes away. Pursuit should be at the level of the deepest back to kill reverses and counters. Work on making sure DLine goes on movement and not on snap a count, drill this over and over to them. *******when calling offensive plays always watch the DEnds and see how they react. Biggest thing at this age is teach correct fundamentals, keep it simple, keep it fun, make sure they know what to do and do it aggressively. Use the positive and help them be successful!

OC WilliamsUNC Pembroke DB CoachSpecial Teams CoachingFigure out what your team likes doing, what your team is good at doing, and sell the kids on it. Special Teams are VERY important, and can win ball games for you. Must make an effort to schedule 10 minutes each day to work on special teams in practice.

Use anyone you want on special teams, except for your quarterback, use your best guys if you want to be great.

Kickoff/Cover: can not have any weaknesses, if you do, you will get burned. Got to have wide open, reckless guys flying down the field and getting after it. No slow linemen, kids must be physical and aggressive. Stress to the kids how important it is to pin the opponent deep in their territory. Make sure the front line sees the ball being kicked before they cross that line! A good point of reference is if you aren't physical enough to play on special teams, then you aren't physical enough to play defense. Looking for a fast reckless kid who isn't afraid to hit someone.

Kids must know what is asked of them when playing special teams. Find a place where everyone can help. If a kid can help somewhere then get him on the field, kids have to know they have a role on the team so they will give all they have. If a kid is prepared and knows what's going on he will be more aggressive and feel good about what is going on.

Be simple and solid in your technique you teach the kids so they will understand it.

Use as many coaches as you can in special teams coaching, make sure all the kids are getting coached up correctly. Come up with short term objectives and make sure the kids understand them. "This is what we want to accomplish". Go over the different scenarios you may encounter so you don't look like an idiot. Know what to do in regular kick off and kick return, onside kick, pooch kick, kickoff going out of bounds.

Spend time in individual skill drills for special teams, just as you do in offensive and defensive skill drill time. Assess and evaluate and see who can get the job done correctly, coach them up, be up tempo, be aggressive, and have fun. Every kid you can put in, put in and they will feel better about the situation.

Drills:Get off's: 4 lines on one side, hit the line 2 yards behind kicker when ball is kicked, coaches ensuring that no one is offsides before the ball is kicked. Faster players start back farther to time the kick. 2 coaches watching ensuring no offsides.

Wave drill: 2 3or 4 kids going down together ( same way as get off's) ball goes away and they fill, fold and maintain lanes for coverage. 1st man fills, 2nd man folds, fold guy can not get over top of fill guy.

Skate drill: get by blocker, rip and stay in lane, GET BACK in lane! Avoid 1st block and take on second level. Find the ball carrier and get rid of second level blocker.

Kickoff Oklahoma: kickoff guy 10 yards from 1st level, 10 yards from 2nd level, and 5 yards to ball carrier. Avoid 1st level, take on 2nd level, and disengage to ball carrier. Use everyone to be successful!!

Rick Peacock USA FootballOffensive Strategy in Youth FootballYouth football is meant to be fun, throwing the ball is fun, but you make a living running the football. Keep the game and plays simple, don't make it complicated, just execute!

Base offensive plays: A. ISO B. Power- running the ball off tackle, must own the tackle hole! C. Toss/Sweep D. Counter E. Trap

Run these base plays out of several different formations and you will be successful. No need to have a huge play book with lots and lots of plays. Have a base number of plays and run them out of multiple formations, use things like motion to make things interesting. Have plays set up plays, power can turn into stretch, FB dive can then become QB waggle with dump to TE. Execute, execute, execute! Get better by doing lots of reps over and over.

Kids must know WHO they are supposed to block and like contact. Start low and shoot hands into defender. Maintain blocks. 4 seconds staying on a block will make a play a BIG time play.

Coach Merritt: AC Reynolds Wide receiver play

If wide receivers don't block, then they don't play. Find you best matchup, best receiver against their worst defender. In youth football, use short 5 to 12 yard passes. When you see 8 men in the box throw quick passes that don’t require any drop by the QB.

Work on specific routes that the kids know and rep, rep, rep to get timing and kids running proper routes. Work route running daily and WR blocking daily.

Coach McNaultyCharlotte Latin HS

FirmFairFriendlyYou can not win big games without discipline. Kids have to do things EXACTLY as they are asked FIRM! If you can't do it right in a controlled environment what are you going to do in a real game? FAIR: be a fair coach to all the kidsFRIENDLY: communicate with the kids, develop bonds with them.

If you knock a kid down verbally, you have to pick that kid up verbally before the practice is over. You can get unhappy with what the kid did or did not do, but not the kid himself. Love the kids up every chance you get.

Dress the part, look like a coach, not a slob. Motivate kids, don't yell and scream all the time, kids don't respond to that anymore. There is a time for that, just not all the time. Use the "sandwich concept" when getting on a kid. Use a positive, the negative, and end with a positive to get your point across.

Use skill conditioning in position groups instead of running sprints at practice:Linemen: use the sled over and over and over, driving for 10- 15 seconds.QB-RB-WR: run plays in rapid fire succession. Coach tempo, no walking, everyone is running, next group up and keep it going.Team Defense: pursuit drill, make sure proper pursuit angles are being taken.

Run "perfect plays" encourages team building and discipline.Knowledge is everything, educate yourself and assistant coaches!Read and encourage your assistants to read "Season of Life" by Jeffrey Marx. Great book that changed the way coach Mac coaches today.

Rick PeacockUSA FootballQB Drills

The youth quarterback doesn't have to be the most athletic kid, but needs to be a leader. Teach proper grip, arm and elbow above shoulder and proper throwing mechanics. QB has to have athletic stance, be up on balls of feet, slightly larger than should width apart, thumbs together with good athletic staggered stance. Teach keeping left hand out on hand offs to assist with play action passes. QB drills:1 knee drill: arm and elbow up, good follow through.Ball from breast drill: take ball up; don't let it drop below nipple line, use proper throwing motion.Push foot drill: 80% of weight on push foot, working on the first step back.3 step drops: work on proper 3 step, make sure there is good balance, use 1 leg "pelican" stance on 3rd step to ensure proper balance.Work on "hot feet" with QB's so that they are always moving.4 cone QB drill

Daryl ThomasRunning Back DrillsDuring first few days of proactive make your assessment and evaluation of who your rung backs will be. Identify their strengths and their weaknesses. Work on their peripheral vision so they don't tip play off by looking a certain way. To work on this

have players put outstretched hands in front of their face and slowly spread hands focusing on thumbs until their hands are spread the entire way. 1st thing to teach is VISION with your eyes, get a pre-snap read with your eyes not moving your head and tipping off defense where the play is going. Use eyes to look where the play is called so you can have an idea what is there.Keep weight on balls of your feet and hands on thigh pads, not on knee pads! Must know the first step on the range of holes diagram. Great drill is to have QB and RB's set up with cones and dummies and hit holes as coach calls them out. Make sure everyone is using proper technique and hitting holes correctly. This is a quick repetitive drill that can be used for conditioning. Can also put a LB in for FB to lead block.

Work on ball transfer, transfer ball from defender and slide ball against chest. Rule of thumb if there is one defender then hold ball secure with 1 arm, 2 defenders than cover up with 2 arms.

Coach MerrittWR DrillsUse dummies to get WR use to getting hands in front and catching ball instead of catching it in the body. Work on tucking ball away with eyes after catch. WR blocking drills:Fire out and show pass if DB is play off of you. When you are within 3 yards choke it down and shoot your hands, with thumbs up, to the chest of the defender and put hat in his chin and drive feet. If DB’s pick side then take him to the side he picks and keep feet running, RB should cut off of block. Breed competition in practice!

Offensive Line Drills:All starts with a good stance. Stress firing out low and hard. Work on first steps for different blocks. 1st step should be short, quick step and linemen should be low enough to grab grass. Shoot hands into defender and make “butterfly" with your hands. Follow with short choppy steps in rapid fire motion. Lean into defender and roll hips. Stress there are no spectators until the whistle blows. We don't stop blocking until the whistle blows. Drills:Form fit with defender: half speed using good technique and form use 8x16 boards for proper footwork.6 point gunslinger: start with hands on guns, players on knees, shoot hands out until player on belly. Use against air and against shield.Base block: 1st step is 6 inch short step, 2nd step explode into defender, shooting hands and rolling hips with short, choppy, rapid fire steps. Reach block: 1st step is flat outside step then crossover and establish position on man to outside.Make the blocking rules simple and easy to understand.

Keep it fun for the offensive linemen, have a fun time sometime during practice, HOG TOSS to offensive linemen at some point!

OC WilliamsUNC PembrokeDB DrillsHave DB’s that are quick and aggressive and have balk skills, don't have a kid doing something he can't do.Coach tackling and ball stripping daily.DB drills:Easy up's: teach catching the ball with elbows extended and fingers to the sky. Funnel drill: have receiver 2 yards ahead, have DB run and catch up and get in front and then look back and make play on ball. Cone drill: coach footwork with front and back peddle and throw fumble in at end.Turn and run: back peddle, keeping feet close to ground then turn and run, staying on line.Tackling: not so much concerned with going full speed, don't want to get kids hurt. Focus on form and technique. Use the angle drill start off 3 yards then go to 5 yards and end at 10 yards. Close in on ball carrier, sink hips, shoot arms, rise on contact driving feet and grabbing cloth. Bite the ball, put mask on ball and DO NOT use head to lead!

Linebacker drills:LB's must know their reads and watch reads with eyesUse arms to get off blocks, keeping outside freeBend over at hips at line of scrimmage so you don't expose numbers and make yourself a target to be blocked.

USA Coaching Clinic NotesAtlanta, GAJune 19, 2010

Gerald BrownRunning Back CoachAtlanta Falcons

Success in coaching youth football is not only about wins, but in how many kids come back to play the next year. Coaching is coaching, no matter on what level you do it. Teach kids to be successful on and off the field, you must be yourself, don't try to be someone you aren't when coaching these kids up. Ask yourself what have I taught this young man, hopefully not only football, but also how to be a quality young man.You have to TEACH technique and fundamentals and stress to the kids to be fundamentally sound. TEACH, TEACH and TEACH!

Stress the following: 1. Fundamentals and Technique: these things do not change! Teach it and preach it, take the time to focus on fundamentals. Remember fundamentals do not change, they are the same on the youth level and the professional level, the only difference is speed and strength of players. Effort and fundamentals are the key to success. 2. Safety: some things are unavoidable, but keep it as safe as possible for the kids, get them plenty of water, breaks. Stretch good and provide a safe environment. 3. Sportsmanship: win with, lose with class 4. Education: a lot of great athletes never see the football field. Education is very, very important. Make sure your kids are doing well in school. Parents, coaches and players must all be on the same page in regards to this! 5. Having fun: make the game fun, you have to make it fun for them at a young age. If the kids are having fun, then the teams will grow. If they are not having fun then they will not come back. Get on the field and work hard, but have fun. Focus on helping kids to become better people and football players and how to deal with life on and off the football field.When we work as a team, we work, but we are going to go out and have fun!Practice at a very high tempo, run to drills, no walking and when we are in the drills we are going to get after it!

If you as the coach don't know something then find out, they trust us for guidance. Teach them everything you know about the game, a specific play, or a scheme.

Running back coaching points: get pre-snap read and ask yourself, "Where do I want this run to go"? Know your "tracks" or aiming points. Run reps, reps, reps,reps and stress the fundamentals when doing so.

Teach kids to do the right thing on and off the field, if they have to think about it, it's probably not the best thing to do.

Rod DollarEffective Practice PlanningRod@graphdies.comAs a coach you always have something to learn. Be sure to take time and teach yourself so you are able to take kids to the next level. At the end of the year have an improvement list. Where do we want to get better as a team? Nothing stays the same, you are either improving, or you aren’t.

You win football games through execution; you must maximize your time in practice to be successful. Have an open mind and be open to new ideas. How to WIN with practice organization:Gain 90 minutes a week of practice time, the common sense approach to football can not waste time, every single second must be focused on winning football games.A. Eliminate time wasters: karaoke and speed drills, jumping jacks. Don't do anything that is not designed to help win football games. Only practice things important to win games. Other time wasters are coaches meeting during practice, scrimmaging other

teams, expensive plays that take a lot of time to put in. Time consuming huddles. Think about putting in no huddle.B. Repetition and fundamentals are the only way to get kids better. Make it a point that every kid gets a rep every 45 seconds. If you aren't meeting that goal, get more lines with more coaches going. C. Tempo and intensity: this is how you move in drills and between drills, get the kids moving, no standing around, or walking on the field. You don't "talk" kids better; you get them better by doing.D. Coach aggressively: Be a disciplinarian, discipline is not what you do to a kid, but do for a kid. Hold them accountable for their actions.E. Prepare for championships, not bad teams: little things become very big things in big ball games. Do not tolerate arm tackling offside, laziness or bad technique and fundamentals. Is will get you beat in big ballgames.F. Coaches coach players after every play, praise or talk about how they could have done better.

Important keys to winning games:A. Teach kids to hit and be aggressiveB. Fire off ball fast, first person that hits and is low usually wins. If you don't have chutes for linemen, make some. They must be fundamentally sound and fire off ball low and hard.C. Be disciplined everyday!D. Work on QB/Center exchange everyday at least 50 per day to minimize fumbled snaps.E. Work on QB/RB exchanges everyday, make sure QG is carrying out fake and RB accelerates thru hole and delivers blow to defender.F. Work on PERFECT tackling everyday, do not let 1 day go by that you do not work on it!G. Have blocking rules for your offensive linemen, knowing who to block is just as important that how to block.

Tempo, Technique, Time and IntensityA. Must have kids taking reps every 45 seconds B. Keep drills simple C. Have drills that work multiple skills at one time, set up drills that work 2 different things at 1 station. RB handoff then to ladder drills as an example.D. Demand each player do it perfect, if they don't provide remedial coaching for them with an assistant. That's what it is good to have multiple coaches at stations, teach, coach, re-coach. Don't let kids slide if they are not doing it correctly. Work with them individually if not performing correctly.E. Have quick tempo between drillsF. Make it important to win every repG. Fit a freeze is a GREAT way to teach kids proper fundamentals and technique. Kickoff for example, walk kids in their lanes so you don't get someone hurt to start out, you can gradually get faster when they learn the proper way to do things. Same idea with tackling, walk thru and progressively get faster.

H. Alternate between physically intensive drills and teaching drills. Example is with offensive linemen is getting after it in the chutes, then go to reading and recognition of defensives, then back after it in chutes of Oklahoma.

Coaches Practice RulesA. Be preparedB. Be early to practice and get set upC. Have coaches before and after practice if one is needed D. Let the coaches coach E. Have 10 minute drill rule, no more than 10 at a specific station, keep moving!F. Makes sure kids are getting reps every 45 seconds G. Only inter team scrimmages H. Don't be scared to hit I. Practice plays over and over J. Make sure linemen know WHO to block, so very important, make easy blocking rules.K. Demand the kids do it rightL. Go best on bestM. Minimum 75 snaps per practiceN. Limit new players learning curveO. Set high expectations and standards, have a consequences and hold kids accountable for their actions. Remind them we are playing for championships.

Team scrimmageA. If you are going to run it in a game, get no huddle offense in, get to the football and try to get 2 plays a minute off. Get kids on ball within 5 seconds of play being over. This is going to require HUSTLE and INTENSITY. Huddles are a waste of time on offense. B. Make sure both sides of the ball is getting coached.C. Foster intensity and confidence in the kids.Want to show that the games will be easier than the practices you are conducting.D. Be sure to work goal line and different game situations. 2 minute offense situation.

Know how to practice and how to get the most out of kids. Ask yourself what time wasters can I get rid of?

A way to get plays in on offense is to signal formation into QB, RB, WRs so they know how to line up and white board 4 numbers with the play being the middle 2. QB shouts out 2 sets of numbers and 1st one is play so linemen know where to block. Make sure kids understand the no huddle and subs are aware as well. It takes time, but can be very effective. Learn more by doing your own research on the no huddle offense.

Very, very important to coach tempo and stress fast practice pace.

Common blocking rules are: 1. Inside gap don't be afraid to ask for help from the other linemen 2. Head up 3. Linebacker 4. Double team

Concussion awareness:Very important topic on youth football today, must teach not to lead with head and monitor kids for signs of concussions. Make sure helmets, chinstraps and mouth pieces are fitted properly. See attached handout for concussion awareness. HAVE EMERGENCY PLAN IN PLACE!

Spread Offense for Youth FootballCorey BrownLassister HS

Spread offense is very complex; you can do lots with it. Key is keeping it simple, evaluate and determine what kinds of kids you have and then decide how complex you want to make it. It is primarily a no huddle offense, you can huddle if you want, but you will be getting less reps if you do. Spread is all about tempo; it can set the tone of the game. Most reams have trouble keeping up with it, most teams do not prepare for the spread.Make sure your kids get lined up in the ball and look at you so you can signal the plays in, have a few dummy signalers also, some use arm bands but they can become hard to keep up with, most have gone to signals. If you are throwing out of the spread, you must have kids that are able to catch the football. Work drills with QB and WR daily to get timing down. Very important that WR run routs correctly in practice, catch with hands and not the body! Work on great get offs, proper routes, looking ball in, and tucking after cat and getting up field.Make sure QB always has "hot feet" in the drills so they are mobile. Run your favorite routes daily, nothing fancy, just run them.When you get 8 in the box hit your quick passes that don't require a drop. Look who is is uncovered prior to the snap and hit them. Spread is all a about finding the open grass on the field!Good rule of thumb is throw only when it is given to me and when it's open!Drills

QB DrillsCoach SharpeWoodstock HSOne of the best things to do in youth football is develop a young quarterback. Proper technique and fundamentals and technique are key to this. 1st thing is proper ball control. Apply pressure with thumb and middle finger, with middle finger over the 3rd seam. Be sure not to roll your thumb up on ball. When under center, press your bottom hand up in order to prevent separation of the hands when ball is snapped. Have toes pointed in slightly so you can press off in either direction. In running game QB responsibility is to get it to the back, and carry any fake or action out afterwards, backs responsibility is to run their "track" after getting ball. Teach proper thrown mechanics from start to finish.

RB DrillsCorey BrownLassiter HSCoach ball security, RB’s must protect the football. 5 points of pressure:1. Index and middle finger over the nose of the football 2. Forearm holds the ball tight against the body 3. Elbow butt of the ball fits snug in the elbow 4. Ball on chest high and tight 5. Elbow tucked into the body Ball pointed up to air, rub breast raw!

RB stance, feet shoulder width apart, slight bend forward, scan defense with pre-snap read. On snap of all ALWAYS step play side and do not cross over. 1st step is the aiming point, the path they are gig to follow to their "track". Make sure shoulders are square when they hit hole and accelerate.

RB pass blocking: keep feet "hot" and check your reads, meet defender at line of scrimmage and use patience, leverage and violence. Do not lunge out and miss defender. If he wants to take outside route, use his leverage to take him that way. Punch the defender up, striking him in breast plate and use wide base and reload and do it again. I'd defender is using an outside rush technique, make defender go outside and ride him out. When run blocking attack defender, use wide base and drive him with wide base and short choppy steps.

Offensive Line DrillsWhen linemen take bigger splits it gives them better angles to take on defenders. Linemen should be balanced when in their stance, all the weight should not be on the hand on the ground.

Work on linemen steps daily.On down block, linemen should take an aggressive angle step toward defender and then shoot hands into defender getting head between ball carrier and defender and driving with short choppy steps. DO NOT LUNGE! Must be balanced and use short choppy steps.Angle block aggressive angle step and head across, shooting hands and driving with wide base and short choppy steps. Reach or hook block: flat step first then take over step, get head around and work but around to get between defender and ball carrier.

When you are running plays watch the DEnd, if he is flying up field then run off tackle, X block with the tackle kicking out and the end going on LB or DT if he is head up. When pass blocking teach man over blocking and be aggressive, get big and own your real estate, make wall for QB.

Use chutes for kids to get them use to firing low and hard.

WR drillsWork on proper take offs, get hands up in "fighting position" and fire off with up foot, what ever side you are on is what foot will be up. Work on most successful routes in practice, work on proper footwork and catching ball with HANDS! Stick foot in ground and get hands up to cat ball with "diamond".

DLine drillsShort, quick, fast players will create problems for those on the offensive line. Rep, rep, rep, rep getting off the ball on MOVEMENT, not sound or snap count. Backside DEnd has to make sure if play is going away to watch for counter or reverse or QB waggle, must peruse at level of the deepest back and not lose containment. **********offensive play callers watch opposing teams DEnds to see how they react and call plays based on how they play. Work on attacking offensive player and disengaging and taking pursuit angles to the football. Recognize certain blocks and teach how to defeat those blocks.

DEnds especially recognize blocks and know how to defeat them. dEnds can not lose containment, if they do bad things are going to happen! Read their man, if he blocks down, step down and read backs, if they try to reach, fight out and keep head on the outside.

Linebacker drillsLinebackers must be disciplined!!!!!!! Must know their reads and read them.Good motto is if fullback come to, I must follow thru. If the fullback goes away, I must stay. Track linebackers to read linemen and backs if they are pointing to where a play is going. Youth linebackers have to be tough and quick. Must take good down hill angles with good read steps. Take a quick read step then react. Don't be flat footed, get up on toes and be quick taking downhill angles keeping outside free. Don't get out shed of play, stay 1 yard behind and COLLIDE!!!!!

Everyday take time to do tackling and blocking circuit! Become masters in this.Fit tackle drill (use dummy to shield body) 1. Fit stance 2. Right or left initial step 3. Load guns, shoot arms, grab cloth, roll hips 4. Drive feet and lift on rise

Sideline tackle1. Hot feet on whistle2. Shoot arms, head across3. Grab cloth4. Roll hips5. Walk him out

Open field1. Cone 15 yards apart and have defensive person at one end and offensive at other. 2. Have field 10 yards wide.3. As defensive person get closer maintain control, take away ball carriers outside and stay low and prepare to explode into ball carrier. Turn them in and take away the outside.

Teach DB’s how to get off blocks and make tackles.