Youth Football Middle Linebackers

In youth football they're probably your most aggressive and best tacklers on the team that go side-line to side-line making tackles. Their attack is relentless and they are a big part of your defence, and no doubt, during the regular season they rack up the tackling stats.
But there's a problem developing among the many tackles that your youth football player is making. A problem that is lurking and waiting to be exposed, by the right offensive co-ordinator. You probably won't notice it until play-offs when the teams you face are better.

Now what's that lurking problem? It's called misdirection!

I have seen it a hundred times. Linebackers biting and bailing on plays, only to be taken advantage of by misdirection. All of a sudden your all-star linebacker is invisible and your in trouble in a hurray.

At the youth football level the misdirection would probably be in the form of a sweep reverse play or quarterback bootleg.

As you try to settle your linebacker down another problem usually follows. You soon discover that with your middle linebacker staying home that you have contain problems. Probably never seen much of it all year as your middle linebacker went side-line to side-line, but now it's there and at the worst time, and it's not an easy fix. Practice time is when you fix it, but it's a play-off game and you might not be practicing on Monday.

All in all, your linebackers need to be familiar with the terms misdirection and contain. They need to understand their assignments from within these terms and how things can go wrong if these two areas are ignored. It starts in your first linebacker group practice and is reinforced every work-out through out the season. They have to do respect it and most of all, they have to think it! If they have a contain responsibility then that's what their first and foremost responsibility is, making the tackle is secondary. If they are playing in the middle, then they are taught to stay at home on plays away from their side and to think of misdirection back their way.

Cheers!

Points to consider before becoming a Volunteer Youth Coach

Hi, once again. Today, I would like to blog about the responsibilities preparing to be a coach, and the things that you should consider prior to, becoming or applying for that position.
First of all, the most important point is that you have to be passionate about the sport that you will be coaching. Do it because you love it, not because you feel obligated to become involved for whatever reason, but for your true love of the game. Be enthusiastic and positive and you'll find it becomes contagious with the people and players that are around you. Understand that there is as much work outside of the activity as there is in it. Administrative paperwork, registrations, team and league meetings are time consuming for a volunteer and can be costly at times. You almost have to look at your coaching assignment as being a hobby. Like all hobbies that we enjoy, they do in the end cost money, but all in all the enjoyment that we get out of it is worth the cost associated with it. In some coaching assignments, one can be reimbursed for their costs, however, for the most part; a volunteer youth coach receives little or no compensation. Understand that you will be dealing with a lot more than your players. There will be issues at times, questions to answer, happy and unhappy parents, fans, grandparents, etc. Accept the fact that the role of the coach will have its ups and downs and you will never make everybody happy. For the most part if you can keep the majority happy most of the time you're doing a good job!

Cheers

Keep it Simple Coach, Do it Well!

Keep it simple coach! Being a coach is a year round job. It becomes a big part of your life and an important part as well that is very satisfying and enjoyable. But, it takes a lot of hard work and commitment on your part. There are many dedicated youth coaches in our communities that shape the development of our children across the country and they play a vital role in their character development. It's important that they do a good job. As a coach it is was always important to me to be prepared, knowledgeable, and organized. The internet has a vast amount of information of coaching philosophies, strategies, systems, practice plans, whatever, for the aspiring coach. However, for the most part I find it can be too technical, too costly, or too philosophical for what I want to do at the youth level.
My philosophy has always been to keep it simple or for the most part and use the" KISS" philosophy: "Kiss" being" Keep it simple stupid! And of course, add in "Do it well".
By keeping it simple in both practice and game systems your players should better grasp their roles, be confident in it, and perform at a higher level. By keeping it simple, it is easier for you to make practice plans, game adjustments and get the response out of your players that you're looking for. To be able to adjust is the key. And its fun! To recognize what your opponent is up to and being able to adjust to it is very fulfilling, and gives you and your player's confidence. A simple system allows this to happen. Finally, become a student of the game and dedicate yourself to that commitment. In the end your players will benefit, win or lose.

The Coaches Chair

Hi, my name is Dave and I have been a youth and minor coach for over twenty years. I have always been passionate about coaching kids at the minor and youth level as well as High School, and I have learned a lot along the way through my mistakes,and experiences. I was always particularly committed to being organized and I wanted my players to get my best effort and have a great experience. My commitment to them was to have them prepared,physically, mentally, and teach them good team systems so that they could play at their best. I only asked them in return to be committed, be open to my coaching philosophy, and to work hard. I love to coach and watch kids develop and go on to contribute at a higher level. My blog " The Coaches Chair" will give me a chance to talk about coaching in general, give advice and tips based on my own experiences. Perhaps my thoughts and ideas in the coming blogs can be helpful to you or at least give you some insight from a different point of view.

Cheers

Dave