If you want to have a solid run stopping defence one of my favourites is the 6-2 defence. This defence puts 8 men in the box and with outside linebackers gives you good contain. For youth programs that face teams that like to run the football the majority of the time, it's the defence you' want to play.
The defence is basically designed to pressure the offence into making mistakes by filtering the running back into the middle where you have lots of help to stop the run. Basically to sum it up, you coach your two outside linebackers to line up about two yards from the outside shoulder of the OT. On the snap of the ball they explode straight up field about 5 yards or to ball depth, their job is to contain and force the running back to cut back inside. Your two DTs line up in the A gaps and are coached up to shoot the gap hard on the snap of the ball. By doing this they pressure the center and two guards to stay in and block which means you have two of your defensive linemen occupying three of their offensive linemen.
That's a good trade off!
Your two DE's will align straight up on the OT's in a three point stance and on the snap of the ball will play two-gap responsibility, jam the OT, read and rip to ball side. The defence is set-up to protect your two middle linebackers which means they are able to flow to the ball and punish the running back. I like the secondary to play man to man and read their receiver. If they release cover them, if they stay in and block step up for run support.
This defence gives you solid inside protection against the run, as well as good contain.
The problem with this defence is that you are vulnerable to give up the big play from time to time. If they do bust through the Line of Scrimmage it's usually for a big gain. Excellent defence to run against teams that like to zone block.
Cheers!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Officials
One of the most frustrating things to deal with as a coach is poor officiating. Things can unravel pretty fast when the officials are having a bad game. A big gain can be nullified; a score can be called back, non-infractions called infractions, non-calls turning into points for the other team, player and coach ejections.
At some point, we've all seen it!
I have come to the conclusion that referee's are like our players. There are days when they look great and days when they are going to miss calls and look terrible. There are poor officials and officials who are outstanding. Same as coaches.
But what do you do when you get poor officiating?
My experience has taught me to roll with the punches. To be patient, and to try and make your point as quietly as you can without embarrassing the official or yourself. Remember, your players will look to you to be rock solid when things go bad. Yelling at the official doesn't help. I must admit I was at one time one to let the officials know what I thought! I learned the hard way that they will soon let you know who's in control! You'll never win that battle!
A few tips that have helped me over the years:
Try to make your point with the official by using your captains to question, politely, of course, their call or non call. Or, perhaps after a score when the official lines up in between the benches for the kick-off you can quietly ask him whether or not he saw an infraction that you felt led to the score against. If not, ask him to please watch next time. Don't publicly embarrass them!
I was told by an official that screaming and yelling is a sign of the coach not understanding the game or as last resort when things are not going well, blame the officials. Use the linesman to your advantage; he's always in front of your bench. Ask him to watch a certain player or play or to relay your message to the Head Official for them to discuss at half-time.
Attend an officials Rules meeting and get into some discussions on interpretation. Most leagues have these meetings. Attend and build respect. You'll find that you'll get this respect back especially on the playing field during game day. Question the calls based on good knowledge of the rules. Don't grasp at straws and vaguely only know. Know the rule inside and out! I always am flipping through the rule book.
Once you get the reputation within the officials circle as being knowledgeable and under control I find they communicate, approach the bench more, and are more willing to engage you in discussion through-out the game.
Cheers!
At some point, we've all seen it!
I have come to the conclusion that referee's are like our players. There are days when they look great and days when they are going to miss calls and look terrible. There are poor officials and officials who are outstanding. Same as coaches.
But what do you do when you get poor officiating?
My experience has taught me to roll with the punches. To be patient, and to try and make your point as quietly as you can without embarrassing the official or yourself. Remember, your players will look to you to be rock solid when things go bad. Yelling at the official doesn't help. I must admit I was at one time one to let the officials know what I thought! I learned the hard way that they will soon let you know who's in control! You'll never win that battle!
A few tips that have helped me over the years:
Try to make your point with the official by using your captains to question, politely, of course, their call or non call. Or, perhaps after a score when the official lines up in between the benches for the kick-off you can quietly ask him whether or not he saw an infraction that you felt led to the score against. If not, ask him to please watch next time. Don't publicly embarrass them!
I was told by an official that screaming and yelling is a sign of the coach not understanding the game or as last resort when things are not going well, blame the officials. Use the linesman to your advantage; he's always in front of your bench. Ask him to watch a certain player or play or to relay your message to the Head Official for them to discuss at half-time.
Attend an officials Rules meeting and get into some discussions on interpretation. Most leagues have these meetings. Attend and build respect. You'll find that you'll get this respect back especially on the playing field during game day. Question the calls based on good knowledge of the rules. Don't grasp at straws and vaguely only know. Know the rule inside and out! I always am flipping through the rule book.
Once you get the reputation within the officials circle as being knowledgeable and under control I find they communicate, approach the bench more, and are more willing to engage you in discussion through-out the game.
Cheers!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Football Tips:Rebuilding Your Program
Sooner or later you'll be faced with the challenge of re-building your program. Usually, this follows a couple of seasons where you had a solid team and were a legitimate contender. Or perhaps, you're the new coach taking on a new program. Either or, you got a lot of work ahead!
The challenges in the early parts of the rebuild can be immense as you get to know a whole new group of players and parents. The first thing that will stand out is how young and inexperienced they look compared to the team of the previous season.
Get over it quick! There's work to be done!
It's important that you get a handle on the static factors which basically would be the size, height, weight, and age of your players. Then test them! Have a practice with just shorts and running shoes in the gym. Test their speed and agility, their strength, vertical leap, and time them, in a shuttle run type activity while recording your results. At the end of the day, have a game of 4 on 4 basketball. Include all of your players including your big guys. Basketball is a great game to watch and see who can move their feet and who the athletes are. After this type of practice you should have a basic understanding of players and what group they should be placed in. The next practices assign them to their groups.
In the coming practices emphasize fundamentals and more fundamentals keeping in mind that a young team will need more of these than ever. As they gain confidence in their positions, introduce a simplified version of your system. Remember, that your finely tuned system from last season graduated or moved on with the departing players! Start slow, be patient, as this is all new to them. Praise them steady.
Finally, in your first game expect them to make mistakes and to look tentative. Re-enforce your systems between plays or quarters. Coach them up and most important encourage them to go out there and compete!
Usually, a young team will not be confident and will be a little intimidated in the early part of the season. They will look at you hard for guidance and it's important that you give it to them and talk to them steady. They will probably take their lumps early but as the season goes on you'll see the team emerge and the confidence grow. Sometimes they will look solid while other times they will be just awful!
The main thing is to get them to buy into the idea that they are young and will learn a lot in their first season .Despite their youth and inexperience they are expected to compete and to know their assignments win or lose. The main thing is that the experience they gain will be invaluable for the following season.
A solid rebuild will take 2-3 seasons.
Cheers!
The challenges in the early parts of the rebuild can be immense as you get to know a whole new group of players and parents. The first thing that will stand out is how young and inexperienced they look compared to the team of the previous season.
Get over it quick! There's work to be done!
It's important that you get a handle on the static factors which basically would be the size, height, weight, and age of your players. Then test them! Have a practice with just shorts and running shoes in the gym. Test their speed and agility, their strength, vertical leap, and time them, in a shuttle run type activity while recording your results. At the end of the day, have a game of 4 on 4 basketball. Include all of your players including your big guys. Basketball is a great game to watch and see who can move their feet and who the athletes are. After this type of practice you should have a basic understanding of players and what group they should be placed in. The next practices assign them to their groups.
In the coming practices emphasize fundamentals and more fundamentals keeping in mind that a young team will need more of these than ever. As they gain confidence in their positions, introduce a simplified version of your system. Remember, that your finely tuned system from last season graduated or moved on with the departing players! Start slow, be patient, as this is all new to them. Praise them steady.
Finally, in your first game expect them to make mistakes and to look tentative. Re-enforce your systems between plays or quarters. Coach them up and most important encourage them to go out there and compete!
Usually, a young team will not be confident and will be a little intimidated in the early part of the season. They will look at you hard for guidance and it's important that you give it to them and talk to them steady. They will probably take their lumps early but as the season goes on you'll see the team emerge and the confidence grow. Sometimes they will look solid while other times they will be just awful!
The main thing is to get them to buy into the idea that they are young and will learn a lot in their first season .Despite their youth and inexperience they are expected to compete and to know their assignments win or lose. The main thing is that the experience they gain will be invaluable for the following season.
A solid rebuild will take 2-3 seasons.
Cheers!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
No Fear Mongering Please
Sports are great for our kids. They give them a great sense of being part of a team, working together towards one goal, building everlasting relationships, social groups, and friends. They learn what's it's about to make a commitment, to be dedicated, responsible and to give their best effort.
All stuff that will help them go on and be good community members.
They learn how to work within a system. They learn about respect and how to receive constructive criticism from their coach. Again, all things associated with life. Certainly sports have been a great tool that shaped a lot of our lives.
But what are the pitfalls of sports?
Well, we know that it can be expensive for sure. But, probably the worst thing about sports is that a player can become injured or worse suffer a serious life long injury or even in some cases death.
Does that mean we should keep our kids sport free, lock them in the house and only let them out during very close supervised activities with no running, jumping, or contact of any kind.
Of course not!
We cannot as responsible parents protect our kids from everything life throws at them. Sure they can get hurt seriously playing sports. But they can get hurt crossing the sidewalk or hurt pretty well anywhere or anytime, on their bike, or even in school. Does that mean we have to shut them down to protect them? No!
I kind of got a pet-peeve going about fear mongering in sports. Basically, anybody that writes about the serious consequences of being involved in sports. Sure, people have the right to know, but to take it to the extreme is nothing more than fear mongering. If we wrote articles on "the what if" and "what can" happen whenever you leave the house, nobody would leave!
Yea, sports like everything else we do has downfalls, but really there are certainly a lot more upside to sports, more positive than negative. We take a chance every time we leave our homes but we don't read about it, or are reminded daily of it. Hell, we'd be so stressed out we'd never go out!
All we can do is manage the controllable! Like, look both ways before you cross the street or as parents make sure that helmet and gear fits properly or as coaches make sure they have good technique before they begin contact drills or as parents meet with the coach and indicate what your concerns are. Perhaps you don't feel your kid is ready to play or needs more work or doesn't have the confidence yet. A good coach will respond to your concerns and never put your kid's health and safety on the line.
Cheers!
All stuff that will help them go on and be good community members.
They learn how to work within a system. They learn about respect and how to receive constructive criticism from their coach. Again, all things associated with life. Certainly sports have been a great tool that shaped a lot of our lives.
But what are the pitfalls of sports?
Well, we know that it can be expensive for sure. But, probably the worst thing about sports is that a player can become injured or worse suffer a serious life long injury or even in some cases death.
Does that mean we should keep our kids sport free, lock them in the house and only let them out during very close supervised activities with no running, jumping, or contact of any kind.
Of course not!
We cannot as responsible parents protect our kids from everything life throws at them. Sure they can get hurt seriously playing sports. But they can get hurt crossing the sidewalk or hurt pretty well anywhere or anytime, on their bike, or even in school. Does that mean we have to shut them down to protect them? No!
I kind of got a pet-peeve going about fear mongering in sports. Basically, anybody that writes about the serious consequences of being involved in sports. Sure, people have the right to know, but to take it to the extreme is nothing more than fear mongering. If we wrote articles on "the what if" and "what can" happen whenever you leave the house, nobody would leave!
Yea, sports like everything else we do has downfalls, but really there are certainly a lot more upside to sports, more positive than negative. We take a chance every time we leave our homes but we don't read about it, or are reminded daily of it. Hell, we'd be so stressed out we'd never go out!
All we can do is manage the controllable! Like, look both ways before you cross the street or as parents make sure that helmet and gear fits properly or as coaches make sure they have good technique before they begin contact drills or as parents meet with the coach and indicate what your concerns are. Perhaps you don't feel your kid is ready to play or needs more work or doesn't have the confidence yet. A good coach will respond to your concerns and never put your kid's health and safety on the line.
Cheers!
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