Man blocking in football has been around since the early days of football itself and for many years was the main system in football blocking. Man blocking in football today is still being implemented, and with the debate ongoing between man blocking and zone blocking is still an effective blocking system. For those not yet familiar with man blocking the basis of it is that your offensive linemen have a set of blocking rules they follow for their plays and depending where the ball is being run will implement their blocking rules to determine who or what player the block. An example of a set of blocking rules would be: Gap-On-Over. Basically, in these blocking rules the offensive linemen prior to the snap would check first their "Inside Gap", followed by "On" or whether or not there is a down linemen lined up right on them ,and finally " Over" to determine if there is a player over them like a middle linebacker. On each check if there is a player in that area it's their man to block
Another element of man blocking is the trap play. Basically, the trap play is designed to allow a defensive linemen to proceed across the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball untouched only to be blocked out or "trapped" by an offensive linemen that is pulling down the line of scrimmage from the backside. Usually on the play-side there is a double team, taking place as well as one of the linemen down blocking on a middle linebacker. With the backside Offensive Guard pulling to the play side and trapping you are basically out manning the defensive front at the point of attack. This is the basis of a lot of the Double and Single Wing blocking schemes.
Another option in your man blocking scheme would be to have a fullback in your backfield that always attacks into the second level of linebackers. By implementing a fullback in the backfield you can create more double teams on the line of scrimmage without giving up a block into the second level linebackers. As well, a fullback can create a lot of misdirection in the backfield which can compliment your trap blocking scheme.
Cheers!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Football : Zone Blocking versus Man Blocking
There has been a lot of discussion of late on football coaching forums in regards to the running debate of what is the best blocking scheme that is being taught today at the youth football level. The two main blocking schemes of discussion are zone blocking and man blocking.
Zone blocking has taken off the last few seasons and is popular among the newer coaches as it is probably the main blocking scheme that is used at the High School and University levels. Man blocking is the more traditional way of blocking and many old school coaches that are still around prefer man blocking as opposed to zone blocking. Both are effective blocking schemes!
So what's the real difference?
The basis of zone blocking is that on the snap the entire offensive line will step down to play-side, find a double team on a down lineman, and as the linemen is engaged and being what we refer to as " washed down", one of the offensive linemen involved in the double team will " chip off" and go down and get the middle linebacker. The running back will take the hand off to the play side and go with the blocking all the while checking backside for the opportunity for a cutback. When zone blocking is working at its best the running back usually hurts you the most on these cutbacks. The basis of man blocking is that the offensive linemen are given a set of blocking rules that they apply for each play depending on where the defensive front is lined up, and apply these rules to determine who they block. When man blocking is working at its best the running back is running more north/south with offensive linemen getting down into the second level untouched.
Again, both are good blocking schemes. Now the argument from the zone blockers is that it is easier to teach, and less confusing as you always step to the play side compared to man blocking where it can be confusing especially against defenses that like to move around, in applying your blocking rules which can create missed assignments. Now the man blockers will argue that an effective gap attacking defense that uses four man fronts will eliminate the double team and allow the middle linebackers to scrape and flow to the football. As well, they will argue that the slower offensive linemen will struggle in this scheme to "chip off" and get a block on the middle linebacker. Usually, you know that a zone blocking scheme is failing when there is no cut back and that the running back is always trying to take the ball out and around the line of scrimmage and in man blocking, you know the scheme is failing when you are getting stuffed on the line of scrimmage.
So they both have their advantages and disadvantages. I think that when determining your blocking schemes that it depends on your personnel. After considering both arguments, I believe that a zone blocking scheme is more suited to a smaller, more agile and quicker offensive line. The double teams and stepping down play side give the smaller linemen better angles and the double teams create more push with the ability to chip off and get a middle linebackers more suited to a swifter, smaller lineman. Compare this to a man blocking scheme that is better suited for a bigger, stronger, but less mobile offensive line whereby there blocking rules keep them in close proximity to their blocking assignment and they are big enough to move a body by themselves and when they need to block a middle linebacker the linebacker is usually right over them with the ball carrier coming right behind them which puts the middle linebacker in a position that he has no choice but to engage the bigger, stronger, offensive linemen. I think that at times and with the youth football players we coach because of their age that there is going to be confusion. Regardless of the scheme, evaluate your personnel and put them in the best position to be effective blockers.
Zone blocking has taken off the last few seasons and is popular among the newer coaches as it is probably the main blocking scheme that is used at the High School and University levels. Man blocking is the more traditional way of blocking and many old school coaches that are still around prefer man blocking as opposed to zone blocking. Both are effective blocking schemes!
So what's the real difference?
The basis of zone blocking is that on the snap the entire offensive line will step down to play-side, find a double team on a down lineman, and as the linemen is engaged and being what we refer to as " washed down", one of the offensive linemen involved in the double team will " chip off" and go down and get the middle linebacker. The running back will take the hand off to the play side and go with the blocking all the while checking backside for the opportunity for a cutback. When zone blocking is working at its best the running back usually hurts you the most on these cutbacks. The basis of man blocking is that the offensive linemen are given a set of blocking rules that they apply for each play depending on where the defensive front is lined up, and apply these rules to determine who they block. When man blocking is working at its best the running back is running more north/south with offensive linemen getting down into the second level untouched.
Again, both are good blocking schemes. Now the argument from the zone blockers is that it is easier to teach, and less confusing as you always step to the play side compared to man blocking where it can be confusing especially against defenses that like to move around, in applying your blocking rules which can create missed assignments. Now the man blockers will argue that an effective gap attacking defense that uses four man fronts will eliminate the double team and allow the middle linebackers to scrape and flow to the football. As well, they will argue that the slower offensive linemen will struggle in this scheme to "chip off" and get a block on the middle linebacker. Usually, you know that a zone blocking scheme is failing when there is no cut back and that the running back is always trying to take the ball out and around the line of scrimmage and in man blocking, you know the scheme is failing when you are getting stuffed on the line of scrimmage.
So they both have their advantages and disadvantages. I think that when determining your blocking schemes that it depends on your personnel. After considering both arguments, I believe that a zone blocking scheme is more suited to a smaller, more agile and quicker offensive line. The double teams and stepping down play side give the smaller linemen better angles and the double teams create more push with the ability to chip off and get a middle linebackers more suited to a swifter, smaller lineman. Compare this to a man blocking scheme that is better suited for a bigger, stronger, but less mobile offensive line whereby there blocking rules keep them in close proximity to their blocking assignment and they are big enough to move a body by themselves and when they need to block a middle linebacker the linebacker is usually right over them with the ball carrier coming right behind them which puts the middle linebacker in a position that he has no choice but to engage the bigger, stronger, offensive linemen. I think that at times and with the youth football players we coach because of their age that there is going to be confusion. Regardless of the scheme, evaluate your personnel and put them in the best position to be effective blockers.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tips on Youth Football Injury Prevention
Conditioning, Football Fundamentals and Body Control are the Keys
Coaching in youth football requires that the coach put his best effort in minimizing football injuries and putting the players in a position whereby the risk of a football injury is minimal. Injuries are a factor in all contact sports at all levels. Even in youth football its part of the game and a football season can be lost with significant injuries to key personnel.
Like a doctor that practices preventative medicine a youth football coach can kind of do the same thing. It all begins in football practice! An effective and proper warm-up, that will stretch out and warm-up the muscles. A solid conditioning routine that places the football athlete in the best possible shape, so that they can play at a high level. Practising fundamentals faithfully so that the youth football player has good technique, and by doing so minimizes the chance of injury.
Another good key is emphasizing body control at all times to the football players. That is on every play, every chance of contact, that the player is in control of his body with good technique and puts his body in a good position on every play to not only be effective fundamentally but also effective in avoiding injuries and at the same time effective in making a good football play! Some of the younger youth football players think they are indestructible and will launch their bodies in a reckless fashion into a ball carrier or on a block. This type of play needs to be addressed immediately by the football coach. Yea, it might be effective at the younger levels but if the habit continues they are setting themselves up for serious injury later on. They must be in control of their bodies at all times and the coach must be on top of it at all times! Effective management by the youth football coach in these areas will minimize injuries!
Cheers!
Coaching in youth football requires that the coach put his best effort in minimizing football injuries and putting the players in a position whereby the risk of a football injury is minimal. Injuries are a factor in all contact sports at all levels. Even in youth football its part of the game and a football season can be lost with significant injuries to key personnel.
Like a doctor that practices preventative medicine a youth football coach can kind of do the same thing. It all begins in football practice! An effective and proper warm-up, that will stretch out and warm-up the muscles. A solid conditioning routine that places the football athlete in the best possible shape, so that they can play at a high level. Practising fundamentals faithfully so that the youth football player has good technique, and by doing so minimizes the chance of injury.
Another good key is emphasizing body control at all times to the football players. That is on every play, every chance of contact, that the player is in control of his body with good technique and puts his body in a good position on every play to not only be effective fundamentally but also effective in avoiding injuries and at the same time effective in making a good football play! Some of the younger youth football players think they are indestructible and will launch their bodies in a reckless fashion into a ball carrier or on a block. This type of play needs to be addressed immediately by the football coach. Yea, it might be effective at the younger levels but if the habit continues they are setting themselves up for serious injury later on. They must be in control of their bodies at all times and the coach must be on top of it at all times! Effective management by the youth football coach in these areas will minimize injuries!
Cheers!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Youth Football Tackling: High or Low Technique
With bigger kids and better athletes now playing football the game is evolving so that new approaches and ideas are being implemented to deal with the change of body size and ability in our younger youth football players. It's not hard to realize that the average size of a 12 year old is bigger today than it was compared to twenty years ago. But then again there are still smaller athletes playing the game as well.
Form tackling is one area that a lot of youth football coaches discuss on a regular basis.
The traditional way of tackling was to teach our youth football players to tackle below the ball carriers waist with the head back and to contact the ball carrier with their shoulder at the thigh level wrapping the arms around the legs while driving their legs and taking the ball carrier to the ground. The idea being that as a smaller player you attack the lower part of a ball carrier, rather than tackling above the waist and being "run over" by a more bigger and physical athlete. A good philosophy at the time but over the years there were some significant problems with this technique. The biggest problem is that in tackling low the defender more than not would drop their head and leave their feet thus losing control over their bodies and putting themselves in a vulnerable position for a head or neck injury as well as a lot of missed tackles.
I have seen it many times.
The new idea of form tackling that is being implemented is to teach the youth football player to tackle above the waist with the head always back and up, with the point of contact being the chest plate of the tacklers shoulder pads contacting just below the chest plate of the ball carrier driving the arms up under or around the arms of the ball carrier while at the same time driving the legs until the ball carrier is taken to the ground. Again, the head is always back with the neck bulled at the time of contact. The player now never drops his head or loses control of his body by lunging at the thighs and leaving their feet. The players are taught to set up the bodies in a low stance with the knees slightly bent, with the head and arms back prior to impact and on impact like a coiled spring they are trained to drive up and through the ball carrier. The tackler now has more control of his body and the head is never part of the equation.
Now, the argument can be made once again with the smaller football player being run over but I have found that this is not true for the most part. I have noticed that the smaller athlete that once confident in this technique because of his lower stature is more explosive at the time of contact compared to the traditional way of tackling below the waist. A lot of times the smaller tackler will come in with good technique and " stand up" the ball carrier for a couple of strides until help arrives and the ball carrier is taken to the ground. I'd much rather see this take place then watch the tackler drop his head and leave his feet!
Cheers!
Form tackling is one area that a lot of youth football coaches discuss on a regular basis.
The traditional way of tackling was to teach our youth football players to tackle below the ball carriers waist with the head back and to contact the ball carrier with their shoulder at the thigh level wrapping the arms around the legs while driving their legs and taking the ball carrier to the ground. The idea being that as a smaller player you attack the lower part of a ball carrier, rather than tackling above the waist and being "run over" by a more bigger and physical athlete. A good philosophy at the time but over the years there were some significant problems with this technique. The biggest problem is that in tackling low the defender more than not would drop their head and leave their feet thus losing control over their bodies and putting themselves in a vulnerable position for a head or neck injury as well as a lot of missed tackles.
I have seen it many times.
The new idea of form tackling that is being implemented is to teach the youth football player to tackle above the waist with the head always back and up, with the point of contact being the chest plate of the tacklers shoulder pads contacting just below the chest plate of the ball carrier driving the arms up under or around the arms of the ball carrier while at the same time driving the legs until the ball carrier is taken to the ground. Again, the head is always back with the neck bulled at the time of contact. The player now never drops his head or loses control of his body by lunging at the thighs and leaving their feet. The players are taught to set up the bodies in a low stance with the knees slightly bent, with the head and arms back prior to impact and on impact like a coiled spring they are trained to drive up and through the ball carrier. The tackler now has more control of his body and the head is never part of the equation.
Now, the argument can be made once again with the smaller football player being run over but I have found that this is not true for the most part. I have noticed that the smaller athlete that once confident in this technique because of his lower stature is more explosive at the time of contact compared to the traditional way of tackling below the waist. A lot of times the smaller tackler will come in with good technique and " stand up" the ball carrier for a couple of strides until help arrives and the ball carrier is taken to the ground. I'd much rather see this take place then watch the tackler drop his head and leave his feet!
Cheers!
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