Posts in category Youth Football Free Plays

Youth Football 52 Defense

Mar28
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

The 52 defense features 5 defensive linemen, 2 middle linebackers, and 4 defensive backs. There is 1 nose guard, 2 defensive tackles, and 2 defensive ends. There are 2 middle linebackers, a strong safety (also known as a “monster backer”), 2 corners and a free safety.

The 52 generally uses the monster backer (Strong Safety) as the strong side player. This defense will use the monster backer to adjust to any unbalanced offensive formations.

The 52 defense requires disciplined athletes that can follow their keys precisely, and not get tricked by misdirection plays. The pass coverage is usually cover 3 zone-based. This defense also can have success using man to man coverage. When the opposing offense is in a balanced formation the monster backer becomes an outside linebacker. The defense then turns into a 53.

This youth football defense helps protect the strong side of the field. The 52 defense is effective when defending speed teams that love attacking the wide side of the field with sweeps.

Posted in Coaching tips, Defense 52, Defense Misc - Tagged 52 defense, 52 monster defense, coaching youth football, cover 3 zone defense, defense, man to man coverage, winning youth football defense

The Full House Offense

Mar21
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

The Full House Offense features 3 backs in the back field, along with 2 tight-ends. This is power offense, with flexibility. This youth football offense has been around for quit a while.

Full House Formation

The best play for this offense is the off-tackle play. Having three running backs in the backfield along with two tight-ends will allow you to run off-tackle to either side. It will make the defense have to respect both sides of the offensive formation. Having a balanced formation will spread the defense out laterally, creating running room inside.

Having three running backs in the backfield will also allow your offensive linemen to work double teams at the point of attack. The offensive line is all about getting a push, having double teams at the point of attack will push the defender back.

Full House Off-Tackle Youth Football Play

This play is called “Off-Tackle” because the running back cuts off the tackle/guard double team block. This is a basic play with a high success rate.

Full House Youth Football Off Tackle Play The play-side tackle and guard double team the play-side defensive tackle. The right full back will lead block for the running back, with the right running back kicking out the edge defender (defensive end). The tight-end will down block onto a linebacker. The back side of the offensive line will secure their inside gap then look to cut off the defensive pursuit to the football. The full house is also an option friendly formation.

The full house is a great youth football formation. You can do many different things out of this formation. It is easy to implement and the players will catch on rather quickly.

Posted in Coaching tips - Tagged full house formation, full house offense, off tackle football play, youth football offenses

Wishbone Offense- A Youth Football Classic

Feb28
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

The wishbone offense is a trademark offense in youth football. This offense has a great deal of history that has withstood the test of time; it continues to dominate in the youth football world. This offense formation came about during the 1970s and quickly became a popular offense to use by offensive coordinators. The wishbone youth football offense allows you to run the triple option with a lead blocker. The extra blocker was usually used to load block a defensive end or lead block outside for the pitch back (load option). To this day the wishbone is one of the best formations for the option. Many youth football organizations, high schools, and colleges are currently running the wishbone.

What is great about this formation is you can have a two tight-ends look, two receiver look (twins or two split-ends), and one tight and one split-end. Having two split-ends will take defenders out of the box- it will keep safeties out of the box to respect receivers that can really stretch the field. Having split-ends will allow you to either stalk box the cornerback or crack block on a linebacker or safety coming down into the alley. You would think that having two split-ends will take blockers away from the power running game-but the wishbone offense has three backs in the backfield which will still allow you to run an isolation/power play with to lead blockers. Many popular formations today have come from the wishbone.

I have used a 3 play series out of the wishbone to complement my wing t rocket/jet series playbook. I ran the wishbone with one split end and one tight end. This has added flexibility to my play calling. If the defense over shifts to my tight-end side we will run to the split-end side- crack on sweeps and stalk on power plays. If the defense did not shift to the tight-end side we would run power all day to the tight-end side. The wishbone is a solid youth football offense and it is very easy to implement.

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Posted in Coaching tips, Wish Bone - Tagged pop warner, triple option, wishbone offense, youth football

Youth Football I Formation- Power Iso

Jan02
2012 1 Comment Written by Coach Jeff

Power Iso-I Formation

The I formation is a part of youth football tradition. Whether it is your first year coaching or it’s been your 20^th year coaching, everyone knows the power I formation.

This play attacks the interior of the defense. This play is also known by many as I formation Power play. We run it primarly off-tackle. You can double team the defensive tackle to get a push on the line of scrimmage. You can also base block it (one on one). This formation has two tight-ends, half back, fullback, and a power-back. The power-back is lined up behind the tackle. You can do many different things with this power-back. First off, most of the time the defense doesn’t even realize it is an unbalanced formation (we have an extra blocker to the right side). It will also allow you to kick out the defensive end, or you can have the tight-end block the defensive end out and have the power back lead through the point of attack. The fullback will lead through the hole.

Coaching Tip- make sure your running back doesn’t belly towards the quarterback. We want the running back to explode and get the hand off at the point of attack- it is the quarterback’s job to get the ball to the running back at the point of attack.

This play is easy to implement and will provide a high success rate in youth football.

Posted in Coaching Offense, Coaching tips - Tagged I formation, iso, power iso, youth football formations, youth football plays

Youth Football Defense- 4-4 Stack Defense “Storm Blitz”

Oct18
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

One of the Best Youth Football Defenses-44 Stack

The 44 stack defense is one of the great youth football defenses. Because the linebackers are stacked behind the defensive linemen it will create blocking confusion for the offensive linemen. It will keep the offense wondering who is going to attack where? Stack defenses are underrated and under used in youth football.

This youth football blitz play is called to the side you know or think the offense is running to. Like I always say blitz strategically, do not blitz your players out of the play. This play attacks one side of the offensive line with an overload blitz. Defensive tackles have A gaps. The defensive end have C gap. The middle linebacker will have B gap. The outside linebacker will have contain. The backside of the defense will secure gaps then get into pursuit lanes and run to the ball.

This youth football blitz play should be used when teams are running off tackle. If the defense fires out on ball movement, this play should blow the offensive play up. When you are having your linebackers blitz, make sure they blitz with attitude. Meaning, they better go hard, fire out and attack the offense.

Defense Wins Championships! If you have a solid defense you will always have a chance to win!

Good Luck!

Posted in Coaching tips, Defense Misc - Tagged 4-4 stack defense, 44 defense, blitz plays, Youth football defenses

Using Unbalanced Formations in Youth Football

Oct10
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

Unbalanced Formations

Unbalanced formations are a killer in youth football. Most peewee football offensive coordinators do not even implement an unbalanced formation. I have gone interior games without the defense adjusting to my unbalanced.

Unbalanced Left
If we call unbalanced left, we bring our right offensive tackle to the left side of the field.

Unbalanced Right

If we call unbalanced right, we bring our left offensive tackle over to the right side of the field.

What the unbalanced does-it creates an extra gap for the defense. It will also allow you to outnumber the defense with blockers. It is highly underrated and under used. Check out this video of my Unbalanced Wing T Jet Sweep play. When attacking a defense it is important to attack the defense where your offense has good blocking angles and flanks. That is why the wing t offense is great. It will create great blocking angles for your wing and slot back. It is also an unbalanced friendly offense. Do you need an explosive youth football playbook? Or just a few solid youth football plays to use in a playoff game? Check out our Youth Football Offensive Playbooks.

Posted in Coaching Offense, Coaching tips, Wing T - Tagged unbalance football formations, wing t offense, youth football, youth football plays

Wing T Offense- Rocket Sweep

Oct04
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

The rocket sweep out of the Wing T Playbook is a great play for youth football. This sweep play only requires your offense to block 3 defenders to have success. The biggest block on this play is the seal block by the slot back. The defense will eventually adjust and the edge defender will start cheating or slanting to the outside to avoid the hook block. What you can do is have your split end cheat his split down and crack a wide 9 technique defensive end- the slot back will now lead block and take the cornerback that is covering the split-end. Having the split end line up wide will take the corner out of the game. The biggest block is on the edge defender and the outside linebacker (depending on the defense).

This play has the wing back come in motion at full speed (it is important that your motion back does not take a step or lean forward, it is a penalty) and take the pitch outside. The ball should be snapped when the QB doesn’t see the motion back in his vision (when the motion back is behind the QB). The rocket pitch must be a straight pitch to the running back. The ball should be a spiral and should not float in the air. The most important thing is to focus on getting a good pitch out of your QB. He must lead the running back while keeping the ball at jersey number level. The backside linemen must release and try to cut off the defensive pursuit to the ball.

Remember, this play will take REPS in practice. Once the QB gets the pitch and motion timing down the play will bring much success. It will also set up counter, power, and trap plays inside. This is one of the best youth football plays, it is extremely explosive.
Good Luck!

Posted in Coaching Offense, Wing T - Tagged best youth football plays, rocket sweep, wing t offense, youth football plays

Youth Football Plays- Punt Return

Sep26
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Coach Jeff

Youth Football Punt Return Right

Getting a score on a punt return can really swing the momentum in your team’s favor. Having a solid punt return will also help with the field position battle. Here is a play we actually scored two touchdowns on in this weekends game.

There are 6 defensive linemen and there are 2 linebackers, 2 corners, and 1 return player. The 6 defensive line must line up head up on each offensive player. Now there are two ways to do this. One, you can rush the 6 and go for a block. Two, you can have your defensive linemen not let the offensive linemen release, and block them down the field.

The 2 linebackers run back to the punt returner and lead block to the right. Make sure they are aware that a fake is possible. They do not run back to block until the ball is punted. The linebackers are looking to block from the outside in. The two corners will run back to the punt returner. If the punt team has gunners the corners must run with them and block them down the field.

The goal of this play is to have blockers create a wall, sealing the punt coverage inside. It is sort of like a kick return, you want to bring the wall to the ball. Since the ball is not always punted to the right or the middle, you should teach your return team to run this return to the left side as well.

Special Teams in Youth Football is often overlooked. My coaching staff and I spend a large amount of time on special teams in practice, and it pays off. Do not overlook special teams, getting a score and winning the field position battle on specials teams can really help your team achieve victory.

Good Luck!

Posted in Coaching tips - Tagged punt return play, special team plays, special teams, youth football plays, youth football special teams

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