Do they have a kid on the team?

I try to avoid having more than one coach with a kid or relative on the team when selecting my coaching staff. I do not care what anyone says, there will always be a bias towards their kid. Some coaches keep it to themselves and some come straight out and cause problems. Make sure you do research on any potential coach joining your staff. Research means ask other coaches the coach coached with to see if there are anything you can dig up. You can also talk to the parents of previous players he coached.  Many times a youth football player will talk to their parents and will tell them which coaches they like and which ones they do not like.

I am one of the few coaches that do not have a kid or family member on the team I coach.  Here is one better, my assistant head coach/D-coordinator, special team’s coordinator, and my O/D-Line coach do not have kids one the team.  I am lucky that I have guys that do not have kids on the team and have stayed with me for a long time.   Long story short, be very careful which daddy coaches you select.  Bad ones can make your season a nightmare.  I am not saying all daddy coaches are bad or bias, but remember this- when things are not going well, true colors will reveal themselves.

Do they have coaching experience?

When selecting additional assistants I look for coaching experience. Not so much high school, or college coaching experience, but youth football coaching experience. Youth football is an entirely different beast.  It is important that the potential coach has experience with kids.

Bring in some young coaches!

I love bringing in some high school players or players I coached in the past. The kids will sometimes respond more so to the younger, more energetic coaches.  The kids will look up to them and really relate to them. Having some young coaches will bring some energy to the team. They will usually be more hyped up and enthusiastic. When you have coaches that are excited to be there, then the players will be excited to be there.

Final Tip!

This is for my head coaches out there. Make sure all your coaches are on the same page. Make sure they understand the team philosophy and rules. It is the head coach’s job to manage the kids and the coaches as well.  Make sure you set the tone with all the coaches and they understand what is expected of them. It is vital that all coaches act with professionalism at all times, regardless of situation.  Always lead by positive example.

The initial results from this study are extremely encouraging.

90% of the kid athletes monitored did not report an injury. Of the few that did, most were able to get back into their games. The most noted complaint were scrapes and bruises. Concussions occurred less than 4% of the time (a percentage similar to soccer).

Over the last few years, the game has taken an abrupt shift to get safer. It starts with coaching- there are now various online resources to help a coach get better informed about safety practices. There’s a youtube video for everything! Pop Warner and other leagues are restricting hits in practice and are curbing rules to result in smarter, safer play. The equipment manufacturers are producing better helmets. The continuing studies at Virginia Tech by Stefan Duma are helping in these efforts. Helmet manufacturers want a seal of approval- a 5 star rating from VA Tech, read about the latest helmet to receive a 5 star rating.

This recent study proves that progress is being made and the ‘warrior mentality’ (when referring to injuries) in football is fading. We expect the second year of the study to be a better success than the first, with less kids reporting injuries. It’s hopeful that parents that were once afraid to allow their kids to play football, will reconsider their decision. The benefits of playing this game are immense.

This flag football play features three receivers to the right side of the field and two receivers to the left side of the field. The (3) slot receiver will take an outside release and drive his defender up the field. The (2) inside receiver will also take an outside step and drive his route up the field. The (1) split-end will take one outside step then run his inside route. It is important that the (1) receiver has his inside foot forward. This is crucial because the first step should be with his outside foot. This will make the defensive back lean outside. Once the DB leans outside he will not be able to recover. This flag football play is all about timing. You will want your split-end (1) to cut right off the back of the (2) and (3) receivers. When the receiver catches the ball you want him to get up the field. The QB must be ready to execute a quick and accurate throw.

The (5) receiver will run a fade pattern. We want an outside release so that cornerback turns his back to the play.  The (4) receiver will do a five yard out pattern.  If this play is not open, make sure your receivers come back to the QB and get open. It is very important that the inside receivers run their pattern hard up the field. This will take those safeties off the hashes and up the field. This will create more space inside and up the field.

What was going through this soccer players mind?  He felt angered enough to physically assault an innocent man over a bad officiating call.

Let’s breakdown what may have led up to this action:

• How did the parents respect the refereeing?  Were they acting in an aggressive manner toward the refs that could have motivated the child’s behavior.  Angry or overly aggressive parents have no place in youth sports as they poison the reason why the games are played. It’s about the spirit of competition!  
• Have the coaches done their job? It’s a responsibility of a youth coach to teach respect for teammates, opponents and officials. Also to teach how to handle adversity.
• How are the coaches conducting themselves? Is the player just mimicking what he sees his coaches do?

There’s a code of sportsmanship that is present in sports for kids that should never be compromised. It should carry through for all those involved in youth sports competition, including parents and coaches. Should a breach of the conduct code occur, especially with any kind of violence, then serious actions should occur.

Please leave your comments, we’re interested in hearing your opinion.

Credit Photo: vikings.vcsu.edu

and I will start preparing for the season.  Our youth football organization will be having a free speed and agility and a free football camp. This will allow us to measure the athletic ability of our incoming players. I moved down to a younger age group this year and I know very little about the majority of my players.  These camps the next couple of weeks will tell me a lot about the physical ability of my players.

Here are the goals of this free speed and agility camp (this weekend):

• Gauge our players’ physical ability.
• See who is explosive.
• Meet and leave a good first impression on the parents.
• Create excitement about the upcoming season.
• Give the kids a speed and agility pamphlet so they can work on these drills at home.
• Give out a nutrition and hydration guide.
• Drive early and additional signups for the upcoming season.

Here are the goals of our free two-day youth football camp (end of June):

• Gauge our athletes’ physical ability.
• See who is aggressive (by hitting pads and sleds).
• Work on block shedding.
• Work on run blocking.
• Pass coverage.
• Stances.
• Passing routes and stalk blocking.
• QB Throwing and center/QB snap exchange.
• Form tackling. Teach the kids how to tackle SAFELY and effectively.
• Entire kicking game.
• Defensive pursuit to the football.
• Interact with parents. We want to create another good impression on them.
• Give the team a playbook, rules of our team/goals, and another nutrition and hydration guide.

We will also have a couple of coach meetings leading up to the season. It is vital that every coach understands the scheme and what is expected. We want all the coaches to understand their responsibilities and how to execute them properly.  We run a super up-tempo practice. This means everything we do is fast.  To run a successful super tempo practice, it is crucial to have all practices scripted and to have all the coaches on the same page.

Good Luck!

Using an unbalanced formation works well in goal line and short yardage situations.  Another way we use an unbalanced formation is we will go right to the line (no huddle), line up and call the play. This will catch the defense off guard and does not allow them to adjust to the unbalanced formation.  When teams finally realize that you are in an unbalanced formation and start shifting- they will usually over shift their defense. Once the defense over shifts it is a good idea to have a play going away from the unbalanced.

Here is a power football play I use out of an unbalanced formation.

We now have a free split-back football playbook available for immediate download! This PDF playbook is a series based scheme.  Included in this playbook is power, blast, counter, cross, sweep, and power pass plays.  This is a great complementary playbook that will supple your team with a balanced offensive attack! Download it today!  Free Playbook-Split-Back Offense

Simply adding a “Donate Now” button to your league website is a great way to start. Keep in mind that people who make donations online are looking for a simple, straight-forward and easy to understand way to donate. Make sure your button fits the bill. If the process is confusing or difficult, donors will be turned off and will be less likely to finish the process.

Also, if adding a “Donate Now” button, your organization needs to be able to accept credit card donations. You can do this by becoming a merchant at a bank, or by using a third-party credit card processor. There is a fee charged for this service, and the amount will vary depending upon the institution. Banks fees tend to be higher than a third-party processor. However, with a bank your organization’s name will appear on the donor’s statement, whereas if you use a third-party processor, it is their name that appears on the donor’s statement, which can be confusing to your donor. Also, sometimes there will be a delay in receiving the funds with a third-party processor. PayPal is a secure method for receiving funds which can also be used for fundraising. Consider these options carefully.

Set up a “Monthly Donation” plan. Doesn’t that sound perfect? Lots of little donations add up, just like the larger donations. Maybe you can offer incentives or have a give-away for your monthly donors.

Request Fundraising.com’s FREE Fundraising Guide
Get all the information you need to start raising money!

There are a number of reputable websites which will help you organize, advertise and facilitate your online fundraising campaign. There are a host of different services and a wide range of fees. There are a lot of great online fundraising resources available on the internet, just keep in mind that they are looking make money for themselves too. So make sure to do your due diligence before signing on the dotted line.

You might not realize that in forty states, a nonprofit is required to register in order to solicit funds, and not limited to online fundraising. These requirements are not new, but recently they are being more widely enforced. To assure that your organization is compliant, contact your State’s Attorney’s Office or the Office of the Secretary of State for your state in order to find out how to be compliant.

Publicity is fundamental to a successful fundraiser. Get your word out there via social media and word of mouth. Make sure that all your football mailings mention your quick and easy online donations. Explain to your organizations goals and how you plan to use the money.  People will be more willing to help youth football organizations that they feel good about, than one they don’t know much about. Lastly, make sure your message is positive and upbeat!

• Commitment.  Football requires so much commitment from both the players and parents. To be successful in football you have to be committed to it.
• Teamwork. Football is like no other sport in the world. It takes all 11 players to do their job every play in order to be successful.
• Communication. It allowed me to interact with other kids and work together with coaches. Youth Sports will help develop social skills!!
• Kept me out of trouble. Football allowed me to stay in a structured and controlled environment. It allowed me to make friends with the “right crowd”. It kept me busy and did not give me any time to get in trouble.
• Competitiveness. Football has taught me to compete in everything I do. It has taught me to work hard towards winning and to do nothing to lose. I belief to be successful in life you have to compete. The most successful people I know have two things in common. 1. They are hard workers. 2. They love to compete. When you are a competitor you will work harder than someone that does not want it bad enough.
• Friendships. I created countless friendships because of football. I created bounds with teammates and coaches. I still maintain contact with many people I played youth and high school football with. I have also developed friendships with a lot of other coaches, players, and parents nationwide since Youth Football Online.com launched.
• Clean Living. Football taught me the importance of proper nutrition and proper hydration.
• Resilience. Youth football taught me how to deal with defeat. It has taught me how to bounce back and to keep working hard.  It has taught me how to handle adversity.

Youth football has provided me with a bunch of life skills, all of which have help me become successful.  BUT! Nothing would be possible without my parents. They kept me involved in sports and were always supportive. They pushed me to get better every day and expected nothing but a 100% effort and commitment. They would always make sure I was at practice every day and on time. They made several sacrifices with their lives to keep me and my brothers involved in sports.

My parents also did the little things which helped me prepare for football. They would always make sure I was treating and icing any bumps and bruises. They would make sure I eat properly and stayed hydrated.  My parents did a good of keeping me interested in football and gave me every resource needed to be successful.  Football has given me a career and friendships that will last a life time.  I just want to say I am very lucky because I have a supportive family and friend base. My uncles, aunts, brothers, and cousins have all played a major role in creating the person that I am today.  I pride myself in taking what football has taught me and teaching it to every single kid I coach. Here at YFO we have a saying- “Football Is Training for life”.

See what these kids say about youth football!

I belief every child should reap the benefits that come with playing youth football.  Here at Youth Football Online.com we are for promoting the game of football for kids. Click here to join our Movement!

 The Formation. This play features a 5 receiver formation, which really spreads the defense out horizontally (this play can be executed out of many different formations).  We will have 3 receivers to the right side of the field. The two outside receivers are stacked (Y & Z), with a slot receiver inside (outside receiver must be on the line of scrimmage). We will have 2 wide receivers to the left (X & S) (outside receiver is on the LOS).  The QB will be alone in the backfield, in the shotgun formation.

The Motion. The inside shot receiver (RB) will come in full speed jet motion across the formation. To initiate the motion the QB can either give a verbal command or he can give a visual command, whatever you prefer. The QB must get the ball snapped when the motion player is  passing the  far offensive tackle. If the motion is executed at full speed the defender following the motion player will be behind or delayed.  The motion player cannot go or lean forward when going in motion until the ball is snapped. We teach our players to keep their shoulders square to the side lines.

The Bubble Screen Route. The inside receiver (S) to the left will run the bubble route.  When running the bubble screen play, make sure your receiver takes his first step outside and into the backfield.  It is vital that the bubble receiver gets depth and gets his head around after no more than two steps.   Once the ball is caught the (S) needs to get up the field and make a play! Make sure the receiver knows  to catch the first ball, then run. Also, if the receiver drops the ball make sure he understand he needs to fall on it.

The Throw. The QB must give a quick throw to the outside shoulder of the bubble screen receiver. The throw cannot be too high or too low! We want the ball ideally thrown to the outside shoulder, jersey number level.   The quarterback must catch the snap and get the ball out accurately and quickly.

Blocking. The outside receiver (X) will block down on the defender covering the slot bubble screen player. It is very important that the outside receiver(X) understands he must block the defender that is the biggest threat to the bubble screen pass.  The motion player (RB)  will block the cornerback that is covering the outside receiver.  The difference between getting 3 yards and getting 15 depends on how well your blocking is on the outside. As far as the offensive linemen go, they will secure their inside gap, attacking their blocks.

The bubble screen play can really be an effective play on the youth football level. I implement some kind of bubble screen when I have a real good athlete that I want to get the ball out in space.

 Crucial Coaching Tips:

• Practice throwing the bubble play often. The QB must make a quick and  accurate throw. The QB must get the ball out quickly!
• Practice running the bubble screen route properly with multiple receivers.
• WRs must know to jump on the ball if it is not completed.
• Work on stalk blocking and cross blocking in space.
• Work on motion timing.

Click here for more free youth football plays!

Good Luck!

(Hastings, Nebraska) I coach the Huskers youth football team in Hastings, NE, home of coaching legend Tom Osborne. Population of 24k.  We have 6 teams in our league with around 250 kids playing on a yearly basis. Interest in our league is growing every year and our numbers have remained steady over the last 8 years. Our league is for 4th-6th grades and we added all 4th graders and eliminated 7th graders when the public schools added 7th grade football 7 years ago. We primarily draw youth from 3 areas schools  (catholic, public and a rural district), but over the last decade we have grown into a regionally, drawing youth for smaller communities mainly east of us. We have a steady supply of youth athletes who make a two hour round trip to play in our league.

Our youth football league is based on weight and the players are divided into lightweights and heavyweights (squads alternate quarters during our 6 game schedule). We have a minimum weight requirement of 60 lbs and with no max limit. Being a big guy I fought for the no max weight when I got into the league over a decade ago. They used to cut it off at 135 lbs, it was not right to exclude the bigger kids.  We divide the 5th and 6th graders in half to set the weight split.  All 4th graders play play in the lightweight division with the bigger 4th graders being super lightweights and are restricted to playing in the line. We have a 135 lb limit to carry the ball and those bigger are also restricted to playing line.  Each team has two squads on it with around 21+ players on it.

Basically I have two separate youth football teams that I am responsible for and does create its challenges with practices and games. Having a set practice plan is necessary when dealing with this many kids. Over the last 3 years as head coach I have crafted a different practice plan then what most use in our league. Most have separate practices for their lights and heavies on their team. Not a fan of that. Our coaches work with all of our kids, we don’t have light and heavy coaches like the other teams in our league do. We have two squads but we are one team.  We divide most of our practices into 4 segments, two individual periods and team periods. We work on offensive and defensive positions at the same time during  the individual position time. Our lightweights would be with the offensive position coaches while our heavyweights would work with the defensive position coaches, then would switch. Its a great way to manage our time with in our tight two hour practices. Before we would spend all the time in offensive positions and tackle at the beginning of practice. Now we work on both and do tackle drills throughout our practice time. The kids really bought into the plan last year and it really took off. We got this practice plan from the Hastings High football team. Also my younger brother’s youth team in the our league uses a uses this plan for a portion of his practices.

The Youth Football Online Rocket playbook was just what we needed. My team had struggled for a couple of years since I took over. We were searching for an offensive identity after my first year when the former coach (who spent 17 years coaching our league) helped me and called the plays. I looked at every aspect of my team before last season, we changed our attitudes, the way we practiced, and even they we tackled! My two squads were direct opposites, my heavys were built more on power and ran alot of HB and FB dive, OT plays. We valued every position with a 3 yard and a cloud of dust attitude. My light squad was in big play mode all the time, sprinkled in with a mix of power plays. Alot of jet sweeps. By the end of the year we ran alot of wildcat with zone reads. We had predetermined gives and takes with the zone read. It was pretty tough for mainly 4th graders to stop.

My offensive coordinator/Assist. Head Coach loves to run the HB OT play.  I am FB trap/ dive guy and love to pound the rock with the power plays and play solid defense. He runs both offenses, while I run the defenses and coach the O-line.

Our league does have offensive/ defensive restrictions. On offense we cannot have more then 1 guy split to a side. Defensively we have to run a 6 man front (head up on the tackles and guards)   The other five players have to line up 5 yards back before the snap. Most teams run a two TE set on offense and rarely split someone out.

I am excited for my 2013 season, we return alot of young players who are very athletic, quick and aggressive. Could be the best team we have had since we won the league title in 2007.

 Have a great turnaround story? Share with us at youthfootballonline@gmail.com.