Motion is vastly underused in youth football. The benefits of implementing motion cannot be overlooked. Here are 3 reasons why you should implement motion in your youth football offense.
Creates Conflict
Motions like jet and rocket will put the defense in a serous conflict. Executing plays like jet and rocket sweep will attack the edge of the defense quickly. Jet sweep and rocket sweep will allow the ball carrier to receive a pitch or hand off while running at full speed. It will force the defense to either adjust to the motion or get beat by the motion. It will force defenses to over shift or roll defenders to the motion side. Once the defense starts to over shift, they open themselves up for plays that attack the opposite side of the motion. Many coaches will not know how to adjust to the motion, especially if they do not scout your team and practice their adjustment to it in practice. Teams that have to change or adjust to the motion on the fly usually do not fair very well. There will be massive confusion with their defense if they have not prepared for it in practice.
Check out Coach Jeff’s dominating Jet Sweep Play:
Overload
You can use motion to send another blocker to the point of attack. You can use a motion back to lead block, kick out or trap block. It will also create an unbalanced formation. In youth football many coaches do not even notice or adjust to an unbalanced formation. Since many coaches do not adjust their defenses to an unbalanced formation it will give your offense the blocker/defender ratio advantage. Using motion is also a man to man killer. Having a player go in motion will force a defender to follow the motion player. You can use the motion to clear out a side and then run to it. You can use motion to also take their best player out of the game by making him follow the motion back.
Deception
Deception is vital in youth football. Having plays that offer deception will make the defense read instead of reacting. It will make the linebackers and secondary react indecisively because they are not sure where the play is going. It will also draw eyes to the motion player. Once the defense starts over playing to the motion side you can hit them with a counter or inside trap play. Having a player come in motion creates big problems for defensive coordinators.
Jet Motion
In Jet Motion the motion player come straight across the formation, horizontally. This motion is used when running jet sweep. This motion is also a great way to get a lead blocker in front of the running back.
Rocket Motion
A deeper motion that will allow the ball carrier to get the ball and get down hill when blocking or receiving a pitch. Usually rocket motion goes right behind a fullback or half back.
Please Note: The motion player cannot go or lean forward while in motion. The motion player is not allowed to gain any ground going forward until the ball is snapped, or it is a penalty. A motion player can go backwards and or horizontally, but not forward.
