The following information was shared with me many years ago so I’m passing it on. In order to run a successful football program you must be able to develop a plan and a plan that unites the administration, staff, coaches, and players for a common cause for winning, and developing athletes of character.
Considerations on how to chase a State, League, Section, or District Title:
Expect it to Happen – 150% Effort
Talk and think in terms of success – believe it will happen
Dream Big – Stay Focused – Have a Vision
Develop a Plan – Believe in It – Improve it constantly
Analyze and Make Your Plan Fit; It Must fit your personnel
No One Person More Important Than the Team.
Develop a Great Learning Environment
Involve Everyone in the Community
Develop Players Who are Dedicated and Unselfish
Sacrifice – Team – Hold the Rope
Always Stay Positive Coach Up to Your Top Position Skill Players.
Always look for good – Attitude, performance, work habits, etc.
Have discipline, be consistent.
Make each player on your team understand that they have a role in the success of their team whether as a starter or as a backup.
Accountability the key ingredient. Must be able to hold each other up.
Have a Great In-Season: Must Prepare Like Champions
This is where you must maintain the edge i.e. classroom, weight room.
Your season must also be determined by the amount of work and sacrifice you develop in the in-season programs.
Develop great Team Leaders, lead by example.
Maintain Speed – Quickness – Strength – Unity – Mental Toughness.
Check List: Prior To Getting the Season Started – The Scheme
The following information should be used as a starting point in regards to getting your schemes ready for installation. Use this following as a ready list:
OFFENSE: GENERAL STRUCTURE
Huddle alignment, information conveyed by QB, procedure for breaking huddle.
How plays are to be communicated to QB. Substitutions or signals (hand signals from sideline, wristbands, etc.).
Snap Count (cadence).
Audible System.
Hand Signals if Applicable
Formations & Alignment.
Personnel Groupings.
Numbering System.
Motion – Receivers & Backs.
Defensive technique numbering system.
Stance & Start – First steps
OFFENSIVE POSITIONS – The following position assignments should be covered on a daily basis;
Centers
Stance / Gripping the ball / Snap & exchange with QB (gun or Under center) / Steps / Blocks
Ace, Duece and Trey combinations
Set the huddle whether you are up tempo or huddle team
Linemen
Blocks: Base
Drive
Reach
Down
Trap
Log (Hook)
Combo’s (Ace, Duece, Trey)
Zone (Inside – Outside)
Scoop or Zone (Backside)
Pass Protection:
3 step drop (300 series).
5 step drop (500 series).
Play Action (100 series) – To or away.
Sprint Out (800 – Right, 900 Left).
Screens – To or away.
Assignments – Run & Pass (To or away).
Tight Ends: (Same as linemen plus…)
How to carry the football.
How to catch the football.
Pass Routes.
Releases for routes.
Running Backs:
How to carry the football. Left & right.
How to catch the football.
How to key blocks as to where to run.
Blocks: Lead / Kick out / Load / Perimeter / Pass Protection Blocks
Assignments: Ball to or Ball away.
Quarterbacks:
Stance
Snap & exchange with center.
Snap count / clear – assertive – slow.
Gripping the ball / ball position.
First steps.
Handoffs / ball position.
How to carry the ball.
Faking.
Mesh If Applicable.
Throwing motion. Entire body (not just arm movement).
Pitch – Option motion. Left & Right.
Defensive fronts & adjustments to formations.
Defensive secondary alignments & adjustments to formations.
Pass Drops:
One Step.
Three step.
Five step.
Seven Step.
Sprint out.
Play action.
Boots
Screens
Draws
Assignments: Run / Pass
DEFENSE: GENERAL STRUCTURE
Huddle
Versus No Huddle Stall
No Huddle Hurry-up
Formations and adjustments to them.
Motion and adjustment to it.
Signals for defensive calls.
No huddle offenses adjustments.
Personnel groupings.
Sideline organization.
DEFENSIVE POSITIONS
Down Linemen:
Stance & Alignment.
Gap control.
Keys.
First step and blow delivery.
Reaction to different blocks:
Drive / reach / down / trap / zone / scoop (backside)
Pass rush techniques.
Line stunts. Pass or Run.
Contain responsibilities.
Tackling & pursuit drills.
Linebackers:
Stance & Alignment.
Gap control.
Keys.
First step and blow delivery.
Reaction to blocks and backfield action:
Drive / reach or zone / down / trap / pass protection.
Reaction to different types of passes and protection.
Pass drops and coverage’s.
Stunts – run or pass stunts.
Contain responsibilities.
Tackling & pursuit drills.
Secondary:
Stance & Alignment.
Sideline, hash marks, and field position adjustments.
Keys.
Coverage’s: Zone (concept behind it). Man. Combination of zone & man.
First steps.
Reaction to pass routes or run.
Techniques vs. run blocks.
Techniques vs. pass routes.
Different alignment adjustments for certain coverage’s. Press drills.
Contain drills.
Tackling drills & pursuit drills.
Stunts.
KICKING GAME:
Regular Punt, Spread Punt & Coverage
Tight Punt & Coverage
Alignment and technique.
Center Snap
Punter
Quick Kick & Coverage
Fake Punt Run / Pass
Reaction to blocked punt.
Rules
Punt Return
Alignment and technique.
Field Ball, Fair Catch
Right – Left – Middle – Reverse
Punt Block
Rules
One or Two Returners Deep?
Hold Up?
Kickoff
Alignment and technique.
Kicker : Deep Onside – High Onside – Squibb
Pooch
Coverage
Kickoff After Safety
Rules
Harsh Marks or Middle Kick
Kickoff Return
Alignment and technique.
Middle – Right – Left – Reverse – Specials
Expecting Onside (Hands Team)
Kickoff Return After Safety
Rules
Star Burst
Personnel Groups
Extra Point
Alignment and technique.
Fake
Fire vs. bad snap
Reaction to blocked EP.
Swinging Gate If Applicable
Rules
Two- point plays.
Field Goal
Alignment and technique.
Fake
Reaction to blocked FG.
Field Goal after fair catch.
Rules.
Extra Point and Field Goal Block
Right – Left – Middle – Look for fake.
Return
When to return Kick or let the ball hit the ground.
About the Author of this post:
Jerry Campbell has over 30 years of high school and college coaching experience. He has experience as a head coach, offensive coordinator, and various position coaches. He has written numerous football coaching articles in various publications, is the author of over 30 books on coaching football, and has produced 12 coaching video series. Additionally, he is a nationally sought after speaker on the coaching clinic circuit.