Collection of Approaches to In-season Game planning and Preparation
The purpose of this post is not to say that you should adopt these schedules. It is merely to give you ideas from what a few programs do.
The following is a collection from programs around the country and their approach to in-season game playing and preparation.
Our week begins on Saturday. Game film is usually up pretty quick on Friday nights and we will share the entire game including all 3 angles with the staff and players. Coaches are responsible for adding notes and corrections by noon on Saturday and sharing with their position group. We will also film exchange following the game on Friday night with our upcoming opponent. Usually we will already have their past games they have played and it will be tagged by the staff. I don’t bring the staff in on Saturdays. My philosophy is that with Hudl we can get lots of work done on our own on Saturday. It also gives guys a chance to recharge and get some stuff done with their families.
Aside from reviewing our game and making corrections each coach has hudl responsibilities. We do the games as we get them so much of the tagging is already done. The only thing left is our opponent’s most recent game.
Sunday at 4 PM we will get together as a staff. We will have a staff meal and talk about Friday in addition to our upcoming opponent. Following our meal and discussion we will break up as a staff and finalize our scouting report and game plan ideas. Offensively we will review film and each coach will share ideas based on what he has seen on film. I will also take time to meet with our defensive coordinator to discuss our game plan and we will each share thoughts on what it will take to be successful.
We will share our scouting report with the players Sunday evening so that they can have a look at it prior to Monday. This is done through Hudl presentations. It has taken the place of handouts.
On Mondays we will go helmet and shells and begin to install our game plan. Tues and Wednesday are full gear days. Wednesday we will do lots of situational football. We practice Thursday morning in helmets and shells. It is a very brisk paced practice. On Fridays we will have walk throughs and meetings following our team meal.
Each coach in our program has several types of duties/responsibilities throughout the week. Each coach will have Hudl and game planning responsibilities. Each will also have off the field duties such as locker room supervision, field equipment, equipment room, etc. On Fridays we all have designated responsibilities on the field or press box.
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Sunday: Coach’s offensive and defensive meetings to go over game film from previous Friday. We discuss what we did well and what we need to improve upon for the upcoming week. Then we move onto our next opponent and begin game planning for the next week’s game. Go over fronts, coverages and pressures that our opponent likes based off film exchange and previous years games.
Monday: Freshmen and JV game day. Being as that I am the offensive coach for the freshmen, I am at these games for my coaching responsibilities. The varsity lifts, goes over opponent game film, does defensive and special teams cover down and then a conditioning run for their Monday practice session.
Tuesday: Team meeting with every player in the program to start practice. Freshmen then are excused early to go lift. Freshmen start on offense and JV/Varsity starts on defense. Practice is in full pads and we switch offense/defense after about an hour.
Wednesday: Team meeting with every player in the program. Once the meeting is dismissed, practice starts with freshmen on offense and JV/Varsity on defense. Practice is in full pads and we switch offense and defense after about an hour.
Thursday: Team meeting with every player in the program. Freshmen are excused early to go lift. Once practice starts, freshmen are divided into two groups if we have enough players and we scrimmage. JV/Varsity starts on defense doing mainly a team portion of practice versus scout offense. Once the defensive coaching staff is satisfied, they switch to offense. The freshmen have a quick run through on defense and then are done for the day. JV/Varsity offense goes right into team and finishes once we’ve gone through our entire script.
Friday: GAME DAY!! Players are expected to be back at the school 15 minutes before the bus leaves for an away game or by 5 o’clock for a home game. Saturday: Players have film from the night before with the Head coach and coordinators. This is an optional day for the other assistant coach’s. __________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday: Day off for players, but possible community service. Coaches meet to discuss game-plan and practice outline for the week. Video Prep.
-Depending on whether we are in season (separate offensive and defensive meetings) or off-season (all coaches meet together) we will go over opponent specific schemes, personnel and game plans. Develop a practice schedule and determine the goals we want to accomplish each practice before game day.
Position coaches cut their scout video to send to their players on HUDL.
Coordinators develop game plan, practice outline and goals.
Head coach has final say over both coordinators’ plans. Revises final practice plans including any special events.
Team parents organize, coordinate and execute any community service events.
Monday:
Film-Defense, PAT/FG, Play Review Offense, Installation-Defense and Offense, Conditioning – Cardio/Legs, 1/2 Pads
Defense gets the film room on Monday and DC runs the session.
STC organizes scout and PAT/FG teams.
OC/DC skeleton installation and/or play review.
Position coaches organize and implement individual drills during their teaching period.
Offensive position coaches meet to discuss tomorrow’s film session if necessary.
Head Coach addresses team outlines week.
Tuesday:
Film-Offense, Punt Team/Punt Return, Installation Defense, Scout Offense, Turnover Tuesday! Conditioning – Upper body, Full Pads
OC Runs film session.
STC organizes scout and Punt/Punt Return teams
OC/DC go over play calls and opposing teams’ schemes.
7 on 7 and Inside game features focus on creating turnovers.
Wednesday:
Kick-off/Kick Return, Installation Offense, Scout Defense, Big Play Wednesday! Conditioning – Core, Leadership Council, Full Pads
STC in charge of scout team and kick-off/kick return teams.
OC and DC go over line and formation adjustments. Play review and scenarios.
Focus on 7 on 7 is creating big plays.
HC meets with leadership council to discuss game captains and any other issues.
Thursday:
Study Hall, All Specials, Walk through ½ Field, Sideline Roll Call, 2 Minute Drill, Pep rally! Mental and Physical Preparation, helmets only
HC gives out helmet stickers earned and names game captains. HC Attends pep rally before practice.
Mandatory Study Hall
OC/DC finalize play sheets
STC goes over every special team and scout.
HC in charge of sideline roll call: Who is your injury replacement!?
OC/DC final play review
Friday: GAME DAY!
7:00pm at South City, 4:00pm Dressed and Ready + Meal/Meetings, 5:00pm Bus. Pre Game Talk
OC and DC in charge of their own meetings
Team Parents in charge of pre-game meals
Position Coaches have varying responsibilities: Ensuring that we have charged headsets, Gatorade bottles, in game snacks, back up whiteboards, play sheets, game balls, extra uniforms etc.
HC makes sure we are on time for each step of the way.
In game: OC/DC communicate with coaches in the booth for in-play analysis/adjustments. Position coaches are in charge of monitoring substitutions with Coordinator consent. Head coach makes final decision on key moments. (4th down plays, special team fakes, personnel etc.)
HC in constant communication with training staff.
OC/DC review and prepare film for meeting tomorrow.
Saturday: Rest and Recovery. Play Review Offense and Defense, Conditioning – Stretching, Film Review, Film Trade/Edit, Helmets only
Players report for light calisthenics, stretching and to get treatment.
OC/DC review plays and conduct film review Post Practice:
HC makes connections to trade film.
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We have a different schedule than most everyone else. Being a Middle School, our 8th grade games are on Tuesdays and 7th grade games are on Wednesdays. I will approach this post as we will do this year with my 8th graders. On a side note, our 7th and 8th grades compete separately as two different teams, each with a varsity and a JV. I brought a change to my school 4 years ago and now structure practice together as one whole team, utilizing our 8th graders as “upper classman” when it comes to leadership both on and off the field. We do our skill development sessions together and run the same offense and defense so that our 8th graders can act as leaders for the 7th graders. Below is how we schedule our preparations:
Tuesday 8th Grade Gameday / 7th Grade Pre Game
Wednesday 8th Grade Post Game / 7th Grade Gameday
Thursday STUDY HALL then combo practice, offensive day
Friday Combo practice, defensive day Monday 8th Grade Pre-game / 7th grade offensive day As far as coaching schedules, I do not require my volunteer coaches to work on the weekends. We do not exchange film at this level, but I do film all of our games and will spend my weekends prepping for the next opponent along with my OC using film from previous years and scouting reports done during our bye week when we are allowed to scout.
On Tuesday’s after our games, I take all my coaches out for pizza and my OC and I present the game plan for the week. I allow all my coaches to have input in the weekly practice schedule while installing the game plan. On Wednesday after practice, we will meet again briefly to go over our game plan again so that we can install Thursday and Friday. I ask that my coaches stay after practice for at least 30 minutes to discuss how practice went and what we need to improve for the next day.
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.