offensive numbering system???

I don't see why not - it's not like there is a WT/DW secret police force that will punish you if you don't use their numbering system. LOL. The only downside I see is that there might be some confusion when talking with coaches/players from other, traditional WT or DW systems. I'm not sure why that would be a concern, though, so I'd say go for it if that's what you want to do.

I don't think either guy calls his system a shotgun wing t, but do searches on Ted Seay and jhanawa, and I think you'll quickly see the WT influence in their systems.

i ran wing t one year with the delaware numbering system, i don't know if i would do it again. the "traditional" numbering system is easier to teach and unless you've started coaching those kids from the time they started playing, will be what they have been taught. so you're fighting an uphill battle with some teams you coach.

For double wing the common hole numbering system is the usual T odd-even inside-out kind, which makes perfect sense because the offense is symmetric.

However, I don't know what the "traditional" hole numbering system is for wing T. What I've seen is split about equally between the same odd-even inside-out and systems that number straight across. Of the latter, some keep it the same left-right and some reverse it when they flip the wing side.

Is anyone convinced that the players learn their assignments better when there's any hole numbering system than if there's none?

And that's perfectly suited to wing T because the plays aren't symmetric.

OK, let's assume the kids actually learn the numbering system and that it does help with their assignments. After 1 or maybe 2 years with one numbering system, what percentage is going to keep or resume playing football at all, and of those how many with another numbering system? If you've read my posts in other threads you know my philosophy is to coach for now, not for some years down the line. If you thought playing with a Jello-filled ball on a field made of shredded newspaper wearing Indian head dress somehow made for a marginally better experience for them this year, I'd say go for it.

I reluctantly changed numbering systems from a "standard" left/right to a Wing-T system (even though they don't run a Wing-T) a few years ago to align with our high school and middle schools. Although I griped about changing and thought about sticking with what I had initially, it just honestly wasn't that big a deal. Our kids made the change as easily, or easier than I did.

Dave Hartman
CYFL Coach

I believe the back and hole numbering makes it simpler, not harder for the backs and linemen. "power right" actually takes more memorization than '24 power" for example.

I have always used the traditional system and had really good luck with it, but if someone told me calling the 1 hole chicken works the best I'd be willing to give it a try.

^{it's not like there is a WT/DW secret police force that will punish you if you don't use their numbering system}

Um Doug, both systems do HAVE secret CULT POLICE, complete with secret handshakes, invisible inked playbooks, decoder rings...........coaches have been know to disappear and reappear months or years later running the Wing T or DW, there are rumors of "reprogramming camps", be careful, very, very careful, or you might find yourself running Super Power 46 times in a row.......LOL

OMG - that literally made me laugh out loud. I will try to be careful, but if anything happens to me, I think you'll know what happened - please alert the authorities ... LOL.

and I will disagree with you too, when a kid goes "uh who carries the ball on power?" vs "24 power" which TELLS them not only who but where.

I maintain that numbers are added and have been added forever to make it simpler, not harder. shorter verbage may SEEM simpler because you SAY LESS but you THINK MORE ...

the more a play call can communicate, the less memorization required.

I've tried both and honestly I will never use hole numbers again for the little ones.

The older kids, sure, but 5,6,7,8yrs old aren't getting it.

They can't even do 4 count jumping jacks at that age....

If u are going to have maybe 5-6 plays i agree its easy to just say:

sweep right
sweep left
counter right
counter left
blast right
blast left
trap right
trap left

no doubt, thats simple, its still going to take memorization and the kids still have to relate the name of the play to their actions. each word is a CUE to stimulate their recall.

replacing "2" with "tailback" still requires that you teach the kids the position names.

in any case, why not just call plays:
"annexation of puerto rico"

The toughest item on hole numbering is that a defense can stem, stunt, or blitz the hole and some kids can't keep the flow to the next open run gap or hole.

My preference is to call the run action used and its complimentary blocking style, and if things change on the go they do so. Directional generic run terms instead of specific holes, target the gap outside or inside the play side guard(one for IZ, the other for a run looking to bounce out to front).

Then a wider sweep or OZ landmark for the other runs in the series.

League rules mandate numbering because of ineffective coaching, players were having to "unlearn" wrong techniques, etc. In trying to develop some consistency and familiarity with planning we went number system.

Never mind the coaches on my team last year changed the numbering system twice(odd right instead of even, etc.) and had to be reminded otherwise. One step forward, two leaps back, and all that....

We dont number our holes. The main reason is because at least half of the high schools have gone away from this practice. It is just eaiser to say dive right or sweep left