Youth league philosophy

yes. 33 is nothing more than an adjusted 53....

I have seen base 35 teams smoke Wing T teams in our conference before, too.

comes down to execution. As far as I've seen, no defense is unstopable against one offense and vis versa. I'm not trying to argue anything, just stating my menial opinion. However, I think we as coaches try to make this stuff more complicated than it really is to satisfy some need for something or whatever.

Youth league ....fundamentals and fun - anything else you can get is gravy. Kids have fun, they will improve (take an interest). When they improve, they will win...when the kids are winning / improving / progressing, the parents get behind it. Program consistency is built. I don't believe you HAVE to run the same thing as the varsity, because Calande brings up some good points about how things change, however it helps when you have consistency (all the way around).

I guess what I'm saying is....when we win games are we going to give credit to the KIDS for executing and "wanting to win" ....or are we going to pat ourselves on the back, marvelling on how we out-smarted so-and-so...."it's a good thing those kids followed my game plan.."?

I see coaching as giving the kids all the credit and the coaches take all the blame...irregardless of what the "truth" may be.

coachf

if wedge is what works, we will never call anything else. i would call wedge 85 times a night if they can't stop it. a good wedge run correctly is maybe the TOUGHEST of the schemes in the DW to teach/coach. wedge is only successful if a guy is willing to spend the time to intall it correctly.

now, i would agree, they need to learn the other things that make DW successful as well

As a youth coach that has done this for 15 years or so I know a little bit about the subject. As to youth teams not throwing much: the top HS team in Nebraska, Millard North ( Largest Class A) averages less than 2 throws per game, and had several no pass games. During the State finals, they threw twice. This team averaged nearly 500 yards per game offense and about 400 ypg in the last 5 years, running the ball. As to preparing these HS kids " for the next level" They get their share, but most NEVER go to the next level they want to have fun and win at the level they are at.
As to Schemes not winning games for you at the youth level: I went from "I" option to Single Wing in 2002 and my teams are 51-1 since then. It went from whoever had the best atheletes every year to kids and coaching. My teams have little size or speed and we beat those that do by big margins.

CMON FELLAS, WEDGE BLOCKING IS USED ON THE HS LEVEL...NOT FOR EVERY DOWN BUT ITS USED...ITS USED IN THE PROS TOO.

HS teams right here in Nebraska runa few Wege plays and do well with them. Stanton HS has been to 2 of the last three State Tourneys and lost in the finals in 2004. Bellevue East HS
( Largest Class) has done a lot with little talent and low enrollment, running the DW since 2001.

Isn't it true you once associated with known Double Wing Abolishionist Party members?

At the YOuth level we use the wedge to set up home run plays , like Buck wedge or buck wedge pass ( in 2003 15-20 for 11 TDS). My youth team averaged over 10 ypc with the wedge in 2002 and in 2005 our BB wedge averaged over 20 YPC so it isnt a short yardgae play, its a home run play if run correctly.. On my regular FB wedge Im going to run it until you over commit to stop it , then run the complementery play. Our kids love the play , as al 11 are involved in the success of it, true "team" football.

In a youth game with 51 snaps I once ran the FB wedge with my SW offense 31 times. We run that play 3 different ways, out of 2 different formations at age 8-10.. I had little choice. My TB got kicked in the shins on play 2 and could not run without a limp. My WB was out with the flu.My BB was very average player and that was our first year running SW, so we only had one play where he would run the ball, ( now I have 5) My backups were just 8 year olds that had a real problem ( despite intense coaching) knowing what to do most plays. We were playing the best team we would face that season. They refused to take away our wedge play and we had no other descent weapons. We won by 3 TDs ( closesnt game) and were able to score on a complementery play ( Buck Wedge) as well as run the wedge at will.
The other team ran a sweep play as thier base play, I chose to shut that play down, they refuseed to shut down my wedge play, who was wrong?

I got the DW from a girl in Ames.....required a shot from the free clinic

Winning is something that has to be learned. It is huge advantage if your kids EXPECT to win. As a kid in baseball even when behind 8-0, I played on teams where we expected to and did win. On the contrary at both the youth and HS level I see many teams that play and EXPECT to lose. At the youth level we have teams that are much bigger and faster than us and have huge numbers advantages. They see all our championship banners and how loose our kids are in pre game and how well organiized we are and EXPECT to lose. Our kids EXPECT to play well and do, the others EXPECT the opposite and invaribaly it happens. We have won so many ganes we shouldnt have.
We are competetive because we found that if we werent the kids would quit, Ghetto kids wont play for losing programs and we cant help them if they arent around for us to help,. Hence we decided to swallow our pride and learn how to win from others ( rather than stick to our own closed minded old ways regardless of the record) and have had incredible success and grown our program and helped 100s of kids since then.

heres a question for folks...

suppose you are a middle school or frosh coach...you have a GREAT fullback on your team and your team is an I formation team...you think a belly series would be a great fit for YOUR TEAM because of this fullback...you really want to get him some more touches....is it appropriate to ask the boss if you can put in a belly series? I did that today...

I think that the Belly is an essential part of the I fromation, so I would do that in a heartbeat. With middle school and freshmen it is important to involve and develop each player, but if you have a stud you need to prepare them for the load they will have when they get older. That fine line between solely depending on one player and using a great player judiciously is tough to gauge. I think some guys in lower levels (I'm speaking of my area and experiences, not everyone) tend to ride a stud player for every play and every game. In those lower levels, physical development makes a huge difference. We have had some kids who put up huge numbers in JFL and come to HS finding out everyone else has caught up to them. A lot of those kids have some bad habits they picked up during their "stud" years. For example, we have a running back who runs straight up and is impossible to teach proper running technique. If he were Eric Dickerson that would be one thing, but kids don't bounce off him anymore, they cut him down. He is a very big kid who picked up some very bad habits.

If your coach is upset about putting in a Belly series, tell him to stop running the I.

I agree Brophy....teach them to block and tackle, teach them to run and catch, teach them to punt, pass, and kick. Leave the rest up to me.

I went to Penn St's coaching clinic last year and Coach Kenney drew up a play and as I looked at it I couldn't help myself and blurted "That's the wedge" and that was exactly what it was.
If it is good enough for Penn st and Joe-Pa I guess it is good enough for my kids.
Jim