Distributing Playbooks

Only my second year with my current program, but last year we did not hand out anything. We only provided Hudl clips. This year, our HC is in the process of developing a separate playlist on Hudl that will be the playbook.

Three years ago I gave everyone one. Found a lot of them on the floor, or stuffed in lockers at the bottom at the end of the year. Won 4 games. Second year, I made them optional. Made them available to kids that wanted one. Found fewer stuffed in lockers. Won 6 games. Last year, didn't give them out to any kids. Won 10 games.

Now, I'm not making a correlation with lack of playbooks=more wins, but I don't think 90% of your kids even look at them. I look at it as I'm trying to make the world greener.

What we do.

We do print formation sheets and the 1 page with all the passing concepts on them to give to kids prior to 7on7, but never a FULL playbook. Some of the kids need a visual thing to look at when learning formations and having the concepts broken into #1, #2, #3 seems to speed up the learning process as well.

We put our playbooks on line, like HUDL and our own team forum board. We do not print out a playbook nor do we have our entire playbook on there. The basics like formations, zone count, routes, etc.

QB's have access to other stuff like different coverages and hot routes, etc.

We used to.
Tremendous waste of paper.
We teach off Hudl and in the classroom now.
We do have a playbook on Hudl and I have manuals. But no playbook issue to kids.

Never have done a playbook; I agree with a lot of what people have written here, moreover I think kids who have playbooks would think they know the defense by memorizing everything on paper. I dont care what you can draw up on paper, I care how you react as soon as the ball is snapped.

I have a ppt. I show it at the start of spring, and start of summer camp. Most everything in there the kids alreadt know anyways (ie. if I call strong, then our DL will slant strong). I don't want to have that complex of a system that the kids need a book

Kevin
In 2011, we gave out a paper playbook to everyone (first time ever for this program) and then collected them at the end of the year.
In 2012, we gave out a paper playbook to anyone who asked for one. The seniors rarely ask for one but alot of the sophomores or inexperienced juniors will ask.
This year. we will only give out a paper playbook to anyone who asks for one.

Each year and this year too, the Offensive Line gets a handout full of information they will need to know. The skilled players also get a handout of our formations, motions, and passing routes. I have used a powerpoint with the offensive line the last 2 years and went over it in a classroom. If they wanted a copy of it, I sent it to them. I will do the same this year.

New coaches or lower level coaches probaly get the most of out actual paper playbooks. If there was a way to make playbooks more interactive with videos etc. and able to view online (especially with a smart phone), more kids might be interested in them.

I think its good to have a few options available. I used to give out handouts (with formation and play diagrams, not an entire playbook). Then when Hudl came around I made playlists and shared them. The playlists were presentations with cutups mixed in. I found some kids would still ask for handouts tho. If a kid is asking, why not just give it to him on paper. Some kids still learn that way.

So going forward, I'll put most stuff up on Hudl, but I'll also have some handouts available for those who ask.

** On a sidenote, Hudl presentation mode is great BUT that are not yet viewable on smartphones. Most kids use smartphones to view Hudl so I will continue to make my own "presentations" and post them as playslists. Its really easy btw. you just import powerpoint slides into MovieMaker (or a comparable program) and then just drag and insert the video in. Clearly not as easy as a presentation but until Hudl makes em available on the phones thats what I'll do

At a small school like I'm at, in my experience it's a waste of time. Too may on floor, stuffed in locker, etc.

I haven't given one out in years, not since I've been in places where kids may move from school to school in the same city. I don't want my playbook showing up at my rival school.

I like the idea I see here, though, of putting it on HUDL. I think I'll do that.

Us too, so I agree with you. But, what do you say when parents ask for it for the kids?

Tell the parent that their son can come and talk to you about it. Boilerplate answer for any situation where it should be the kid and not the parent who is addressing it. Part of growing up is learning how to handle these things for yourself.

And if the parent is really asking for their own benefit, well, no parent needs a playbook anyway...