Play calling system

We use words for all of our plays in the spread game. Pretty simple verbage and kids have really caught on.

- Spread Mesh (2x2, KY Mesh)
-Trips Rt Veer Rt (3x1)
etc...

We are spread no huddle, although this system could apply to double wing slow it down.

Everything we do is off of wristbands. It makes things so easy. We put each position's assignment on the wristbands. There are 100 places on the bands for plays numbered 0-99. We just call 45 right or left and the players run play 45.

During games we are no huddle. I will either signal in the plays, use a markerboard, or just yell it in. We have a very simple way to signal or use the markerboard. I have had one situation in five years were I thought the other team stole one of our plays. And we just checked to another play.

We do not change the numbers during the year, but could easily with a new wristband each week (I know teams that do this). In other words, play 45 in spring is still the same in the 10th ball game. We obviously might delete plays, add plays, or tweak them, but our base plays should stay the same. We do put plays in series to help. The 10's are qb runs, 70's screens, etc.

There are some really good added benefits to this. The players learn how to do something right instead of learning what to do because their assignments are on the band. We never miss an assignment in games. Huge bonus!

It is easy to to swap positions especially for the receivers or line. Our wristbands have three place for cards. The receivers get the SE and slot card and now they can play any of the four positions. The line gets T,G,and C card so they can play any of the line spots.

We get a tremendous amout of reps done in practice due to no huddle and not having to remember assignmnets.

Do not worry about someone stealing your signals, in fact, hope that they try. We actually completely had another team decipered one year. Our coaches knew exactly what was coming each play. No joke. But because they were so fast in snapping (and very good anyway) , our coaches couldn't make any adjustments fast enough and our players were looking at us for what play was coming instead of just playing. They hung 38 on us in the first half and 52 for the game. I really believe it was because we concentrated on stealing their signals. Defenses have to get their signal, line up to your formation, adjust to motion. They don't have time to steal signals. Remember we have three easy ways (signal, board, yell it).

With any system the plays don't have to be descriptive. You can call zone right, 32, 32 right, zone right, zebra, zorro, black, etc. The players will learn it however you call it, that is why we just use numbers for everything. Even though the wristbands have the assignments, the players catch on pretty quickly to your base plays and don't have to look at the band.

Any adjustments to plays are on the wristband instead of tagging. Shallow might be number 80. Shallow with SE might be 81. Shallow with a curl might be 82. Trips shallow might be 83. The players will learn the numbers. But the good thing is, they really don't have to since their assignmnets are on the band.

Formations: we just yell them in, or put them on the whiteboard. I could care less if the other team knows what formation we are in, they are about to see it anyway.

We call formations by number of receivers on each side. Examples: 2x2 (said 2 by 2) means doubles. 1x3 means trips right. Bx1 means bunch left. 2xP means doubles left, pro right. 1AxP means pro right with 2 in the backfield. 1Ex3 means empty trips right (the back empties on the left). Empty is the only time I tell the back were to line up. All other times the play on the writband tells him were to line up.

Typical play call: 32 right=zone right. 1x3 32 left = trips right, zone left. By the way, we code how we signal right and left. It is very simple. Our signals overall are very simple. I don't want to tell you them here, but will over email.

I signal the plays in. I don't even have someone sending in dummy signals. It will take a team about three plays to figure out who the real signaller is anyway. I do have someone with a whiteboard in case I want to do that on a play. The reason I signal them in is because of speed. Just my personality, but I can not stand waiting. I want the ball snapped now. We actually do best on offense when I am yelling them in. We are full speed and rolling. I know I can't do that the whole game, but it definately works.

Anyway, this might not be what you are looking for, but maybe someone else might like it, or even give me a better way.