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Post by hsrose on Aug 20, 2019 9:34:43 GMT -6
How do you practice with low, as in 14-18 players, each day? I'm used to numbers in the upper 20's so I can have at least some kind of scout O/D/K. But with numbers below 18 how do you practice?
Yes, I'm doing half-line, but I'm finding that there are problems with that as well, namely I end up with the same guys on the same guys which means that if 1 is strong and 1 is not I get the same result regardless of what we're doing.
I'm looking at changing the emphasis to much more skill/indy and group instead of team. Can't do team unless it's offense on air. Special teams have nobody to even line up with much less have any contact.
I have a JV team with 28 or so players, but I'm not thinking I want to make them the scout team for the offense as that takes away from their preparation and they are the future of this program, I don't want to beat them into submission.
What are some tips, techniques, and concepts for running practice with low numbers? What do you guys do?
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Post by carookie on Aug 20, 2019 9:50:02 GMT -6
I just did a block period for team where I have Juts my OL and TE go live against a defensive front made up of the skill players. I set up bags behind the OL (or to the outside for wide plays) and had my team go live. On the snap a coach would point to the bag the defense was trying to get to.
Then, did a similar period where I Just had my skills run their plays (run and pass) against a live back 6 (made up of the linemen). Full block and tackle, although a coach played CB on our better WR to give a better look.
Is this the most advantageous way to coach? No, but we make do with what we can. I think this is part of that old cliche about HS coaches actually being the best coaches in the world- we make chicken salad of of, well, you know. Lemme see Dabo Sweeney or Nick Saban coach with so few, right.
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Post by coachklee on Aug 20, 2019 9:51:12 GMT -6
How do you practice with low, as in 14-18 players, each day? I'm used to numbers in the upper 20's so I can have at least some kind of scout O/D/K. But with numbers below 18 how do you practice? Yes, I'm doing half-line, but I'm finding that there are problems with that as well, namely I end up with the same guys on the same guys which means that if 1 is strong and 1 is not I get the same result regardless of what we're doing. I'm looking at changing the emphasis to much more skill/indy and group instead of team. Can't do team unless it's offense on air. Special teams have nobody to even line up with much less have any contact. I have a JV team with 28 or so players, but I'm not thinking I want to make them the scout team for the offense as that takes away from their preparation and they are the future of this program, I don't want to beat them into submission. What are some tips, techniques, and concepts for running practice with low numbers? What do you guys do? We have 43 players Varsity & JV combined. For team periods we are always together & utilize 2 scout huddles regularly. 2 Scout Offenses of mixed Varsity/JV will go for 10-15 minutes getting about 15-22 plays ran against the JV Defense. Then the 2 Scout Offenses of mixed JV/Varsity will do the same 10-15 getting 15-22 plays ran against Varsity Defense. Huddle is shown a scout card goes & runs the play while the next huddle is getting the next scout card & play. There are always mis-matches & the look isn’t always perfect, but it at least gives you & your guys a chance to get a full team session get aligned, communicating calls & making whatever formation adjustments you have planned for the week. We’ll do it somewhat similarly for offense & get conditioning in for the offensive starters at least. Varsity O is at the 50 with the JV D in our defense at the 30 & a Scout Varsity D at the other 30. Offense gets the play-call runs to a Defense & runs the play. Whistle blown & they get the next signal while running to the other Defense. Again about 10-15 minutes with about 15-20 plays. Repeat for the JV although we very consciously make sure a few Varsity guys that JV simply can’t block don’t go on D (most of the time).
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Post by mnike23 on Aug 20, 2019 11:56:19 GMT -6
run practices together. at some point those jv kids will be varsity kids and need to be coached by those varsity guys and hear their voice.
when its scout o, use jv kids vs 1 defense. and jv defense can go work on run fits, pass drops, etc when its scout d, use jv kids vs 1 offense and jv offense can go work on plays on air, bags, etc
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Post by mrjvi on Aug 20, 2019 12:05:02 GMT -6
What if you are a small school with no JV? We have a varsity and a 7,8,9 modified. We have 24 but @ 10 are not "scout worthy" even.
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Post by blb on Aug 20, 2019 14:11:31 GMT -6
What if you are a small school with no JV? We have a varsity and a 7,8,9 modified. We have 24 but @ 10 are not "scout worthy" even.
I hate to say it but not every school-community deserves to have an 11-man HS football program.
Is 8-man an option for you?
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Post by ahall005 on Aug 20, 2019 19:04:32 GMT -6
We have had teams in the low 20s 9-12 We do half line a lot. If there is a big gap in talent between each side of the line we have the defense hold bags. The dline holds big stand ups and the LBs hold shields and still run to the ball. That way the O can still fire off the ball and practice getting to their assignments. Also we have the big trash cans so we can set up Defenses and at least run plays on that. I don't like o vs air unless its conditioning. The lineman arn't getting any practice with assignments and thats what they need most. I think its harder to get a good look on D if the scout O is really bad. I just try to get the best look we can with varsity guys vs varsity guys in drills. This year we don't get a great look from our scout O so when we do LB drills I work more full speed drills to practice setting the edge, reading guards, and filling inside.
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Post by wingtol on Aug 20, 2019 20:22:26 GMT -6
We have about 27 now 9-12. Unless you're playing against monsters all season why aren't you practicing with your teams combined? We've started 9th graders and many 10th graders in our years here and have always practiced as one team. Bring those JVs up! With 14-18 varsity players I doubt they are just gonna kill the younger kids, quick whistles and let them all get work. Heck you might even find some young kids to help you, you've got 46 guys in the program coach em all up together.
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Post by jml on Aug 20, 2019 23:12:12 GMT -6
We go against air a lot... no other options
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Post by mrjvi on Aug 21, 2019 4:51:44 GMT -6
I guess I was responding to alot of posters saying to work V and JV together. 8 man has been approached but now some schools are combining their FB programs. Except for a few schools who have great numbers, most are in the same boat. I can live with 24 or so because most do but less would be super hard. Another HUGE problem is that we don't have enough kids to support soccer, XC and golf also, which we have. @ 80 in graduating classes. As soon as soccer was added 8 -10 years ago, FB suffered and soccer has never been good. I've told the administartion they should do FB OR soccer but ??
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Post by blb on Aug 21, 2019 6:21:25 GMT -6
I guess I was responding to alot of posters saying to work V and JV together. 8 man has been approached but now some schools are combining their FB programs. Except for a few schools who have great numbers, most are in the same boat. I can live with 24 or so because most do but less would be super hard. Another HUGE problem is that we don't have enough kids to support soccer, XC and golf also, which we have. @ 80 in graduating classes. As soon as soccer was added 8 -10 years ago, FB suffered and soccer has never been good. I've told the administartion they should do FB OR soccer but ??
Administrators try to be all things to all people. That's how they keep their jobs.
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Post by mnike23 on Aug 22, 2019 5:49:32 GMT -6
What if you are a small school with no JV? We have a varsity and a 7,8,9 modified. We have 24 but @ 10 are not "scout worthy" even. you have a 5 man sled? i would have the OL drive that sucker til the cows come home. and have used it to simulate the Dfront. it was difficult, but with limited bodies, id say something is better than nothing. have also put 12,13,guys on defense vs 1 offense to simulate speed, an extra defender or 2 means boys got to work that much harder to get open, find the man to block, etc.... if I had 24 dudes, man we would be in the absolute best shape of any team in the country. especially if 10 are not even scout guys. in shape, and know everything about the other team, tough one man, for sure.
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Post by dubber on Aug 22, 2019 9:01:32 GMT -6
I’d do as you say......ton of group, skelly, etc.
Use garbage cans for DL when you go team
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boug
Junior Member
Posts: 363
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Post by boug on Aug 22, 2019 9:50:08 GMT -6
I had 14 one year and sometimes only 8 kids at a practice. I must say first we were a Double Wing team so that helped. We did a lot of indy time where we could work on hitting and blocking for the line, hit the sled a lot to get out of our stances. When we went team we only needed a def on the play side since we were pulling 2 from the backside so we used Trash cans as def. line and backside LB and used kids on playside to work our double teams and kickouts. we had 3 coaches and we all held shields if needed. Defensively trash cans were great to set up offenses fronts so we could t least learn how to adjust and know our gaps. Basically we could just walk through our adjustments and blitzes, not ideal but at least if we were in position it gave us a fighting chance. we always did tackling drills as a team to at least get some tackling in.
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Post by mrjvi on Aug 22, 2019 12:38:52 GMT -6
mnike23: Those things are some of the exact things we do. I would venture to say that our work on the 5 man especially has been a key to us still being competitive. Thanks. Even though the sled isn't what I call "collision conditioning", it does simulate it enough for our situation. Plus it helps me minimize contact a little in practice. I feel there are 2 kinds of conditioning needed in FB. Collision conditioning and the more traditional anaerobic conditioning.
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Post by mwpilots on Aug 22, 2019 20:28:39 GMT -6
A lot of Half Line. A lot of Sled Work(Daily) because you are getting free hits without risking injury. Very limited hitting. Make sure you stress tackling properly. A lot of teaching. Your JV and Varsity should be together on a limited basis.They can do indy's and 7-on-7 together. You might find a few JV players who can give you some depth. They don't put JV in the paper.
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