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Post by veerwego on Sept 13, 2024 11:33:34 GMT -6
How much of play calling for you is art and how much is preparation?
I would assume we will get many different answers.
How many of you use a script? I did at times but would always get off of it. The most helpful thing about it for me was making sure to get in a few different formations to see how they would play it. That way I wouldn't forget.
Do you just know sometimes? or do you just stick with the plan?
I also am amazed at people that call the game from the field. I started in the press box writing down the defensive front on every play for 2 seasons. This naturally turned into taking a "snapshot" of the defense and then writing it down real quick. Sometimes I would finish up after the play. I eventually got to the point of being able to know where all 11 were, not just lined up, but technique... so shades, inside corners vs outside, LBs cheating steps to blitz. I think the head coach looked at what I did once in two years. I swear he did it just so I would learn football. Anyway, ever since then I feel like I can call plays so much better from up there. I can talk to other coaches who are beside me and they don't see it the way I do, hard to explain.
Who calls it from the field and loves it? Why? Have you tried it the other way?
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Post by Wingtman on Sept 13, 2024 11:43:03 GMT -6
I like calling offense from the booth. I think it takes the "emotion out of it". Defense I think you def SEE more in the booth, but I always liked calling from the box.
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Sept 13, 2024 11:58:27 GMT -6
I call plays from the field. I have done it from the box (it stated when I was banished from the field for a week... long story a long time ago) and did find it was easier. We scored 64 points that night. The problem was (is), as the head coach, I had much less impact on the total game (mainly defense... we gave up 63).
I also script- the first 3 plays of the first 3 series. Based on what I script, we can get a good look at not only techniques, but reads/keys, adjustments to shifts/motions, CB first steps, etc.
We almost always stick with the first 6 scripted plays. We mostly run the 3rd set of 3... but if they are in something different than we expected, we probably won't.
I think I am better overall for the team/myself on the field- but probably give a little bit up as a play caller by being on the field.
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Post by jstoss24 on Sept 13, 2024 12:15:26 GMT -6
I would by no means consider myself an offensive guru, but I have called plays at the sub-varsity level for 5 of the last 10 years.
I definitely put myself in the preparation camp. I have a call sheet that includes every play call I could ever consider calling during a game. I script the first 10 plays (although I'm considering cutting down on that a bit) and script the first 2-3 plays for 3rd & short (1-3), 3rd & medium (4-7), 3rd & long (8+), Red Zone (25-12), End Zone (11-6), Goal Line (5-1), and 2pt Conversions. I also have sections with the full play call for every version of every other play I could consider calling. I don't want to have to think up the play call in the moment during a game, so I plan out the calls.
I also use my gameplan to script practice throughout the week. I have an excel sheet that pulls plays from the Gameplan sheet into the daily practice plan sheets to make sure we run every play we may run during the game in practice at some point during the week.
Like others have said, I definitely prefer calling plays from the box, but as JV Head Coach, I don't really have the option to do that. I'm in the box for Varsity games, which I thoroughly enjoy, but I'm mostly just relaying information to our HC, who calls plays.
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Post by mnike23 on Sept 13, 2024 12:19:11 GMT -6
from the field, 100% have been up stairs, its better view, but boring to me. zero emotion, cant talk to kids, just dont "feel" the game.
script 10, 10 formations, motions, plays.
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Post by olcoach53 on Sept 13, 2024 13:07:17 GMT -6
Called plays at multiple levels for a while. Never did it from the box. Always put a trusted guy up top though in varsity games to get a good look at what they were doing.
Definitely had more fun doing lower level play calling because the pressure was off and you could take advantage of mistakes more.
Started scripting last year midway through the season and it really helped the offense break out of its shell.
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Post by veerwego on Sept 13, 2024 13:07:45 GMT -6
I like calling offense from the booth. I think it takes the "emotion out of it". Defense I think you def SEE more in the booth, but I always liked calling from the box. That is an aspect of it, I grew to appreciate over time. Not getting swept up in the moment and doing what you thought was right on Sunday-Wednesday. Not so much with play calls, but with going for it on 4th or whatever.
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Post by veerwego on Sept 13, 2024 13:12:11 GMT -6
I call plays from the field. I have done it from the box (it stated when I was banished from the field for a week... long story a long time ago) and did find it was easier. We scored 64 points that night. The problem was (is), as the head coach, I had much less impact on the total game (mainly defense... we gave up 63). I also script- the first 3 plays of the first 3 series. Based on what I script, we can get a good look at not only techniques, but reads/keys, adjustments to shifts/motions, CB first steps, etc. We almost always stick with the first 6 scripted plays. We mostly run the 3rd set of 3... but if they are in something different than we expected, we probably won't. I think I am better overall for the team/myself on the field- but probably give a little bit up as a play caller by being on the field. Early in my career we played a team whose head coach called the game from the booth. Reason was he did not feel like he had assistants that could help him enough from up there. I think he was the only coach up there.
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Post by veerwego on Sept 13, 2024 13:14:09 GMT -6
I would by no means consider myself an offensive guru, but I have called plays at the sub-varsity level for 5 of the last 10 years. I definitely put myself in the preparation camp. I have a call sheet that includes every play call I could ever consider calling during a game. I script the first 10 plays (although I'm considering cutting down on that a bit) and script the first 2-3 plays for 3rd & short (1-3), 3rd & medium (4-7), 3rd & long (8+), Red Zone (25-12), End Zone (11-6), Goal Line (5-1), and 2pt Conversions. I also have sections with the full play call for every version of every other play I could consider calling. I don't want to have to think up the play call in the moment during a game, so I plan out the calls. I also use my gameplan to script practice throughout the week. I have an excel sheet that pulls plays from the Gameplan sheet into the daily practice plan sheets to make sure we run every play we may run during the game in practice at some point during the week. Like others have said, I definitely prefer calling plays from the box, but as JV Head Coach, I don't really have the option to do that. I'm in the box for Varsity games, which I thoroughly enjoy, but I'm mostly just relaying information to our HC, who calls plays. I have made these elaborate sheets before by down and distance... I never used it. Just called it from my head, but I think making the sheet helps you get a sense for what you want to do and how to practice that week.
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Post by silkyice on Sept 13, 2024 13:35:50 GMT -6
I would by no means consider myself an offensive guru, but I have called plays at the sub-varsity level for 5 of the last 10 years. I definitely put myself in the preparation camp. I have a call sheet that includes every play call I could ever consider calling during a game. I script the first 10 plays (although I'm considering cutting down on that a bit) and script the first 2-3 plays for 3rd & short (1-3), 3rd & medium (4-7), 3rd & long (8+), Red Zone (25-12), End Zone (11-6), Goal Line (5-1), and 2pt Conversions. I also have sections with the full play call for every version of every other play I could consider calling. I don't want to have to think up the play call in the moment during a game, so I plan out the calls. I also use my gameplan to script practice throughout the week. I have an excel sheet that pulls plays from the Gameplan sheet into the daily practice plan sheets to make sure we run every play we may run during the game in practice at some point during the week. Like others have said, I definitely prefer calling plays from the box, but as JV Head Coach, I don't really have the option to do that. I'm in the box for Varsity games, which I thoroughly enjoy, but I'm mostly just relaying information to our HC, who calls plays. I have made these elaborate sheets before by down and distance... I never used it. Just called it from my head, but I think making the sheet helps you get a sense for what you want to do and how to practice that week. The making of the sheet is far more VALUABLE than the sheet.
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Post by jstoss24 on Sept 13, 2024 17:03:07 GMT -6
I would by no means consider myself an offensive guru, but I have called plays at the sub-varsity level for 5 of the last 10 years. I definitely put myself in the preparation camp. I have a call sheet that includes every play call I could ever consider calling during a game. I script the first 10 plays (although I'm considering cutting down on that a bit) and script the first 2-3 plays for 3rd & short (1-3), 3rd & medium (4-7), 3rd & long (8+), Red Zone (25-12), End Zone (11-6), Goal Line (5-1), and 2pt Conversions. I also have sections with the full play call for every version of every other play I could consider calling. I don't want to have to think up the play call in the moment during a game, so I plan out the calls. I also use my gameplan to script practice throughout the week. I have an excel sheet that pulls plays from the Gameplan sheet into the daily practice plan sheets to make sure we run every play we may run during the game in practice at some point during the week. Like others have said, I definitely prefer calling plays from the box, but as JV Head Coach, I don't really have the option to do that. I'm in the box for Varsity games, which I thoroughly enjoy, but I'm mostly just relaying information to our HC, who calls plays. I have made these elaborate sheets before by down and distance... I never used it. Just called it from my head, but I think making the sheet helps you get a sense for what you want to do and how to practice that week. That’s definitely a big part of it. It gives me something to look for on film, and gives me a blueprint for how I want to attack the defense. Like I said before, it also helps a lot in scripting practice.
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Post by coachtua on Sept 13, 2024 18:18:40 GMT -6
Have called from the field and the booth.
BOOTH PROS: Better view Quicker adjustments
CONS: On field coaches removing headsets. Can't change play as quickly. Our headsets only have one channel. Hard to speak to offensive coaches while defense is on the field.
Game day play calling is an art. But it is derived from your preparation. If we are unsure of how they will play certain aspects I will script plays to see their adjustments vs our personnel groupings, formations, and motions. If we have a good idea then we just go for it.
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Post by MICoach on Sept 16, 2024 8:26:47 GMT -6
I have made these elaborate sheets before by down and distance... I never used it. Just called it from my head, but I think making the sheet helps you get a sense for what you want to do and how to practice that week. I used to call offense and now call defense, and this is definitely how I feel about calling D. When I called O I would actually look at the sheet to vary my calls sometimes - I had things sectioned by quick game, PAP, sprintout, inside run, outside run, etc. Calling D I find that I almost never look at my sheet, but I still make it because it preps me for what I'm going to call in those situations. Maybe this is just that we carry less defensive calls than offensive plays but I feel like building the sheet is more preparation than anything.
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Post by veerwego on Sept 16, 2024 8:45:23 GMT -6
Agreed. It is also there to look at in between series, or when you want to take a shot and have newer play so you want to make sure and get the verbiage right.
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Post by tog on Sept 16, 2024 13:44:49 GMT -6
box to see
field for intangibles
pick as needed
but, if you have prepared enough, with all the fancy callsheets and junk, if you have put in the work
it becomes an art within the numbers for sure
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Post by realdawg on Sept 16, 2024 17:28:28 GMT -6
For me. It was about preparation. What plays pair best with what formations. As the game goes though. It becomes more of an art. What do you see and feel? What is working? What have they stopped and where does that make them weak?
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Post by larrymoe on Sept 16, 2024 17:49:13 GMT -6
I was HC/OC for 7 years. Called plays on the field, never wore a headset. Never ever scripted plays, quit carrying a play card during year 2.
Spent two years of my 21 year coaching career in the booth. HATED every second of it.
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Post by silkyice on Sept 17, 2024 5:04:47 GMT -6
I was HC/OC for 7 years. Called plays on the field, never wore a headset. Never ever scripted plays, quit carrying a play card during year 2. Spent two years of my 21 year coaching career in the booth. HATED every second of it. How did those 7 years go? What offense were you running?
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Post by mariner42 on Sept 17, 2024 5:52:47 GMT -6
Preparation turns into art?
I think that the preparation is a huge part of it, but there's an art to seeing what the defense is doing and knowing what's next for you. There's also a knack for knowing when to run certain things that has to get developed over time.
I called defense from the booth a long, long time ago and it was crazy how much it felt like playing Madden. Not a fan of being up there, but man, it's definitely different.
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Post by larrymoe on Sept 17, 2024 7:56:50 GMT -6
I was HC/OC for 7 years. Called plays on the field, never wore a headset. Never ever scripted plays, quit carrying a play card during year 2. Spent two years of my 21 year coaching career in the booth. HATED every second of it. How did those 7 years go? What offense were you running? Went to the playoffs 4 years. 3 conference championships, 1 quarterfinal appearance, 24 game regular season winning streak. Went 42-28 over that span with the highlights being a 10-1 in 2012 and a 11-1 in 13. In 13 we beat the 1A state Champs in the regular season, but we were 2A in the postseason by like 30 kids of enrollment. We had decent talent obviously, no one wins that often without it. We ran variations of the I primarily. Got into some gun stuff my last couple years. PS- all 28 losses over those 7 years were to teams that made it to the state playoffs. That was a stat I was always very proud of. We never lost to teams that we shouldn't have.
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Post by silkyice on Sept 17, 2024 8:13:11 GMT -6
How did those 7 years go? What offense were you running? Went to the playoffs 4 years. 3 conference championships, 1 quarterfinal appearance, 24 game regular season winning streak. Went 42-28 over that span with the highlights being a 10-1 in 2012 and a 11-1 in 13. In 13 we beat the 1A state Champs in the regular season, but we were 2A in the postseason by like 30 kids of enrollment. We had decent talent obviously, no one wins that often without it. We ran variations of the I primarily. Got into some gun stuff my last couple years. PS- all 28 losses over those 7 years were to teams that made it to the state playoffs. That was a stat I was always very proud of. We never lost to teams that we shouldn't have. That is awesome! You have a gift of just seeing it then. Not everyone has that.
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Post by larrymoe on Sept 17, 2024 8:16:23 GMT -6
Another odd caveat to my 7 year tenure at that school- From 2011-2016 we played a team every year that either played in a semifinal game or a state championship game.
11- state runner up 12- semifinalist 13- 1 state champ, 1 semifinalist 14- state runner up 15- state champions 16- semifinalist
I always thought that was weird for a small 2A/1A school in rural Illinois.
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Post by larrymoe on Sept 17, 2024 8:19:27 GMT -6
Went to the playoffs 4 years. 3 conference championships, 1 quarterfinal appearance, 24 game regular season winning streak. Went 42-28 over that span with the highlights being a 10-1 in 2012 and a 11-1 in 13. In 13 we beat the 1A state Champs in the regular season, but we were 2A in the postseason by like 30 kids of enrollment. We had decent talent obviously, no one wins that often without it. We ran variations of the I primarily. Got into some gun stuff my last couple years. PS- all 28 losses over those 7 years were to teams that made it to the state playoffs. That was a stat I was always very proud of. We never lost to teams that we shouldn't have. That is awesome! You have a gift of just seeing it then. Not everyone has that. I have always been pretty good at figuring out pretty quickly where things are {censored} up. Be that a tractor, my truck, a football program, etc. What really didn't endear me to admins and HCs sometimes was I had no issue telling them where things were {censored} up either. That probably was a factor in why I moved around. People don't like to hear what they're doing wrong no matter how obvious it is.
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Post by Defcord on Sept 17, 2024 8:52:32 GMT -6
I think I’m in the minority but I don’t enjoy play calling. I think it’s an important part of the process but it doesn’t interest me a whole lot. I do enjoy being a coordinator and have done well. The actual coordination of personnel, practice, evaluation, motivation, implementation it takes to get kids individually and aggregately better is rewarding to me. Play calling to me is not the most important or interesting part of it.
For me with play calling I had a sheet. We had a plan to stop their top plays out of their top formations. We had a few calls to dictate a change in what they were trying to do or who they were trying to target. Generally we had a plan B in there as well. Often this was solid and enough to compete. Sometimes it wasn’t and we just drew some shitt up in the dirt. That never worked but you can only get beat the same way so long before you let them kick you in the teeth instead of in the asss.
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Post by jstoss24 on Sept 17, 2024 9:08:48 GMT -6
I think I’m in the minority but I don’t enjoy playing calling. I think it’s an important part of the process but it doesn’t interest me a whole lot. I do enjoy being a coordinator and have done well. The actual coordination of personnel, practice, evaluation, motivation, implementation it takes to get kids individually and aggregately better is rewarding to me. Play calling to me is not the most important or interesting part of it. For me with play calling I had a sheet. We had a plan to stop their top plays out of their top formations. We had a few calls to dictate a change in what they were trying to do or who they were trying to target. Generally we had a plan B in there as well. Often this was solid and enough to compete. Sometimes it wasn’t and we just drew some shitt up in the dirt. That never worked but you can only get beat the same way so long before you let them kick you in the teeth instead of in the asss. I relate to this very strongly. I want to lead a program and I enjoy coordinating the offense, but not the play calling part of it. Once I get a HC job, I would love to be a CEO HC if I can get coordinators I can trust.
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Post by coachcb on Sept 17, 2024 9:36:15 GMT -6
I loved calling from the field with at least one good "booth guy". Otherwise, I preferred the booth. I'd give each of the booth coaches tasks/things to look for when I was on the field. I'd be quite specific about what I needed from of them. Some guys were better at staying on task than others.
We'd script the first 3-4 play but it wasn't set in stone: if we gashed them big with Play #1, chances are we were going back to it, it's counter, or PA off of it the next time around.
I built pretty detailed call sheets and sometimes I followed it, sometimes I didn't. Putting it together was a big part of my game-planning process.
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Post by cwaltsmith on Sept 17, 2024 10:10:39 GMT -6
IMHO... its 100% an ART... as I stated in another thread ... some guys have a nack for calling the right play at the right time and some dont. I am an on the field guy bc I like to feel the emotion. I like to be able to look my guys in the eye and see what they are feeling. As far as script goes, I like to script formations... not plays. I want to see how they plan to line up to my formations as early as possible.
Side note I believe calling defense is tougher than offense & it is ART as well.
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Post by larrymoe on Sept 17, 2024 13:17:02 GMT -6
I'll be honest, my best play calls in my career either hit me out of no where-like it just popped into my head and I called it, were suggested by players, or were the play after the opposing coach yelled to his players "watch out for xyz". On the last one, if we didn't run it the play before, I found their kids generally didn't think there was a way we'd run it the next play.
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Post by veerwego on Sept 17, 2024 13:39:37 GMT -6
I think I’m in the minority but I don’t enjoy playing calling. I think it’s an important part of the process but it doesn’t interest me a whole lot. I do enjoy being a coordinator and have done well. The actual coordination of personnel, practice, evaluation, motivation, implementation it takes to get kids individually and aggregately better is rewarding to me. Play calling to me is not the most important or interesting part of it. For me with play calling I had a sheet. We had a plan to stop their top plays out of their top formations. We had a few calls to dictate a change in what they were trying to do or who they were trying to target. Generally we had a plan B in there as well. Often this was solid and enough to compete. Sometimes it wasn’t and we just drew some shitt up in the dirt. That never worked but you can only get beat the same way so long before you let them kick you in the teeth instead of in the asss. I'm with ya. I love a spreadsheet and a calendar. I love to plan a great practice. At my best OC job, we had a big program and JV kids were the 2 offense and 1s for JV. We had a whole JV defensive staff (2 guys per huddle) to run our two school scout teams. They had notebooks with defenses drawn up for each play. I had an asst O ling coach spot the ball. L, L, LM, C, RM, R, R. We would run the 1s somewhere between 6-10 plays and then run the 2s for 3-6, making sure they hit the main plays. It was a thing of beauty. Really like the thing where you make the 1s gain 5 yds vs scout team or the scout team won that play.
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Post by rsmith627 on Sept 17, 2024 15:21:50 GMT -6
I like calling offense from the booth. I think it takes the "emotion out of it". Defense I think you def SEE more in the booth, but I always liked calling from the box. Agree with calling it from the booth. I've done it both ways and I am a very emotional guy. Down on the sidelines I feed into the energy of the kids, what the refs are doing, the crowd. All of it. Up in the booth I am isolated, can remain calm and collected, and this leads to me calling a much more composed game as opposed to on the sidelines.
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