Which Youth Offense to use?

In my last post I talked about why some youth coaches would run the spread when they have trouble passing. I ran a more spread offense because of the players I knew I would have. This enabled me to be able to run the offense I knew. So what offense would I run if I didn't have the players I did?

Well I think it depends on the age group. I have seen some coaches at age 9-10 try to run the spread but have had trouble, that is because I don't think kids that age can run a bunch of complex pass routes. For me I might have run the double wing or single wing at that age group unless I had some amazing players. Any age group below 9-10 I would run one of those two offense, kids aren't as developed to run all this fancy stuff.

For 11-12 year olds I might run the spread, provided we had the good athletes, depends on the players in that age group. For 13-14 year olds I would run the spread, they are older and can run more complex patterns together. Sometimes the offense doesn't have to be flashy, it just needs to be efficient. Don't worry what parents say but go with your gut instinct. As a coach only you know your strengths are, utilize them. Remember this is supposed to be a fun game for the youth, do your best to do that.

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No Back Offense/Empty Offense

So we are looking to add the no back offense set into our offense. Up until now we haven't run empty, so we are going to have some fun with it. I will go and give some suggestions to the OC to see what I can do to contribute. I really think QB trap will be a devastating play especially with the QB that we will have this year. I would also suggest doing jet sweep and then running counter off that action. Run that or TAQ and just pull the tackle around. Run running plays out of empty offense that we don't need to teach new blocking to out line will be great. K.I.S.S. method is my plan with this.

I do like running empty to run the ball because it forces a defense to decide how to defend us. If they put 6 in the box I will just throw the ball, if they put 5 in the box then I will run the ball with my QB. That is the beauty of the spread offense, pick your poison you have to stop both. That is why I wonder sometimes about youth coaches saying they want to run the spread. They have to be able to throw the ball but also run the ball. You don't have to throw all the time but you have to be a threat passing to make that defense spread out.

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Wow been awhile

Unfortunately it has been awhile since I posted. Not too much new to report just that workouts are going well. We are seeing improvement in all of our players. The line is developing well and we might have a real realistic chance at winning the state championship a third time. It is funny to see college coaches descending on our school. They can't talk to the players at all about recruitment but they are looking for the kids they would like to recruit.

Tomorrow the team is having their fund raising luau. It will be a lot of fun and heck it's free food which will be excellent. Kind of hard being that it is over the Memorial Day weekend but it should be still well attended. Right now I have a bad cold so this is all I will write about for now.

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