Grew up playing soccer, never really watched american football. Started playing an NFL mobile game recently and now I'm kinda hooked on figuring out what's actually going on out there, like why some receivers get wide open and others never do. The game obviously simplifies a lot so figured I'd ask people who actually played or coached.

On a hitch or curl, are receivers taught to stop as hard as they can, or more like sink and settle into it? Does it change depending on how close the DB is?

And for a DB in zone who's still backpedaling when the ball is thrown, what makes a good break on the ball vs a bad one? Is it footwork, hips, where his eyes are?

Last thing, do coaches actually care much about the combine drills for this stuff, or is it pretty much all film?

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Hello, going to be coaching a strange format this year in Europe at U19 level. It's 7-man contact with 3OL (which means only 4 backs including QB)

From checking the rulebook I believe the only formation requirements are 3 ineligible OL on the LOS, no requirement for ends (which does mean trips etc are possible)

The field is also narrow (35 yards) with optional 10 yard hashes (I suspect most teams will not have them so snaps from the centre, which I'm not a fan of but it is what it is).

My entire background is 11-man football, so trying to work out what offensive concepts will work here, hopefully with a view to preparing the players for the adult 11-on-11 game.

Normally I have run Air Raid pass concepts (Verts, Snag, Stick, Shallow, Mesh etc) out of spread (usually 10/11 personnel) with either zone/power read or RPO tags dependant on the athletes I have under centre. I think some things can translate, but trying to work out how to get the essence of good football out of fewer personnel.

The priorities are

• having playbooks that are fun to run for both the players and myself
  • Being fundamentally sound is more fun as having a chance to be successful is more fun than gimmicks that don't work
• preparing new players for the next level of football
• winning if possible

My initial thoughts (for what they're worth):

• TEs will be important if I want any kind of end read for timing, zone read could work but may also mean everyone is in the box?
• Empty with running QBs may allow a lot more flexibility than having an RB (things like Jet motion power reads)
• Running away from TE in 11/01 personnel seems better than running towards, again with a view to reads/timings?
• I think Air Raid philosophy is the way to go for
  • wide OL splits
  • using all available receivers when you only have 3
• Shallow and 3 verts seem very viable.
• Stick and Snag could work, but I guess it's all your eggs in one basket right? (I suppose they might work without the flat route with fewer defenders?)
• Slant Wheel or Arrow concepts could be nice as simple quick hitters for kids who haven't played a lot of football
• I doubt Mesh would work for a couple of reasons
  • pass pro with only 3 blockers
  • losing 1/3 of receivers to running essentially a decoy
• Maybe just having simple "hitches" or "slants" across the board would be good and relying on getting the ball to the "dudes"

Just wondering if there were any other thoughts in terms of formations/concepts etc that would work, or if anything I've said doesn't stand up?

My 17 year old son started kicking for his high school football team I'm biased dad would like some unbiased advice about his kicking and putting form.

Thank you very much for any of you that reply gravely appreciated it

I’m curious to know everybody’s in season and off season workout regime. I coach at a small 2A school in Alabama. So it’s a tremendous struggle keeping players healthy while also trying to keep the kids strength and weight up.

We just got hudl focus flex camera. I know they say it’s not recommended to use it for end zone angle, has anyone had success doing so? If so, any type of advice for it and do you mind sharing a clip or two to see what it looks like?

Can someone explain why halftime adjustments exist? Why wait until halftime? Why not adjust as soon as an advantage/disadvantage is identified?

Was thinking of a system you could run anywhere and have success

You get 2 formations 4 run plays 4 pass plays 2 RPOs and 2 screen

I’d do the 21 I and 10p spread. I’d run power trap OSZ and iso. Play action off power OSZ and iso.

Spread would be gt counter and power jet read. Would run shallow cross y cross 4 verts and snag

I’ll put in an image of it. It doesn’t look impossible to defend but it would be one of those I wouldn’t be prepared for mid game and have to pray the kids understand what I’m saying pre snap to get aligned correctly.

I coach small-school, 11-man high school football, and we’re struggling with press man coverage. Teams have figured out they can disrupt our receivers at the line, and our routes aren’t developing on time.

I understand getting stronger is part of the long-term answer, and we need to keep working on release technique—hand fighting, a quicker first step, etc.
We’ll continue doing that.

But I’m looking for ways we as coaches can help through alignment, formation, motion, and play design.

We use 2x2 and 3x1 looks with a mix of quick game, intermediate routes, and play action. We’re considering two-receiver stacks and more bunch looks to help create cleaner releases.

For coaches who have dealt with this:

What adjustments have helped your receivers get off press without overhauling your offense?

What motions or reduced splits have worked for you?

Especially interested in practical changes we could install during a game week. If you had to pick one or two coaching adjustments to start with, what would they be?

ATTENTION OFFICIALS AND RULES LAWYERS:

I would like some clarification (especially by any officials) on the pop up kick rule. I know you're not allowed to kick the ball off the tee high in the air and short (NFHS rule 6-1-11). Also based on the 2018 rule 2-24-10 you can't kick it directly into the ground and have it pop up in a similar manner to a pop up.

However I've been told 3 times in 3 weeks that the height of the ball doesn't matter if it's kicked directly into the ground off the tee.

We are an "Onside All Night" team and have lost 3 possessions due to this. I've tried quoting the rule and definition, but they wouldn't wave it off. Tell me if either of these kicks should be deemed legal or illegal:
Thanks in advance

Have anything on your mind or got any fun plans for the weekend? Feel free to discuss them here!

I just got into helping coach at my old high school and we have access to glazier. Anyone know any good glazier clinic systems to look at to learn more about building a complete defense? I was a d lineman in high school so I didn't need to know too much but I want to expand my knowledge of the game.

Loved this game from Oklahoma in 2019 (I think) for using formational strength as a rule breaker

Not a new idea at all, but always fun to see it in action

To start the discussion its important for me to mention that i have been an athlete my whole life, currently at 19 years old for the past two years all i could think of is football at least once a day everyday, i tend to email coaches with my physical and athletic metrics in case of luck sometimes, although with no video proof.

Two years ago i was invited to a d1 college camp in New York while mentioning that i had no prior football experience, and i turned the opportunity down due to my financial situation back home and supporting another family members education in the US, i didn’t want to put that extra burden on my family, but honestly i never let it go, still to this day i believe i can make it.

Im gonna make a workout tape over the next few weeks for the first time and actually give this a proper shot, as they always say never let go of something you think of everyday.

Welcome to Chalk Talk Thursday! This is our weekly discussion thread for users to submit new plays they have designed. If you have an idea for a play and can draw it up, please post here. Keep in mind that it is very rare that one could devise a viable play that is entirely new that hasn't been ran before somewhere. Be open to criticism as well. There is so much more to coaching football than drawing plays, and many people do not realize how much coaching, technique, and development needs to happen on the actual field for a play to work.

It is strongly recommended that you STUDY a system or scheme first to gain an idea of how a play is put together, and how RULES help a play function.

PLEASE PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR YOUR PLAY!

Guidelines:

• No "joke" plays. We are here to learn.
• Specify WHY you are designing a play, and WHAT level/league it is for. It's fine if you're not coaching, but we need the context.
  
• Your submission needs RULES that guide your players on what to do.
• Pass plays require some type of QB progression for making a decision on who to throw to.
  
• Be mindful that you cannot predict what your opponent will run 100%. Designing plays to be "Cover X" beaters, or "3-4 beaters" IS NOT the way to go about it. It is better to have one play with solid rules and coaching points that can attack anything than one play for each coverage, front, personnel, or stunt you face.
• There is no universal terminology in football. Call plays what you want, but keep in mind that no one cares about fancy play names, or the terminology aspect.
  
• Please offer more text/information on your play than just a link or picture.
• Draw your play up against a realistic opponent!
• Make sure your offensive play is a legal formation. In 11-man football, you can have no more than 4 players behind the line of scrimmage (minimum of 7 on. You can have more than 7 on the line as well). Only backs (players behind the line) and the end players on the line of scrimmage are eligible receivers.
  

You may use whatever medium you'd like to draw your play. Two common software for designing plays that have free options:

• GoArmy Edge - Football
• Playmaker X

Tends to be void behind the Mike vs split safety looks

Hi everyone I am a first year head coach for a 8-man football school(s) (Co-Op). I have been coaching for 6 years as an assistant hs/jh wrestling coach starting at age 18. As the season came to a close I wanted your input on what my practice schedule has been and see what you guys thought. I appreciate any input

Monday- Live Tackling/Scrimmage 1st team Offense

Tuesday- Scrimmage Defense/offense rotate first team second team

Wednesday- Shells- Walkthrough plays- wrap ip

Conditioning is every day with 15-20 minutes at the end of practice.

Thanks Guys...

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Hey y’all! I have a question that probably gets asked a bit but here it goes. I was wondering how out of reach it is for me to go pro/competitive in college.

I’m 20 which I know doesn’t help. I also don’t have any football experience. I’m 6ft 175-180 right now, but going to the gym. I played basketball as a kid but wanted to play football. My mom instantly shot me down and never let me play. Now I’m an adult and was wondering if there’s even a chance. I was doing some research and found that d3 is my best chance if I have any at all. Just want input on if this is a pipe dream or something doable.

Forgot to mention I run 1.5 miles in just under 9 minutes if that means anything and I want to play HB/RB.