Football Gurus - Need Your Help

M.D. Holloway · 08-27-2009, 09:49 AM

I'm helping out with the coaching this year for our Son's football team. Before any of you get on your high horse and throw some crit at taking this too serious remember, organized football (or any sport) at the youth level is supposed to fun and instructional. Understand what the goals are beyond just winning is part of learning the game. So, now that we have cleared the air on that subject....

I'm thinking about the metrics for game goals. I am not sure what the overall game goals should be beyond winning. I am new to this football stuff – I played soccer in college. I would imagine that the more yardage, possessions, completions and what not would be the right direction but I am unsure as to what the typical expected goal value should be. I know they can be adjusted accordingly. Seems to me the following would be important overall metrics.
Any chance at a guess as to the goal values?

Wins____Losses____

_______________________________Game Day and Game Goal
Number of Offensive Possessions = _____ ____

Average Yards Per Play = _____ ____

Time of Possessions Per Game = _____ ____

Completions per Game = _____ ____

First Downs Per Game = _____ ____

QB Sacks Per Game = _____ ____

Ave Yards per Play
Lost in Defense per Game = _____ ____

What am I missing?

stomachmonkey · 08-27-2009, 10:01 AM

Your goals are going to be influenced by what style of offense/defense you use.

Football is a dynamic game of strategy.

How will your goals be affected if you favor a running game but play a team with good ground defense but poor pass defense and switch up to take advantage of it?

gassy · 08-27-2009, 10:09 AM

http://ezinearticles.com/?Coaching-Youth-Football---Statistics-That-Really-Matter&id=2287596

Highlander179 · 08-27-2009, 10:09 AM

what age group?

M.D. Holloway · 08-27-2009, 10:23 AM

The age group is 9-10. Texas Football...its a religion down here.

M.D. Holloway · 08-27-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Your goals are going to be influenced by what style of offense/defense you use.

Football is a dynamic game of strategy.

How will your goals be affected if you favor a running game but play a team with good ground defense but poor pass defense and switch up to take advantage of it?

hmmm...good point, allow me to ponder that.

KaptKaos · 08-27-2009, 11:23 AM

Your entire strategy is going to be based upon the talents of your players. It will change year-to-year based on the skills of the players.

For 9-10 year olds, just work on the basics.

On offense, you're going to run a lot. Depending on the skills of the players that might be inside the tackles or outside if you have some kids that can really run. Passing will likely be a 3rd down & long thing and mostly short patterns.

On defense, play gap control for running downs and make sure your ends keep outside contain. Your best athletes will be your ends and your inside linebackers. They should make most of the tackles. A strong nose guard is key too. He can control the line of scrimmage. Put your big kid here. Pass defense is an after-thought and make the corner backs play man-to-man. Your strong and free safeties should roam to the ball on passing downs. A 5-2 defense should cover most of your needs at this level.

Taz's Master · 08-27-2009, 01:52 PM

I think you should look at the # of positive palys rather than gross results of a game.

If a defense plays strong a whole game, but the opposition breaks big plays 2 times, the points and yardage totals and yards per play will look worse for the defense and better for the offense than it should. For instance call a 3 yard play a push, 2 yards or less is a positive play for the defense 4 yards or more is a positive play for the offense.

Oh, and what you are missing is: TURNOVERS

KaptKaos · 08-27-2009, 04:46 PM

Just don't over think this too much. They're just kids and they want to have fun.

Teach good fundamental football.

Head up when you tackle.
Keep outside leverage.
Don't let anyone get behind you.
Run with your knees up.
Always break to the outside, not back across the grain.
Know your down and distances.
Make sure you know what you're supposed to do on every play.
If you forget the snap count, ASK!!

Don't get too fancy. Don't get analysis paralysis. Don't worry when they start to hit hard. They like it. =)

stomachmonkey · 08-27-2009, 04:53 PM

Kapt

you missed one important part of mikes post

in TX football IS a religion

parents routinely wait till their boys are 6 before sending them to school so they'll be bigger compared to others in their grade

Highlander179 · 08-27-2009, 05:56 PM

9-10 y/o Texas football huh... Who's supplying the steroids, you or the boosters?

Remember, winning is the only thing that matters... you're son is too small to play, he rides the bench!

KaptKaos · 08-27-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Kapt

you missed one important part of mikes post

in TX football IS a religion

parents routinely wait till their boys are 6 before sending them to school so they'll be bigger compared to others in their grade

Maybe 20-25% of these kids will play high school ball. Of that, maybe 30% of them will start varsity high school. Of that maybe 5% will play college at some level and of that 0.1% will play in the pros and of that 0.01% will last more than 2 years in the pros.

They can emphasize football all they want in the Great State of Texas. It doesn't change what the coach's job is, particularly at this level.

Having played through to college level football, I've been the victim of many coaches trying to live vicariously through their players.

Arizona_928 · 08-27-2009, 07:38 PM

Sportsmanship.

these are kids not friday night games.

M.D. Holloway · 08-27-2009, 08:03 PM

KaptKaos,
True dat. I came from a town that always won the states in baseball, they went to the LL world series a few times as well. Not one kid went to the pros infact few even went on to play college baseball. I'm sure burnout had everything to do with it.

Not all the boys play football but the ones that do the Dads really are not at all freaky about their Sons. I haven't seen the typical Dad or coach get all wierd about it yet - I thought it was gonna be like that but its not.

Our Son has coaches that really try to teach them the game where other teams run the boys crazy to get them in condition, our coaches are trying to actually teach them the game. So far so good.

stomachmonkey · 08-28-2009, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

Maybe 20-25% of these kids will play high school ball. Of that, maybe 30% of them will start varsity high school. Of that maybe 5% will play college at some level and of that 0.1% will play in the pros and of that 0.01% will last more than 2 years in the pros.

They can emphasize football all they want in the Great State of Texas. It doesn't change what the coach's job is, particularly at this level.

Having played through to college level football, I've been the victim of many coaches trying to live vicariously through their players.

I agree with you.

Was a bit of a debate here this summer. Has been pretty hot here and they have been running 2 a days the whole time.

Some of our HS's have stadiums that would make some State colleges green with envy.

I hate the nightly news. HS games seem to get as much coverage as the Cowboys.

M.D. Holloway · 08-28-2009, 06:38 AM

Marcus HS looks like they will pretty good this year as well as Flower Mound, not sure about Lewisville though. Southlake and Coppell are always tough.

Nothing like Tejas HS football!

Looking_for_911 · 09:35 AM

Nothing like Tejas HS football![/QUOTE]

Except for Hoover High school in Hoover, Alabama. MTV did a series with them. This year's media guide/program is larger than most colleges. Their facilities rival all but the larger universities. Money is no object there.
It is sicker than Texas or any other of the remaining 49 states and all of the remaining schools in Alabama!

Looking_for_911 · 08-28-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

Sportsmanship.

these are kids not friday night games.

Most Friday Night games are devoid of true sportsmanship these days, si I wouldn't use them as an examppl. This culture has made sports a sickness.

While everyone is concentrating on the kids someone needs to look at the parents and impart some pre-season wisdom to them concerning Sportsmanship.
If I were running the show I would hold a parent meeting pre-season and make them all understand that there will be no bullying of officials, coaches or other players. I hope it is different in other states, but where I'm from I see -- and hear -- all to often just how ridiculous people can be. It's not "Friday Night" and it ain't the Super Bowl or the flippin' Southeastern Conference here. It's Youth/PeeWee football.

I would make it known and understood that the first time a parent was caught bad mouthing another coach or official or player they would be removed from the stadium. The second time they deserve to have their teeth knocked down their throat.

No, I don't coach. I don't officiate. I've never had kids so I don't really have a dog in this race. I just happen to have been on the field on so many occassions and heard so many jackasses in the stands it makes me sick.

Your job is to cheer and support and love your kids. Leave the coaching to the coaches, the officiating to the refs and above all don't harrass another player.

It shows an incredible lack of brains and breeding when you do.

You know who you are.