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FOOTBALL BASICS
Football is a great game of strategy. Both teams want to win and practice hard so they will. This is true in all sports--"Football teaches team work". "There is no I in team. A team must work together very well--covering each others back and helping each other out. Every job or position is important. Every player, all eleven must give 100% every play!!!
Football is a simple game of "turf" control. When a team gets the ball, it has 4 downs to move 10 yards and get a 1st down. A 1st down allows the offensive team yet another 4 more plays. The idea is to advance the ball down the field for a score. Most teams use the first 3 downs trying to get a 1st down if they do not they usually punt it on the 4th down. Then the defense then takes over and tries to hold the other team from getting a new first down.
Some Basic Rules
#1 The offense lineman tries to block the defensive lineman from tackling the one with the ball. The offense player can only use his hands if they are open. If an offense man actually holds the defense player, he is flagged or penalized.
#2 A player may not block a player in the back--this is called clipping.
#3 7 players must be even with the line of scrimmage, the other 4 must be "off" or back of the line. If not an illegal formation is called.
#4 A player may not hit another player with the top of his helmet. This is called "spiking". This penalty is for the safety of the tackler. A tackler with his head down is vulnerable to neck injury. A good tackler keeps his head and his eyes forward "face mask to face mask" and always "wraps up". This means the tackler should wrap his arms around the ball carrier and drive him into the ground.
#5 A player may not "trip" another player. This is not a legal tackle or block.
Player Positions
Receiver--one who catches the pass.
Quarter Back-- the thrower of the pass.
Running Back--one who carries the ball on running plays also called Tail Back and Full Back.
Lineman-- players who are up on the line of scrimmage like blockers.
Defensive backs--not on the line. These players defend against the pass called Corner Back and Safeties.
Line Backers-- they play in the back of the line and in front of the defensive backs (the middle). They have the toughest job, because they have to defend against the run and the pass.
Referee Hand Signs
Handout: Referee Hand Signals
OFFENSE/DEFENSE
GOLDEN RULES OF OFFENSE
#1 Force The Defense To Defend The Entire Field: The offense should attack all areas of the field and force the defenders to "stay at home" thus allowing the offense to create the basic two-on-one mismatches that lead to success for the offense.
#2 Establish The Running Game: Force the defense to respect the running game, taking the teeth out of the pass rush, and you open the passing attack.
#3 Create A Mismatch At The Point Of Attack: Design and run plays to outnumber the defense at the point of attack. Traps, Power Plays, Isolations, Leads' Options, Pick Passes, and a host of other plays can be used to create a situation where numerical or size mismatches can be exploited.
#4 Minimize Mistakes: Turnovers and penalties are avoidable through sound practices and preparation. Few things in a game of football are as demoralizing as giving up a score while your offense is on the field. This momentum shift often changes the coarse of the game.
#5 Physically Dominate The Defense: Being strong and physical on offense is not as important as it is on defense-it is More important. A dominant offense can break the other team down physically and mentally and control the ball and game.
#6 Script The Opening Plays: The number of plays predetermined is not important, only that their is a set offense game plan in place. Using a script can also keep a team from getting "rattled" if the opening moments do not go as planned.
#7 Improve the Offensive Line: The offense line is the heart of a good offense. Without a sound offense line all other aspects of the offense collapse. An offense lineman needs a combination of size, speed, strength, and most importantly, intelligence.
#8 Take No Chances: No guts, no glory! It is necessary to practice the quick strike if you want to be capable of scoring quickly when the need is present.
#9 Be disciplined. Know what it takes to be successful and prepare beforehand. Know specific responsibilities and duties and be sure to carry then out---especially when things are not going well, as this is when it is most important. Discipline can be rehearsed through substitution drills and special teams drills. Confidence can be gained through rigorous scrimmages and positive reinforcement.
#10 Be Prepared: Staff and players should prepare for a specific opponent with a specific game plan. The coaching staff needs to scout via proxy, or in person. Preparation for the next game begins at the final whistle of the previous one.
Defense Philosophies #1
THE FORTRESS
This defense acts on one premise alone: Stop the offense from scoring. The do not break- bend approach defense is a good example of this philosophy. Fortresses are made to weather the storm and is a defense approach to defense.
Defense Philosophies #2(Preferred)
DIVIDE AND CONQUER
The defense needs to attack the offense. Goals for this defense are to deny every yard, every pass, and every play. In this strategy it is the responsibility of the defense to return the ball to the offense and keep the opposing offense from dictating the pace of the game. Defense should emphasize creation of turnovers and force the offense into long yardage situations. An offense kept under constant pressure is likely to make mistakes. When a mistake is made, the defense must be skilled in taking advantage of the mistake.
Defensive Tips
Aggressive play is the key element of the defense play. There are two predominate tips for a defense player. #1 Sprint to the ball. #2 Be extremely aggressive when you get there.
A football player needs three tings in order to be a good defense player; he must be agile, mobile, and very aggressive.
Defense players always chase the play to its conclusion. At the whistle, each and every play all eleven defenders are either at the tackle or on their way to it. This should be learned and implemented at practice until it becomes routine.
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