The key to the cross block is making sure the two linemen working the cross block work well together. In most schemes, the outside offensive lineman attacks the inside players blocking target first, then the inside offensive linemen comes behind the outside offensive lineman to block the outside offensive lineman’s initial blocking target. It is important that there is very little depth gained by the inside offensive lineman, he has to mesh just off the heels of the outside offensive lineman, hence the need for great teamwork.
Allocating Playing Time in Youth Football, The Youth Football Coaching Nightmare:
This is often a subject many youth football coaches struggle with. The head coach is either a win-at-all-costs coach who cares little about getting all the kids in the game or he’s a guy that lets the soccer mom Nazi parents pressure him into playing all the kids the same amount.
This week I’ve probably had more conversations with youth football coaches than in any previous week of my life. I did a huge clinic in Cincinnati and been flooded with e-mails, but a flood of questions this week came from coaches ordering the materials over the phone. Invariably they will ask; “Why have you been so successful?”
The answer I think really surprises many. We have been so successful because of 3 factors: Setting Proper Priorities, Practice Methodology and our Schemes both offense, defense and special teams.
Sports drinks like Gatorade and others are flavored fluids fortified with electrolytes, potassium and sodium, all which are lost by the body during intense exercise. However, its is unlikely according to most experts that the loss of your bodies stores of these minerals is anything to worry about unless you are doing intense workouts of 3-5 hours or longer. In the long intensity activities of 3-5+ hours, the athlete can be at risk for over hydration called hypoantremia, due to drinking excess water without proper sodium replacement.
The speed sweep football plays go by many names; jet sweep, fly sweep and speed sweep and can be effective for certain youth football teams.
The speed sweep involves a wing, slot or flanker running at full speed motion, taking a handoff from the quarterback and sweeping the opposite end from where he came in motion from. The play is extremely effective at getting that speedy running back to the edge quickly.
Here is the text of an Interview I did with the Single Wing Sentinel. The Sentinel is a great resource for Single Wing coaches as it showcases High School teams around the country that are running the Single Wing Offense.
10 Questions with Dave Cisar
Single Wing Sentinel: What drew you into coaching?
Dave Cisar: When I was growing up, the game taught me lessons that I used later in life in school and business. Had the game and coaching not been there and those lessons not been taught, I doubt that I would have enjoyed the success I did in those other areas.