Choosing Your Youth Football Defense
Be honest. The first thing you thought about when they asked if you would be interested in helping coach your local youth football team was coaching offense, wasn’t it? You thought of explosive plays, long runs and of course touchdowns. Then you got the news…you are in charge of your youth football defense.
After putting on a good face and hiding your initial disappointment, you come to grips that this could actually be fun. Instead of the next Andy Reid, you will be the Pop Warner version of Belichick and Saban! At his point you go way to far with your enthusiasm and start googling the Patriots and Tide defensive schemes.
Okay, I am only half kidding, but trust me, this happens and it is a huge mistake. Coaching a youth football defense is the epitome of fun if you ask me but you have to do it right. It is a chance to coach fundamentals and technique that will not only show up in your youth football games now, but they will actually carry over to later years of high school football.
You Will Not Find Your Youth Football Defense Watching TV
The question today is, how do you get started choosing your youth football defensive scheme? For starters, turn off the TV. There is not a single scheme you will find on television that will fit your youth football defense.
Google if you must, but be aware that it costs nothing to put a youth football defensive scheme on the internet. If you’re going to google to find a youth football defense, take the time to make sure they have a coaching pedigree and coaching resume like FirstDown PlayBook.
Now that you know what not to do, let’s look at several things you should consider when choosing your youth football defense.
Make Sure Your Youth Football Defense Is Sound
For some, this is common sense and for others asking for the definition of a “sound” defense is legitimate. Not to over simplify it but a sound defense dictates gap responsibility in the run game and coverage responsibility vs the passing game.
In order to play consistent youth football defense your players must be taught gap responsibility and coverage assignment. This has to also be consistent regardless of what formation you line up against. Remember, you get to call the defense, not what the offense runs against you.
Sound defense starts with every player understanding their responsibility. “Just find the football” will only carry you until you face a well coached offense who uses your undisciplined approach against you and your youth football defense.
Football Drills, Fundamentals And Technique Are Not Just Buzzwords
It will not matter what defense you choose for your USA Football team if they can’t defeat blocks and tackle. Your practices should reflect this. Regardless of if you run a 5-3 defense or a 6-2 defense you must drill football fundamentals and technique first.
Your practice time should reflect this. If you run a 6-2 defense and you are spending a bulk of your time on coverage, you are mistaken. Eight of your eleven players are responsible for stopping the run and the majority of your football drills should be dedicated to this.
Understand What & Who You Are Defending (Hint…It’s mostly about the Quarterback)
Remember that you are defending people not a field. As far as I know, grass has never scored a touchdown. Players do. If your defense lines up the same way vs a Wing T offense as it does vs a Spread offense then this is just wrong. Even at the youth football level, you must be aware of the offensive personnel and formations.
If you are not then you expose yourself to personnel mismatches and often being lined up in a sound defense except it is not sound vs the formation you are lined up against. This is how silly and fundamentally unsound offenses like the Beast get unnecessary traction. They are easily shutdown if you line up correctly.
Is this all that is involved with coaching a youth football defense? Of course not but you can bet that these three things are a good start. If you want more you can always find free help on the FirstDown PlayBook Coaches Community website!
FirstDown PlayBook offers you 6 different defenses for your youth football team. You should consider one or two of these for your Pop Warner defense. Tap on any one of the tiles below to visit the article describing that formation. After reading the article then go join FirstDown PlayBook and get busy coaching your Pop Warner team with the best football playbook available!
