Pop Warner Split Backs Toss Sweep: Can You Coach It?
FirstDown PlayBook is very critical when it comes to youth football plays and defenses. The very first thing we look for is how a Pop Warner play or defense is taught. Are there basic fundamentals and techniques taught and required to execute it? If not… we walk away. This Split Backs Toss Sweep is a great example of a football play we think you should consider teaching as a youth football coach.
FirstDown PlayBook catches a lot of blowback about this because it appears that we are making “winning” take a back seat, but it is anything but that. If a youth football coach and staff will teach the basic fundamentals required for this play, there are tremendous benefits for your players. Let’s look at some.
Pop Warner Down Block
Simply put, every offensive lineman and coach is looking for a down block. You have the leverage on the offensive play called. However if not executed properly, it can screw up the entire play. Can you coach this the footwork for this technique?
Youth Football Guard Pull
Every youth football coach should teach this. Pulling is a fundamental technique for the offensive line. Gain a little depth. Throw the playside elbow and point the toe. Bring your backside leg through and understand your assignment as you reach the perimeter. Can you coach it?
Center Seal
How many poor Tackles have been chewed out by their USA Football coach when the Guard pulls yet they had no chance. The 3 technique comes straight up the field and destroys the play. That’s because this technique was not taught. Make no mistake. At the youth football level this can hurt you.
Backside Cutoff Fundamental Pop Warner Block
Granted, when you toss the ball away from your Pop Warner aged offensive linemen the potential damage is minimized. However, back to our original point. Teaching leverage is important. This will come in handy later as you are teaching a dive, power or inside zone.
Quarterback Toss
Don’t take this for granted or the ball will be on the ground and the official pointing opposite of your goal. The quarterback must be taught the proper footwork and hand follow through. If you coach youth football players, it is essential that this is drilled over and over to ensure a clean toss.
Lead Back Block
This is a hard block because it occurs in space. If executed poorly it can screw the play up as much as help it, mostly because it occurs at the point of attack. Do you teach your sweep blockers to take away the outside and give the back an outside path or a jumpcut? You should.
Sweep Back SetUp
Okay, he’s your best player and maybe the best player on the youth football field. 99% of the time this will come to a screeching halt once this player gets to high school. This is why it is important to teach how to stretch this play early and jumpcut back inside if needed. Like anything else, there is technique involved.
Are you coaching Pop Warner, AYF or USA Football aged kids this fall? Understand what they teach you because it is important. However, also understand what they do not. There are fundamental coaching tips that you can only get from seasoned football coaches. Watch this short video to learn more.
FirstDown PlayBook offers you 12 other Pop Warner formations. You should consider one or two of these for your Pop Warner offense. 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!
