Youth Football 5-3 Under Defense & More


By FirstDown PlayBook on Aug 11, 2023
#1 Tool For Youth Football & Pop Warner Coaches

The FirstDown PlayBook 5-3 Under youth football defense is probably our least understood. The 5-3 part is not lost on anyone. However, it’s the way that we align your front five defenders that is a little different. This version of a 5-3 youth football defense gives you great leverage in the run game. Particularly to the strong side where you often defend Pop Warner wing formations.

When you coach youth football you can get into a game where the offense is wearing you out to one side or the other. It might be inside or it might be outside. Sometimes it can be both. An under front gives you a shaded nose, a 5 technique on the tackle and a 9 technique on the tight end.

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This front gives you a lot of defense on the edges to stop the sweep game, including the jet sweeps. The three inside linebackers keep you solid against the inside run. You can play man coverage vs all five eligibles, This keeps your linebackers moving towards the ball carrier. It also allows you to be strong against the pass.

You Won’t Have To Sit Still In Your 5-3 Under Defense

You won’t want to sit still in this front either. The 5-3 Under defense is made for the pirate stunt. The pirate stunt brings your 5 technique on a stunt in the B gap. Some offenses will try to attack your strong side B gap when you play an under front. This is because you don’t have a defensive lineman in that gap. You can pirate stunt into the B gap because your Sam linebacker is stacked to that side.

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Like any defense you are considering running, you want to understand it inside out. That means knowing the adjustments to any offensive formation they can throw at you. FirstDown PlayBook has you covered there and with many other youth football defenses.

Click on the 5-3 Under defense diagram below to watch a short video on why you need to consider installing this with your youth football team.

FirstDown PlayBook offers you 6 different defenses just like this 5-3 Under Defense. 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!

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