Youth Football Wishbone Formation


By FirstDown PlayBook on Feb 21, 2022

Generally speaking, when you say wishbone football you have also said option football. The FirstDown PlayBook youth football Wishbone formation holds true to this to a degree. We are of the opinion that your “options” increase with the age of your players. In other words, make sure that your youth football wishbone formation fits the age and talent of your players.

The great thing about having three backs in your youth football backfield is that you have a versatile running game, option or not. Not only do you have three backs in the backfield, but you also have a perfectly balanced formation. Any time you have this, you force the defense to balance up as well. This means there is no cheating to one side or the other before the snap.

This is why it is so hard to play defense against this formation. Defending option football forces the defense to play “assignment football”. If you have a dive back, a quarterback and a pitch back, someone needs to be responsible for all three. Add in the fact that the option can be run to either side and it gets even harder. The defense does not even know their job until after the ball is snapped.

You Should Customize Your Youth Football Wishbone Offense

Is it hard or nearly impossible to coach your 10-11 year olds to run an option offense? Yes it is. That is why we recommend keeping your package small. Your job as the coach is to make the defense account for all of the options. That does not mean that your players actually have those options. What looks like a dive option might actually be quarterback load or a predetermined fullback dive.

NFL Coaches On 12 Formations To Consider For Your Youth Football Offense

Finally, before we let you get to this youth football wishbone formation video, we want to make an important point. This formation is a great way to teach football fundamentals. There are down blocks, double teams, reach blocks, and all of the core techniques to play tight end or offense line. The backs are asked to fake, run and of course, block. Don’t fret. There is also enough of a passing attack here for young players.

Remember, teaching football is why you are standing on a youth football field. The FirstDown PlayBook youth football wishbone formation goes a long way to helping you get that done. If you are looking for more youth football help, FirstDown PlayBook has 10 clinics right here.