No Huddle Central

Yet another new site!!!

2011-03-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

What started as a little consulting gig and a way to share what I had learned about the no huddle has morphed into something much bigger.

I am proud to announce the creation of Full Throttle Coaching Solutions, a company that is committed to helping coaches save time in every facet of their program allowing them stop managing people and programs and spending their new found time doing what they signed up to do... COACHING THEIR PLAYERS!

Check out what we are offering at: Full Throttle Football

2010-02-07T06:36:00.000-08:00

For more No Huddle Materials, check out our new home at:

www.fullthrottlefootball.com

Making Things Easier

2008-07-19T05:47:00.000-07:00

I am forgetful, especially when I get caught up in a practice or game. As a playcard guy and a strict practice plan guy, this has often meant that I would be sending an injured player or manager to the other end of the field to grab my cards and plans. Well, those days are over. I recently decided to take the next step and attach the information to me to eliminate that frustration. I had seen other coaches using strings and keychains, so I got a retractable keychain that attached to my belt. It looks something like this:

This allows me to make a playcall and then let go of the card. It also allows me to have all important documents with me at all times without worrying about where I set them down. If you are interested in trying this out, check out your local hardware store, or look at the selection at the website below.

Lanyard Central

An if the game or practice goes badly, you might want to look into the one that looks like this.

Warm Up Part 3 - Dynamic Agilities

2008-07-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Exercise 14: Form Skip

Distance: 20 yds

Coaching Points:

Arms locked at 90 degrees
Drive knees forward
Pop off balls of feet keeping toes up
Drive elbows back aggressively

Exercise 15: Side Shuffle

Distance: 20 yds each way

Coaching Points:

Feet stay pointed straight ahead
Weight on the balls of your feet
Short shuffle steps

Exercise 16: Side Run

Distance: 20 yds each way

Coaching Points:

Keep center of gravity low
Cross over in front of body
Should be balanced and able to change direction

Exercise 17: Backwards Cycle

Distance: 20 yds

Coaching Points:

Keep Chest up tall
Heel tight to butt keeping toes up
Kick backward as far as possible with good form

Exercise 18: Lunge Walk

Distance: 20 yds

Coaching Points:

Arms locked at 90 degrees
Large step forward
Do not bend at the hip
Keep chest up tall

Exercise 19: Side Lunge

Distance: 20 yds each side

Coaching Points:

Keep both feet pointed forward
Full lateral extension of leg
Keep hips low to the ground

Exercise 20: Form Runs

Distance: 20 yds twice

Coaching Points:

75% on the first rep
90% on the final rep
Clap it up in the end zone

Warm Up Part 2 - Ground Base Dynamic Stretches

2008-07-10T07:11:00.001-07:00

Exercise 9: Single Leg Raise

Reps: 10 each leg

Coaching Points:

Keep legs straight
Back stays flat on ground
Palms down to the side
Do not let the heel touch the ground between reps
Stay under control

Exercise 10: Skydivers

Reps: 10

Coaching Points:

lift both arms and legs off ground
focus on lower back

Exercise 11: Hip Hydrants

Reps: 5 each leg

Coaching Points:

Bulldozer position
Knees under the hips
Lift up and out

Exercise 12: Leg Circle

Reps: 5 forward each leg and 5 backward each leg

Coaching Points:

Bulldozer position
Start with right leg and go forward then back
Switch to left and go forward then back
Full range of motion is important

Exercise 13: Mountain Climbers

Reps: 5 each leg

Drive knee to chest
Be light on your feet
Stretch into each rep
Do not push the pace

Warm Up Part 1 - Stationary Dynamic Stretches

2008-07-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

Exercise 1: Prisoner Squat

Reps: 10 to cadence

Coaching points:

Feet shoulder width
back flat / butt back
Toes over knees

Exercise 2: Jumping Jack

Reps: 10 to cadence

Coaching points:

Stay on balls of feet
Full Range of Motion
Arms and Legs Straight

Exercise 3: Seal Jump

Reps: 10 to cadence

Coaching points:

Stretches shoulder forward
Stay on balls of feet
Arms and Legs Straight

Exercise 4: Pogo Jump - Quick

Reps: 10 sec. X 2 Quick Reps

Keep legs straight
Use arms with jump

Exercise 5: Pogo Jump - High

Reps: 10 sec. X 2

Long Air Time - High in Air
Keep legs straight

Exercise 6: Wide Outs

Reps: 10 sec. X 2

Start in quarter squat
Maintain athletic position
Hips stay at same height

Exercise 7: Gate Swing

Reps: 10 to cadence

Coaching points:

Start in squat position
Hands on knees
Widen and sink hips into deep groin stretch
Keep all weight on the balls of feet

Exercise 8: Scissor Jump

Reps: 10 to cadence

Coaching points:

Start in running position
Keep arms locked at 90 degrees
Jump and switch feet
Sink into a stretch and repeat
Keep chest tall at all times

Day 4 Install

2008-07-06T05:47:00.000-07:00

Day 4 was a defensive day, but we spent the last hour scrimmaging in a 7 on 7 setting. We did very little drilling, but we got lots of live reps vs. our defense using each of our formations and plays. 10 plays were in by the end of the day and the players seemed very adept at understanding the system. All communication was through sideline signals and we stopped to answer any questions that arose.

One obstacle that we ran into was players with multiple positions. Tailbacks that also played slot and the like. This caused some confusion, so we tried to put more information on the card. In subsequent competition, that did not prove to be as effective as we would have hoped. For that reason. We will be buying flipping cards for those types of players. They will have their primary card on the front and the secondary one under the flipping portion.

We left Day 4 feeling great about the offense and curious about how our defense would step up against real competition.

Day 3 Install

2008-07-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

Day 3 was a return to the offensive side of the ball and a chance to continue to build on the day 1 install. We reviewed the signals, routes, and formations before diving into the install of our pocket game passing concepts. To teach these combinations, we used a scout defense and ran plays at them with two groups of receivers.

To speed up the reps and allow me to coach on the field, I made scripts and gave them to my WR coach. He sent in the information and coaches taught them up before snapping the ball. During this session, we put in 4 new plays. The players seemed to get the concepts and showed proficiency in using the formations.

For the last few minutes of practice, we went live. Throwing a defense out there to give the QB real reads. Things looked OK, but I realized that with all the emphasis on the WR (forms, routes, and the like) we had not coached up the QB very well. He will need more reps to be game ready.

All in all. Another few steps forward. All plays and formations are beings signaled in and players are verbalizing each one. We will try to stop reciting the signals next week.

Day 2 Install

2008-07-01T05:46:00.000-07:00

Day 2 for us was much more of a defense day. We worked on coverages and the old stand-by alignment, assignment, and action. Once our skelly was ready to play against real competition, we put our offense out there and added 2 more plays to the arsenal. All plays were called in from the sidelines using signals and coaches were positioned to help answer any questions. Within no time we were repping our entire quick game out of multiple formations and calls without once mentioning the names of plays. The difficulties arose when we found ourselves trying to get players who were not around on day 1 up to speed. That was a crash course and probably wasted everyones time. Next time I will tell them to wait until they have learned the material.
All in all a successful day. They had remembered the signals and the concepts, now it is all about reps.

Formation Review Drill

2008-06-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

Our Formation Review Drill is set up to rep our formations, motions, and spacing while continuing our emphasis on proper stance and start technique. It is similar to our marching drill, but there is no defense. It also allows us to rep our different tempos and conditions our players both physically and mentally for moving at a quick pace.

Drill Setup:
• Place your first team on the 10 yard line and your 2nd team on the goalline. (pic. 1)
• Clearly announce to the teams what tempo you are using, what you expect, and what plays you will be repping.
• The head coach should be in between the two groups blowing the whistle and enforcing discipline if needed.
• The offensive coordinator is calling the formations from the sideline (run your system, but make the team practice like it is a game with plays coming in from the sideline. If the HC is the OC he should delegate the calling ability for this drill and have an assistant call a script for the drill)
• Position coaches should be in charge of coaching the stance and start of their position.
• Additional coaches are pushing the drill and monitoring for errors and lack of effort. They communicate problems to the head coach for disciplinary action.

Drill Execution:
• This is a full speed drill. The first team quarterback will call the cadence for both teams and they will fire off the ball, sprint 10 yards and touch the line with their hand (discipline), They will then look back to the sideline as they jog back to the new LOS (5 yards ahead of the previous LOS.
• Once the players are back to the LOS, the formation / play will come in and the players should prep for the next play at the tempo that you expect.
• Linemen should not pay any attention to the formation. They should be talking about DL schemes and blocking assignments. This drill also works well without the OL.

Teaching Points:
• Spacing is crucial in any offense. Move the ball from hash to has and ensure proper stretching and shrinking of the formations that you run. Don't sacrifice quality for speed.
• Expect full effort every play. Anything less by one player should result in up-downs for the team. They will quickly get the picture and right the ship.

• Coaches should push communication and execution while coaching on the run.
• The head coach must push the pace to make sure it matches his expectations.
• Players should understand that this is a conditioning drill as well. They are supposed to be tired. We want to test them when they are winded to make sure they are still able to execute the play.

Day 1 Install

2008-06-29T05:46:00.000-07:00

The day is finally here. Time to stop talking football and start coaching. Time to put my money where my mouth is and install the Full Throttle No Huddle to a group of players who have absolutely no history with this concept or this offense for that matter. I figured the best way to make this happen is to jump in head first. We started as a team looking at a blown up version of the playcard they will have on their wrist and understanding how to locate the plays on their wrists. We then taught the formation signs and the numerical signals and had the players repeat them with us a few times. After 10 minutes, we instructed the players to begin their indi and group drills with the understanding that we will not be calling plays by name for the rest of the week, or the rest of the summer for that matter. While at first they seemed a bit overwhelmed, they quickly understood that they would have to put up or shut up, learn or go home. After some individual technique drills and teaching, we went into our formation review drill. This is basically a series of sprints from one formation to another. I would signal the formation, the players would sprint to the assigned spot and get set in a proper stance. The QB would snap the ball and the players sprint 5 yards and reset at the 10 yards on the next formation. For a more detailed idea of this drill check the drills section. We started with our 2x2 formations and then added our 3x1 and 3x2 forms. 4 formations with trips adaptations.
When the Formation Review was complete, we began teaching our passing game using the codes and the cards. We ran our ladder drill of sorts repping the same play 10-15 times a piece out of various formations and different codes. We put in 3 plays today, but the understanding of the basic concept was cemented. Our base was set and we were ready to build for the rest of the week.
Overall, a very productive day. This group of players was further in 1 day than my previous team had been after the whole summer. It is amazing what experience can do to teach someone what works and what doesn't, how to teach and how not to teach.

Camp Overview

2008-06-28T05:38:00.000-07:00

As I have mentioned before, this year I will be putting in my "Full Throttle No Huddle" system at a new school as I have changed jobs. This gives me a unique opportunity to go back to the basics of no-huddle installation and teaching to refine the points and try new methods. The challenge of course is taking a group of kids who have never run this offense or without a huddle and to get them up to speed in time for our 7 on 7 competitions. Over the next few days, I will chronicle the what and how of our installation process and give you pointers along the way. Stay tuned for this 5 part series.

Onsides Everytime?!

2008-06-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

I know this isn't exactly no huddle information, but it is about putting a new form of pressure of the opposition. Here is an article I just finished that I thought you guys might find interesting.

Onsides Every Time?! – Creating Opportunities for Momentum Every Kickoff

I think my team is like most high school teams. Once

every 10 years, we are fortunate enough to have a kid that can drive the endzone on a regular basis for our kickoff team. But what about those other 9 years? What do we do in those situations to get the most out of our kickoff team? This decision will effect not only the opponents starting position, but also the scoring opportunities for both teams. This article will address one way to turn around the kick-off play giving the advantage back to the kicking team.

Before looking at what and the how, we need to first address the why. To many coaches across the country, kick-off is commonly seen as a:
1. Concession of possession to the receiving team.
2. Containment play with safety players.
3. Victory if the receiving team is kept inside the 35 yard line.

Not only that but many coaches make the mistake of:
1. Under-practicing / scheming this team.2. Using subs and extras on the coverage team.
3. Kicking for the goalline every single time without any chance of reaching it.

So with that as our mindset (no doubt a very pessimistic view), my staff and I set to change the dynamics of these situations in order to give us an advantage on Friday night. We sought to answer the following questions:
1. How can we gain momentum with our kick-off team?
2. How can we take away the chance of a large return (momentum) from our opposition?
3. How can we keep the hands out of their play-makers hands?
4. Is there a simple change that we can make will force our opponents to spend precious practice time preparing for our schemes?

The result of this brain storming session was a unique and versatile kick-off system that adapts to return strategies and answered each of our questions. Here is the process and the plans that we used to turn the Kick-off back in our favor.

Step #1: Change the Team Mindset
We have renamed this team the Kickoff Recovery team. This sets an expectation for the players and turns their focus to attacking the ball and getting it back in the hands of the offense. This simple change will allow the players to understand their roles within this scheme and will change the way they play.

Step #2: Adjust the Personnel
Since high schools can’t recruit, team must play with who shows up. We decided that we could fit our position descriptions to the type of players that play our different defensive positions. (Below) This keeps us from worrying about subbing players for injuries. We will put as close to our 1st defense on the field as possible. Instead of putting as many head hunters as possible with a few subs sprinkled in, we will now use the different positions strengths to help us get the ball back / contain the fielded kick.

Step #3: Develop the Schemes
Once the players are in place, we turned our mind to the scheme(s). We decided that there were 6 different kicks we wanted to be able to kick each time we stepped up to the 40 yd line. Each of them can be considered an onsides to a certain extent and gives our players a chance to make a play. Below is a diagram of the 6 different onside zones that we attack out of this formation.

#1 – Standard Onsides Kick

The alignment we use looks like a potential onsides kick to the left and the returning team will likely adjust to that to some extent. If they do not, we will kick to standard onsides kick to that side with a numbers advantage. The key players in the diagram below are the End and Sam backer. Notice that they are supposed to attack / block the nearest opposing players as the other recovery team players seek to find and fall on the ball. Also notice that the left corner is the shortstop that keeps the ball from going out of bounds and the Bill backer bends back behind the play as a safety valve. The kick itself should be the hopping kick that jumps high on the third bounce when done correctly. The kicker is instructed to kick the top off of the ball to achieve this affect.

#2 – Take it if you got it kicker.
If the return team leaves a gap in front of the kicker, we will run #2. This is a rare but fun onsides that will give us a great advantage in numbers when it is run. Again, notice that 3 players are told to attack / block the nearest opponents while the others come in to clean up the ball. The kick is just a tap in the middle of the ball to get it to roll 10 yards. The kicker will need to practice this daily to know how much contact to make and how to run through the kick to have a chance to field it.

#3 – Shortside Onside
Once the opposition rotates to the wide side of the field, we will kick to the short side. This usually means only one front line player to the right of the kicker and once again gives us a numbers advantage. The scheme is quite similar to #1 but the kick itself is much different. It is a cross between the #1 and the #2 kick since a right footed kicker must completely open his hips and spank the ball into the opening. We want it to “bounce ugly.”

#4 – Pouch Kick
The fourth kick in our progression give us a versatile way to kick the ball deeper with a new way to recover the ball. The goal is to kick the ball as high as possible to the other 40. If the kicker gets under it, we can get our players down there in time to make a play on the ball. Remember, the kickoff team has the chance to call for a fair catch if the ball hasn’t hit the ground, but the second it makes contact with the playing surface all bets are off. The corner has a crucial role to get down the sideline and keep the ball inbounds.

#5 – The Nasty Nuckelball
We have already explained 4 short kicks that will likely force the teams we play to move around to prevent our success. When that happens, we want to counter that with our #5 or #6 kicks. #5 is meant to be a line drive kick that hits the ground and bounces wildly into the right third of the field. We want anyone who is fielding this ball to have to bend down and take his eyes off the pursuit. We hope to hit him as he makes contact with the ball and take possession. As the kicker prepares to make this kick, we ask him to aim at a player that is in the path of the ball and try to bounce the ball off his chest. This ensures the proper trajectory, but also gives us one more way to get the ball back in our hands. The kicker can toe kick this ball right in the middle of the ball to achieve the desired effect and to maintain accuracy.

#6 – Coffin Corner
Lastly, when team leave one guy back or rotate toward our left, we will kick our six kick. This is a more standard kick into the right third of the field. Now the fact that our kicker can only kick to the 10 is exactly what we want. We have him punch it to the corner while our recovery unit attacks the ball in lanes. I know what you are saying, that is not an onside kick at all, but the attitude that the players take makes it still a chance to meet our goals that were stated before. The ball is being kicked to an empty part of the field where our players have a high probability of containing the ball, making a big play, and creating momentum. If we get the ball on this kick it is just gravy. We are just trying to make them pay for over-adjusting. It keeps them honest and in turn forces them to create gaps up front to cover for this weakness.

I am sure that there are other ways to accomplish the goals that we had, but I have a hard time imagining a situation where you have more opportunity to create positive momentum for your team while decreasing those opportunities for your opposition. Now imagine it is Thursday night and you are walking off the practice field. All your preparation is complete and your Kick Recovery team is ready to make some plays. 35 miles away your opponent is still on that practice field. He is trying to make all the necessary adjustments with his kids to adapt to different kicks he has seen you employ in the 3 games he has on film. He is trying to make last minute changes and is taking time out of his offense and defense prep to try and ensure that you don’t “steal a possession.” You are the one that sleeps well tonight. You are the one that is prepared. You are in control before either team even steps on the field. The same cannot be said for your opponent.
I hope that this information helps you in some way. Enjoy these concepts and adapt them to the way you play football. If you have any questions regarding these schemes or concepts, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Article Archive - No Huddle in the Pros

2008-05-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

Here is another example of the pros being effected by the no huddle craze. Check it out.

Bengals No Huddle

Using Playcard Pro to Enhance Practice Speed and Reps

2008-05-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't noticed, I am a big fan of the GamePrep Solutions software package. It provides many options that speed up office work and allow the to spend more time coaching and with their family. The program I have been working with most lately is the PlayCard Pro software. While I will let the online demo speak for itself, I will let you know that I have used playmaker for 7 years and after starting with this program there is no way I will ever go back. This program is so flexible and allows me to create and duplicate plays with quickness and ease. I built my entire playbook in just a few days. A few of the features that I like are:

Auto-placement Defenses that adjust to your formations.
Advanced cataloging system that allows you to move from play to play with ease.
Efficient formation and play library system for easy manipulation
Works in tandem with Playbook Pro and PlayScript Pro for optimum efficiency (I will talk about them each in later installments).

Article Archive - HS Wristcard Coach

2008-05-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

I am always looking to see how other people do what we do. They always have a slightly different twist that can be learned from. The article below is another great example of how other coaches around the country use wristcards to enhance their teams effectiveness. Enjoy

HS Wrist Card Article

Tip of the Day - 5/8

2008-05-08T03:28:00.000-07:00

Teaching your Coaches - Part 2

Ideas to insure proper teaching and coaching of your no huddle scheme.

4. Dress rehearsal. Start early with coaching real-time practice. We will be out on the field very soon practicing how calls will be made and what happens in between. Coach you coaches on exactly what you want to see done at certain times and in specific situations.

5. Sweat the Small Stuff. If you don't discuss it, chances are it won't happen. Be very specific with coaches about where and what you want and how you want it done. Once they know that information and how to put it into practice, they will then start to think like you. They will find ways to make the things work even better within the system.

6. Step Back. Once things are in place give the coaches some latitude. Step back and let them run a series or a 7 on 7 night and then have a debriefing session after that meeting. Nothing teaches better than raw experiences so build those into your spring and summer plans.

Stay tuned for part 3 of this series next week.

Article Archive - Air Force Football

2008-05-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

Most coaches that go no huddle do it for one of two reasons, either to catch up with superior talented teams or to pull away from the pack. Air Force is a great example of the former. They have to compete with the top D1 schools in the country with less "stars" than anyone else. To remain competitive they must out scheme their opponents one way or another and over the past few years they have been quite successful. This article outlines the why's and how's connected to their success in the no huddle. In my opinion, this is a story we can all relate to in one way or another.

Air Force No Huddle

Full Throttle Drills in Gridiron Strategies

2008-05-04T21:57:00.000-07:00

I thought you might all be interested in knowing that the No Huddle Drills in the Drills section were recently published in Gridiron Strategies magazine. I suggest you all check out the site to see film of our team and to sign up for the one of the best football magazines in the country.

To check out the site go to: Gridiron Strategies

To order the magazine try Coach Nichols Bookstore

Stay tuned for a future article on the Onside Kick by Coach Nichols

Tip of the Day - 5/4

2008-05-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

Coaching coaches is one of the most crucial parts of the no huddle install. In the next few installments of the Tip of the Day segment, we will be giving you lists of ways to help your staff learn, understand, and buy in to your new system. Here are the first three:

Get your staff involved in the creative process. Buy in is so much easier when everyone (key coaches) feel like they are and will be part of creating and implementing the process.
Teach it to them like a teacher would. So often we forget that our coaches often learn best by doing not just listening. Have them stand up, go through the motions as a player and a coach.
Set up signal practice sessions. We have a coach sit behind another coach to simulate getting a signal through a headset and then the coach will send in signals. Coaches then critique each other on their signals looking for crispness, pace, and accuracy.

Stay tuned for more ideas of how to teach and work with your staff.

No Huddle Going Over BIG

2008-05-03T11:19:00.001-07:00

No team has a larger than life coach quite like Kansas, and as we all saw last year few teams have been able to see any greater gains due to the spread / no huddle attack. Here is an article that talks about their success and the rest of the Big 12. Enjoy.

Jayhawk No Huddle

Article Review - Another Perspective

2008-04-28T03:44:00.000-07:00

HEre is an article that I found at the American Football Monthly website. It is a different way to look at changing tempos. Jim Glover (the auther) began his third year this fall coaching at Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee. He is currently the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the Eagles. He joined the Eagles’ staff after spending 16 years in the high school ranks where he coached at both Humboldt and McNairy Central High Schools in Tennessee. You can reach him at glover-j@lambuth.edu. (excerpt from the about the author portion of the article)

Click here to view the article. Enjoy.

Tip of the Day - 4/24

2008-04-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

Dummy Receivers

HEre are a few things we know:

We all know that receivers in a pass centered offense can get tired and not run great routes.
We also know that defenses usually only scout 1 deep and know little about the subs you bring in.
We know that DB's are always told to not let anyone behind them.

So what does this mean in the No Huddle? Well, teams will usually be playing their studs against your studs and they likely will not change when you send in a sub. Therefore, you will have their starting TB, for instance, against your 5th, 6th, or 7th best receiver. No contest right? Wrong. If you shift your mentality from beating that defender to wearing him out, you will make real hay with the 7th receiver of yours. Here is what you do. Tell him to run to the end zone every play. Gas that TB and force them to sub. If they don't, you just killed their running game in the 4th quarter. If they do then not you put your stud back in and throw right over their backup.

Any offense can run this concept, but the no huddle makes it harder for adjustments defensively and can give you a huge advantage in this part of the game.

Tip of the Day - 4/21

2008-04-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

While speaking to a championship No Huddle coach recently, I got a great tip that I figured you all would want to hear about. It deals with the last minute coach to QB communication and I guess it could even apply to huddle teams for that matter.

Coach to QB Communication in the No Huddle

Once the play is in, many coaches turn their attention to the next play. Not Coach Snead, he positions himself behind the defense (whenever possible) to give the QB last second instructions / audibles. Basically the signals come in to the team like any other team and the approach the LOS. Just before the snap, the QB checks with the OC to make sure that they are not "drawing dead" and running a play that will not work vs. this defensive alignment. Coach Snead said that he only changes the play 3-4 times a game, which may not seam like much. At the same time, when you think about the fact that you just took 4 plays from no gain or possible losses to potentially positive yardage. This is an opportunity to gain an additional 20-30 yds per game and give your playmakers the best chance to make plays. Simple yet effective way to keep from "drawing dead."

Using Depth Chart Pro to Enhance Substitution Speed

2008-04-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

Since we are all dealing with precious seconds and we want to maintain a pace with our offense, there is no time to be wasted on substitutions of any kind. Whether it is a small injury or a change of personnel grouping, the goal is to make it happen without completely disrupting the pace and flow of the game. One tool that I have found to be very beneficial is the Depth Chart Pro software that is available through GamePrep Solutions. This is a fantastic product that greatly assists the organizational efforts of coaches as they prepare for a game and as they make gametime adjustments. In a way it saves us from ourselves. No more grabbing the closest back type player and throwing him into the game as your stud TB limps off the field. No more scrambling to find your extra TE's in your goalline or jumbo set. Depth Chart Pro keeps it all in line.

If you are interested in a deeper look at this product, check the links below. I think you will be be very satisfied with the organization it provides. Feel free to contact me if you want to know more about how I use it in my team.

Resources:

- Product Overview

- Video Overview

- Purchase Information

- GamePrep Homepage

Tip of the Day - 4/13

2008-04-13T07:15:00.001-07:00

Another way to take precious seconds off your time between plays is to set a default formation. Even better at the HS level where most of the game is played from the hashes, you can set defaults from the left middle and right to help eliminate the movement between plays. This coming year, will be having our players pre-align in a trips formation to the field when we are on the hash and a 2x2 formation in the middle of the field. The default formation will be determined weakly based on the defense we plan on seeing that week. This eliminates the extra movements and speeds up our rate of play.

Looking at the Polling Data

2008-04-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Seems like polls are all you hear about on the news today. The first poll on NHC asked "How many plays per game did you run last season?" Thirty of you weighed in and the results were interesting.

When you look at most teams, the average is somewhere in the low to mid fifties. This was the same for our poll. Nearly 50% (13 out of 30) chose 50-59 as the most accurate answer for their team, while ten respondents chose 40-49 . While there are many variables that could effect these answers, this show that most of the people frequenting this site are looking for ways to enhance their offense through no huddle. Personally, we were in the low fifties last year and after one season in the no huddle we were in the high sixties and seventies each game without pushing the pace to much.

When it is all said and done, the number of plays per game is only important if you can win those games, but it is my opinion that that number can be a determining factor. With more plays come:

more chances to make a big play.
more control of the pace of the game.
more chances to spread the ball around.
more drives that were over 5 plays.
and it can counterweight the ball possession statistic that everyone loves to talk about.

CLICK HERE for more information on the importance of plays per game compared to ball possession. The McElroy and Malzahn books are excellent.

Our next question will deal with how people are or would run the no huddle. Check it out to the right. Also, any questions comments or suggestions should be sent to coachnichols@gmail.com.

"Seasons of Life"

2008-04-01T04:36:00.000-07:00

I know you come here expecting X's and O's and specifics about the No Huddle, but today I thought we should take a brief aside to discuss a book. If you are anything like me, reading is a bit of a chore. I would rather do almost anything than read. So the only thing that can keep me reading is football. Two years ago I was given the book Seasons of Life by Jeffrey Marx. I was skeptical, but there was a football on the front and that was enough to pull me in. From there I was pulled in to the story of Marx's journey into HS football and the main character Joe Ehrmann. The book follows the team through a season and looks at the philosophies that guide Joe and his fellow coaches as they seek to mold young men.

This was a great read. A must for any coach of any sport. It will profoundly change the way you view your role on the football field and in the end you might find yourself telling your players that you "love them." Check out the links below for additional reviews and information.

Amazon Reviews

Purchase this Book

Tip of the Day - 3/31

2008-03-31T12:42:00.000-07:00

One common misconception about the No Huddle is that it is all about going fast, when it is really all about speed. These two words are similar yet distinctly different. Fast is a rate of movement relative to other movements while speed implies the pace at which something is traveling. To some this may seem like trivial, but this difference is crucial in understanding why people that run the no huddle well are successful. Going fast is nice, but not always the best course of action. Instead good coaches realize that controlling the speed, or pace, of the game is what can give the offense an additional advantage on the field. Many times this means pushing the pace and going "fast," but other times / situations may call for playing at a slower speed. Lets look specifically at the "4 minute offense" situation. You have the lead, the game is under control. All you have to do is not do something stupid and all they want to do is get the ball back. Going fast would not be the best idea in this situation, instead we would slow down to our "1st Gear" and try to control the clock. We watch the back judge and milk the clock for all its worth. In the end, controlling the speed of the game is the goal and sometimes you have to "Go Slow to Go Fast." (I think I heard that on Nascar this weekend)

Busy Week

2008-03-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I am back. It has been a crazy few weeks. I recently interviewed and was hired at a new school and the change over has been time consuming. Due to that promotion and the work involved this sites format will change slightly. I will be looking to have 3 stories a week and I hope that coaches around the country begin to contribute. If you are wondering what is coming up, check the list to the right. I will try to keep you abreast of the articles that are being written. God Bless,

Coach Nichols

Communication 101: The Verbal System

2008-03-19T18:58:00.000-07:00

The verbal system is really not a system of its own. It is usually part of either the symbol or numeric systems already discussed. In many cases, the coach well tell (yell) a coded play to a player (usually the QB) who will in turn relay that message to the rest of the team. This is similar to the way many huddle teams run, with the only change being the QB telling the play from the backfield.

Pros:

Easy - Literally the easiest way to go no huddle. If your verbage is coded than you can be no huddle tomorrow with the system.
Clear Message - All players are getting the same information from the same source. No signal confusion. QB will have a smaller chance of misinterpreting the play.

Cons:

Restricts Speed - Some would argue that very little is gained in this system because there is still an intermediary handling the play on the field. In my opinion, it is at least a step in the right direction.
Can Be Picked Up - Without detailed verbage that is nondescript, it may be possible for a defense to catch on to what is being called.

Again, this is a good start but probably not a final answer. Many huddle teams will even use this approach for the 2 minute drill when they need to save a few seconds. It is the most simple to quickly employ and can work well for huddle teams to change the pace.

Tip of the Day - 3/17

2008-03-17T06:34:00.000-07:00

Speeding up the your offense on more second can really put the screws to the defense. It gives them one less second to make adjustments and prepare for the next play. One way that we have taken one second off the time between plays is through having our linemen pick the back up off the ground. It seems simple, but this gets the linemen to block downfield with more tenacity to where the back is on the ground. When they pick him up the are at the new line of scrimmage, ready for the next play. We repped this in our drills in practice and saw the difference on Friday nights.

As always, we are looking for some more tip of the day entries. Email them to coachnichols@gmail.com to be a part of No Huddle Central.

Using the No Huddle in Game Planning

Communication 101: The Symbol System

2008-03-12T06:41:00.000-07:00

In contrast to the numeric / body clock system, the symbol system can be as complex as you want. Coaches are not restrained by a limited number of digits, but only by his imagination in developing new signals. This is the most common approach used at the high school and college levels among both huddle and no huddle teams alike. Below are a list of pros and cons as they relate to this system of communicating plays in a no huddle system.

Pros:

Wide range of options. Like I mentioned before, this system is only limited by your own imagination. Each coach has a different way to signal different plays, formations, tags, and so on.
Easily adaptable to weekly changes. Because of the infinite options to communicate the play it is easy to add signals to adapt for your opponent. It is much more flexible to absorb different tags as well.
Connectedness to plays. From a player memorization standpoint, this system can create mental images that connect the play to the motion. To use the previous example, sweep could be a sweeping motion. This is a simple trigger to help the players remember the play and the concept and hopefully their assignment.

Cons:

More signals to memorize. Many times a strength can also be a weakness and I believe that is obviously the case in this system. The many different signals creates more memorization and can stress the less intelligent players on the team. Remember, you need 11 players on the same page for a play to work. If one doesn't know the signals he hurts the whole team.
Signals can be stolen. Because many times the plays are related to the words of the play the can be easier to connect signals to plays. Most teams will be more worried about getting their guys in the right place to focus on your signals, but some teams will work very hard to "break your code." For that reason, the coach must find ways to complicate the signals. (email if you need suggestions)
Need for false signals / signalers. Connected to #2 is the need for additional signals to throw off the defense. You see this every Saturday as every college team has three back-up qb's signaling in the plays. This helps protect the integrity of the system, but requires more people that are quick handed and well versed in the offense. This can be a problem for high school teams. Others choose to add false signals to the end of the play similar to baseball signals.

In conclusion, this system is obviously very effective as many teams use it, but it has its drawbacks as well. The biggest hurdle would likely be the first year, after it is installed you have the language established and you can build from there.

Stay tuned for further installments of the Communication 101 series.

Tip of the Day - 3/11

2008-03-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

Tempo is a real buss word in no huddle circles. Controlling the tempo is the goal and most teams do a decent job of doing this. The best teams, however, have learned to catch the defense leaning on the pace using a "chatter" concept. When this is called, the team will go to the line just like before and go through the cadence with no play called. This eliminates the chances of you jumping and almost ensures that they will. We have had great success to the tune of 2 to 3 false starts for the defense per game. I would suggest adding this concept to your system if you haven't already. There is nothing like 5 free yards.

No Huddle at the Lower Levels

2008-03-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

It has long been debated whether or not youth and middle school football teams could effectively run the no huddle schemes. Many coaches fear that it requires more teaching and puts to much pressure on the kids, while others struggle with the idea of losing a portion of their "control" over the offense. This past season, our middle school adopted our no huddle approach and found it to be quite helpful / successful. While I am a fan of how we run things, it is my opinion that most systems can be adapted to help players at the younger levels play at a faster pace and control the tempo of the game. When combined with wristcards it also can help the forgetful player who is always "out to lunch." In the following interview, one of our middle school coaches answers a few questions about coaching the no huddle at the 7th grade level. I hope his comments are helpful for those of you considering this transition.

Coach Kool's Interview

Communication 101: The Body Clock

2008-03-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

The most simple of no huddle communication systems is known by many as the "body clock." Generally speaking, this system relies on a simple set of signals to convey information to the team in numeric form and is commonly coupled with some sort of wrist coach no huddle system. The picture to the right is a simple example that I received from a fellow coach, but the signals could almost fit any form. The general concept being that signals are connected to numbers that link to the play.

Pros:

Simplicity - The body clock has very few signals that must be known and understood by all players and coaches. Quick to learn and understand. It is perfect for lower levels and our middle school coaches love this system.
Quick - Sending in 3 or 4 digits can be very quick once the players get used to the concept. Much practice is needed to get to that point.
Coded - Numbers can be connected to plays in an offense, but if used in conjunction with wrist cards there is no chance that the signal for the #1 can be connected with the common play sweep. Symbol systems often associate plays with common things so a "sweep" might be signaled by making a motion that looks like sweeping a floor. This is easier for teams to pick up if they scout heavily.

Cons:

Not Flexible - Because of our base ten numeric system, this system has a limited scope. Teams that use this system quickly realize that they need to build on to this system to allow to attack defensive changes during the game.
Easier to Steal - With only 10 signals someone could catch on to the combinations that are being sent in to the team. This weakness can be subverted by careful preparation by the coaches but it can be quite tedious. If you would like to know how we did this, feel free to contact me.
Must Be Translated - While this can be a fast we to send in information, it is slowed down by the players having to read their card prior to running the play. For those that want to really push the pace, it can be hard to keep your desired tempo using this system.

In conclusion, the body clock system is great for start-up no huddle teams and allows any team to become quickly proficient in the no huddle if properly trained. The devil is in the details and this system can be hard to adapt as you move forward. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Coach Nichols at coachnichols@gmail.com.

Salute to a Legend

2008-03-04T15:58:00.000-08:00

Brett Favre Retires

No huddle at the professional level is hardly comparable to that of the high school and college realm. Parity, increased practice time, and longevity all contribute to a completely different system of communication. Not to mention the whole earpiece in the QB's helmet advantage. At the same time, we would all have enjoyed a player that could command the field with the understanding and poise the Farve displayed on a daily basis. His signals and checks at the line are likely only second to the great Peyton Manning. The control that he had over the team and the trust he gained from his teammates make him one of the most likable signal callers of all time and I am sure we all have a Brett Farve Moment that we all remember.

Check out the article below that ESPN just released and then I invite you to submit your favorite moment of his career. Maybe you can find a way to include a way that he changed the way you coach. I know I can think of a few.

ESPN Tribute Article

Tip of the Day - 3/4

2008-03-02T06:33:00.000-08:00

Today's tip: Start Small

It is tempting to try to run everything you ran with a huddle when you make the switch to a no huddle scheme. The problem is you must come up with ways to communicate this information to the team with 100% accuracy. For that reason, I suggest that you start with the basic plays to teach the concepts and eliminate the nonessential items. Once that groundwork is laid you can build from there. Remember, if a player is thinking, he is slow. If a player is reacting, he is fast and fast players win.

Today's Archive Entry: Switzers Take on the No Huddle

Tip of the Day - 3/3

2008-03-02T06:18:00.000-08:00

Installing the No Huddle -

In my opinion, the best way is to teach the very basics of the communication language to the QB / Backs to rep the run game / protections in the off-season. Give them a copy of the card and let them keep it. Next thing you know they are spending their study halls teaching other players, coming up with other ideas to call plays, and understanding the whole scheme. Be sure to stay disciplined by communicating only through the codes you use. This creates the understanding with the players that your language is the only important language for on-field communication. All coaches must be on board to make this work properly.

Archive Entry of the Day - Bob Davie's Thoughts on the No Huddle

No Huddle Communication 101

2008-03-01T12:32:00.001-08:00

The biggest obstacle that teams run in to when go no huddle is the communication barrier. They must find a way to send in the same information to all 11 players without confusion. In addition, there is an expectation of increased speed that comes with this change. Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at the different communication options and discuss the pros and cons of each of these systems. But before we can talk about the methods of communication, we must first address the different types of information that can be sent in to the offense. Most coaches uses one of the two following systems:

Coded Play Calling
Card Location Calling

Those who use the "coded play calling" system teach their players signals, numbers, or words that are used to convey the play that is being called. This requires all players and coaches to have an in depth understanding of the plays, their codes, and the way they are being sent in. A premium is placed on memorization and all 11 getting the codes at the same time. Once they are up to speed these team can move at a very high rate of speed and have much play-calling flexibility. Drawbacks include the possibility that teams will be able to decipher the signals and catch some of the plays that are being sent in. It is for this reason that you see most teams that use this have multiple signal callers (as seen on the sidelines of most college teams huddle and no huddle alike).

The "card location calling" system is more reliant on the wrist card approach. Coaches use signals, numbers, or words to alert the players of the play on their card that they are going to run. This decreases the amount of memorization, but also greatly cuts back the number of plays that can be called. Coaches are limited to what can be contained on the cards that their players have. At the same time, this approach allows the coach to give each player only the information that he needs to succeed without dealing with the information that is geared toward the other players. This approach has been made popular by Tony Franklin and has been adapted by high school coaches across the country.

Further discussions of these methods will occur within the larger discussion of how plays are sent in to the team. Here are the methods that we will be looking at over the next few weeks. Please let me know if there is anything that you would like to see expanded upon.

Symbol Communication
Body Clock Communication
Verbal Communication
QB Only Communication

No Huddle Article Archive

2008-02-29T06:46:00.000-08:00

Over the past few years there have been many accomplished coaches who have written about their no huddle experiences at length. The following links connect to articles that were written about various no huddle schemes from a variety of offensive sets.

Running the No Huddle by Chan Gailey

Colts No Huddle

Blue Streak No Huddle

No Huddle in Youth Football

J-Gun No Huddle

Please let me know if you have additional information that can add to the "Article Archive"

Learn from the Best

2008-02-29T04:34:00.000-08:00

One of the most successful no huddle attacks in the nation this past year belonged to Tulsa. Spreadoffense.com recently published an interview with their offensive coordinator Herb Hand in which he discusses what makes his offense so potent. The link below will take you to his site. Enjoy and remember to PUSH THE PACE.

Herb Hand Interview

Ladder Drill

2008-02-28T04:29:00.000-08:00

This drill is run in our group or individual sessions to get high rep volume with a focus on the fundamentals. The goal is to get picky about the adjustments, stance, footwork, and of course effort that they use on a given play. We usually practice our screens, quick passes, and run plays using this drill.

Drill Setup:
• The lead coach should put a ball on the 5 yards line with the ones on the line of scrimmage with the twos behind.
• The lead coach also calls the plays for both groups at once.
• Other coaches are near the end zone watching for execution and effort.

Drill Execution:
• All players run the called play through the goalline every single time.
• If one player makes a mistake, forgets a detail, or fails to run through the goalline, the whole drill moves back five yards and the drill continues.
• Half the way through the drill take a break and restart from the 5 yard line. They should do better the second time.

Teaching Points:
• Stress the little things.
o If you want thier hands up every play. Make sure it happens.
o If you want to focus on eliminating false step. Do it.
o Any other weaknesses that you saw in the film can be addressed in this time period
• Explain the benefits of being precise and disciplined.
• Don’t allow complaining or put downs for mistakes. Make them suck it up and deal with adversity.
• Push the pace for conditioning and reps but don’t sacrifice production and quality.

Tip of the Day - 2/27

2008-02-27T06:44:00.000-08:00

Changing the Pace from Play to Play. (submitted by Coach Kaman)

They use key words that trigger the offense to run specific plays. They used one word, "Rabbit" to trigger the offense into a certain play that everyone memorized and knew to execute. When this was yelled they quickly got on the ball and ran the play, no extra communication needed.

To counter this, they also had a freeze call with the key word for example, like "Cheetah" that got them to the line very quickly much like "Rabbit", except they faked the snap and looked to the sideline for one play. This just seemed like a really simple and effective way to spark tempo.

I think people talk about tempo, but not many vary it in a way to truly impact the game. We use the traditional pacing or tempo's that everyone else uses (fast, slow or check) but some find trouble changing often, especially changing tempo's mid-series, this is why I have taken a liking to using KEY WORDS. I got this from the Ron West videos on the spread (he was at Clemson with Rich Rodriguez).

Have a tip of the day idea? If so, please email coachnichols@gmail.com to get it posted on No Huddle Central.

Score Drill

2008-02-27T02:58:00.000-08:00

This drill is used to rep our goalline plays and situations against a dummy scout box and a live secondary. The goal is to create confidence scoring in the redzone, familiarity with the plays and adjustments used in this area of the field, practice celebration expectations, and create discipline. I know many of you have already asked the question, “Why do you practice how to celebrate a touchdown?” The answer is quite simple. First, if left to the players, they may see this as a chance to bring praise upon themselves. We want to foster the team concept and want everyone to feel like they scored. Secondly, we have been penalized for “excessive celebration” a few two many times (according to one ref chest-bumping to celebrate is a penalty). In big games these small things can be costly and extra points can be lost. So we think it is essential to set an expectation and teach them to follow through.

Drill Setup:
• Put your ones on the 10 yard line with your twos behind them going in opposite a bag holding defensive box and a live secondary.
• Head coach drives the drill from behind the offense.
• Offensive coordinator or play caller on the sideline calling plays.
• Line coach is setting the ball and moving the box defenders.
• Additional coaches are stationed at each front pylon to monitor the end of the play, celebration, and retreat to the back of the line.

Drill Execution:
• The teams will run scripted plays from each yard line marching into the goalline.
• After each “successful” play, the whole team will get to the end-zone and celebrate correctly as a team. (The scorer congratulates the others as opposed to the opposite)
• The players then exit outside the drill to the sidelines and into the back of the line, running the next play from the 9, then 8, and so on.
• This drill can also be run live and even sub for PAT if desired.

Teaching Points:
• Create an expectation of scoring.
• We score as a team.
• We must get to 2nd / 3rd level blocks blocks to score.
• Routes must be adjusted due to the depth of the playing field.
• Use all of your goal line subs to make it realistic.
• Urge coaches to coach up the finer points of finishing drives in the end zone.

Tip of the Day - 2/26

2008-02-26T07:21:00.000-08:00

Many no huddle coaches suggest that you not use any sort of scripts when running the no huddle even in practice. It has been my experience that I spend more time worrying about what play to call and covering all the bases if I don't use scripts. So we make scripts set for each phase of our practices and give them to a signal caller. This allows us to coach on the run and get great reps without missing a crucial piece of the gameplan.

Marching Drill

2008-02-26T02:58:00.000-08:00

This drill is used to rep our ten most important plays against scripted defensive fronts while teaching the offense what it feels like to successfully move the ball. We believe that this psychological preparation connecting success with our most important plays will help the players trust the plays and the understand the rhythm in which they will be called that week.

Drill Setup:
• The first string offense will align on the 50 yard line opposite the scout team.
• Head Coach is behind the QB guiding the drill and talking the QB through progressions and reads.
• The offensive coordinator (or assistant coach) will be aligned on the sideline to simulate game-time situations. He will be working off a predetermined script.
• The offensive line coach is setting the ball and helping the linemen and guiding the defensive box scout.
• Position coaches are spread throughout the field coaching on the run. They are talking through defensive looks and encouraging the players at all time. Praise like crazy!
• Extra Defensive coaches will run / guide the secondary scout.
• All extra players are running sprints on the sideline or up-downs behind the offense.

Drill Execution:
• Each play moves the ball 5 yards if done correctly. They will “march” toward the goalline and score on the final play (extra point is an option if you want to rep the transition like in a game). When the ones have finished, repeat this process with your twos in the same way.
• Defense plays at 75% to the tackle.
• Success every play. Do not proceed until they have successfully completed the play.
• If you have an extra coach have him indicate down and distance each play.
• Maintain a game-like pace if at all possible.
• Start over if execution is lacking.

Teaching Points:
• Encourage them all the way through the drill.
• Build momentum and excitement each play.
• This is a good chance for position coaches to coach up the finer points of their position. Be sure the pace allows for quick instruction.
• The defense will quickly figure out what is coming. Use this as a chance to teach offensive players to create doubt through verbal and visual cues.
• Have them celebrate the way you expect them to on Friday Night (Score Drill)

Stay tuned for two more installments of "Drilling the No Huddle"

Tip of the Day - 2/25

2008-02-25T07:40:00.001-08:00

No huddle communication is like speaking a different language. Teach the language well first, then use it at all times. They players will quickly realize that once fluent, they can talk about the defense and plays without fear of compromising the system. For best results, do not allow them to talk in normal "football vocabulary during practice.

Tempo Drill

2008-02-25T07:39:00.001-08:00

Practice time is precious. The way that a coach chooses to use the time that he has for a given week will directly affect the product he puts on the field on Friday night.
Good coaches understand that repetitions breed familiarity and success. Some aim for 15 to 20 reps of a given play in preparation for an upcoming game. Then when multiplied by at least 20 plays, coaches are challenged to fit nearly 400 plays into limited practice time while dealing with various other variables and situations.

Each year we fight the battle between proper prep and time constraints. So this past season we looked at the purposes of the drills that we do and the reasons we do them. In the end we consolidated a variety of different drills into four concise drills that allow for increased reps, discipline, effort, and understanding. This article will break down each of these drills in-depth in order to help other coaches apply them to their own offensive systems and practice plan.

The Tempo Drill

We are a no-huddle spread team. For that reason, each of our drills will have certain flavor that comes from running that style of offense. That being said, it is my personal opinion that all teams could do a better job of understanding the advantage of changing and controlling the tempo of the game. We think it is an essential element of high quality offensive team and therefore must be practiced during the week. Our team runs three basic tempos: base, 2 minute, and 4 minute.

Our tempo drill is set up to rep our run game with our offensive two-deep in each tempo that we plan on using during upcoming game. These plays are run on air with the exception of line coaches playing key defensive linemen. Remember that the goal is to get as many quality reps as possible while stressing the pace at which we snap the ball. Teach the players to “keep the pressure on the defense.”

Drill Setup:
• Place your first team on the 10 yard line and your 2nd team on the goalline. (pic. 1)
• Clearly announce to the teams what tempo you are using, what you expect, and what plays you will be repping.
• The head coach should be in between the two groups blowing the whistle and enforcing discipline if needed.
• The offensive coordinator is calling the plays from the sideline (run your system, but make the team practice like it is a game with plays coming in from the sideline. If the HC is the OC he should delegate the calling ability for this drill and have an assistant call a script for the drill)
• Line coaches should be in charge of setting the ball and playing the key defender to force line talking and proper execution.
• Additional coaches are pushing the drill and monitoring for errors and lack of effort. They communicate problems to the head coach for disciplinary action.

Drill Execution:• This is a full speed drill. The first team quarterback will call the cadence for both teams and they will fire off the ball, carry out their assignments, and play through the whistle. Once the whistle if blown, the players will jog back to the ball that has been placed 10 yard ahead of the previous play by the line coaches.
• Once the players are back to the LOS, the play will come in and the players should prep for the next play and the tempo that you expect.• We ask our linemen to find the ball carrier and “pick him up” every single play. This is done to encourage downfield blocking and it gets the linemen to the new LOS faster during the game.

Teaching Points:
• Expect full effort every play. Anything less by one player should result in up-downs for the team. They will quickly get the picture and right the ship.• Coaches should push communication and execution while coaching on the run.
• The head coach must push the pace to make sure it matches his expectations.
• Players should understand that this is a conditioning drill as well. They are supposed to be tired. We want to test them when they are winded to make sure they are still able to execute the play.
• Since all plays are run plays, all players must be moving forward (blocking air). This is essential to make two (or even three) groups go at once.
• Switch up the players after ten plays and head back the other direction. Use this as a time to rep the #2’s and #1’s together.