play smart - clover football playbook + parent guide defensive fundamentals •defense: defense is...

Rookie Playbook + Parent Guide

PLAYSMART

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Rookie Program Goals•We only have three goals for the Rookie program:

1.Be safe. 2.Have fun. 3.Learn the fundamentals.

What you should expect from your student athlete and your coaches:

Your Rookie student athlete is very young. Don’t expect them to “perform” on the field. Don’t expect them to do anything but have a good time playing the game.

Your coach is going to be focused more on helping the kids understand and execute technique and fundamentals, rather than play calling strategy.

This is a full contact sport, and we are going to ask the kids to hit hard - not to win, but because it will help them avoid injury. Hitting hard keeps us safe.

As a parent, your support and positivity and enthusiasm will go a long way towards keeping your student athlete excited, focused and engaged.

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Practice + Game Expectations for Parents•If your child complains of any sort of malady beyond bumps, bruises and scratches, please alert Coach immediately, especially related to head or neck trauma.

•If your child has any special physical, emotional or communications needs, please alert Coach. We can and will adjust coaching styles to accommodate special needs.

•If your child is not having fun - please see Coach. We play in a recreational league, and while we want to improve, get stronger and faster, play hard, and learn all we can about the game (and hopefully win more than we lose), the most important thing is that the kids (and the parents) have fun and enjoy their time playing football. We want them to come back next year.

•Practice is 6pm-7:45pm every Monday and Wednesday. That means all gear on, hydrated and lined up and ready to practice at 6pm. If you are running late or won’t be there, please call Coach. If you need help with a ride, please give us 24 hours notice and we will try to help. Please be on time to drop off and pick up your child. Please feel free to stay and watch, all practices are open.

•Please wash your game gear after each game, but DO NOT put it in the dryer - please air dry game jerseys and game pants.

•If you have questions, concerns, or need other information, please see Coach before or after practice, not during practice, and not during games unless there is an emergency of some sort.

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Practice Schedule + Drills

•6:00-6:10 Conditioning + Dynamic Stretching •Giant Steps: Big forward stretch steps•Spiderman Stretch: Sideways stretch•Backwards Run: Switch halfway•High Knees: Slow run, fast feet•Buttkickers: Slow run, fast feet

•6:10-6:15 Strength + Explosive Power •Supermans: Explode, fly & land•Bear Crawls: Crawl on all fours•Windsprints: Explosive sprints

•6:20-6:35 Speed and Agility •Box drill: Run in box pattern facing one way•W drill: Run in W pattern facing one way•T drill: Short steps around each point in T•Ladder drill: Both feet in between ladder rungs

•6:35-6:50 Blocking •SlowMo: Slow motion, form and fit•One on One: 4 quick hits, then drive block

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6:55 -7:10 Tackling•Hulk Drill: Make tackle through dummy•Head to Head: Both players on back•Contain Drill: Sweep containment

•7:10-7:15 Ball Security Drills•Breadbasket Drill: Handoff, make bread basket •Eagle Claw Drill: Gauntlet drill, high and tight

•7:20-7:45 Game Simulation•5 on 5: C, QB, G, G, RB v T, T, M, S, W•Offensive Play Calling / Freeze Tag•Defensive Play Calling / Freeze Tag

•7:45 Parent & Player Huddle•Review Schedules and Updates •Coach Q&A•Player of the Day•Activity Sheets Handout

6:15 H20 <<<break >>> 5 min7:15 H20 <<<break >>> 5 min

6:50 H20 <<<break >>> 5min

Most drills will be practiced from a three point stance, and we “go” when the ball moves. We will spend a lotof time with the kids doing things in Slow Motion or Freeze Tag style. There will be full contact at practice. There will also be surprise fumble drills throughout practice.


Rules + Referees•At the Rookie level, coaches will be on the field and be responsible for refereeing the games on the honor system. Please cheer loudly, but keep it positive. Bring your complaints to coach, postgame.•We will use a version of the IHSAA high school rules, modified for K-2 Rookie players. These rules will be available to download on the website (www.cloverfootball.com)

•Important penalties we will be teaching the kids about:

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Offsides / False StartClippingLate HitHoldingIllegal FormationUnnecessary RoughnessHorse Collar

FacemaskPass InterferenceBlock Below the WaistTrippingIllegal man downfieldForward LateralSpearing

•We need your help with these, parents. If you don’t know what these are, come see coach.


Staff Background and Contact Info•Coach Jackson has been coaching youth football for seven years. He has attended the Colts youth football coaching camp the last couple of years, and was certified last Spring through the NFL / USA Football Youth Coaching program. Coach Jackson played outside linebacker and guard in high school. He was a starter on Cloverdale’s only Sectional Championship team. During the day, Coach Jackson runs a digital marketing company in Indianapolis.

•Mobile / Text: 317-809-7625 Email: [email protected] www.cloverfootball.com

•Coach Tyce has played tackle football since kindergarten. He is a member of the 7th grade Cloverdale Football team. He made the CYFL All Star team for each of his last four years. His team went to the Youth League Super Bowl last year, and they were only scored on three times during the regular season. He is an A/B honor role student at Cloverdale Middle School.

•Coach Branigan played football in High School, this is his first time coaching youth football!

•Coach Lee has coached youth baseball and football for four years and is also on the Cloverdale Youth Baseball Board of Directors!

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Football Fundamentals•Three point stance: 1.Make a triangle on the ground with your hand and your feet. 2.Head up, bottom down. 3.Explode, both hands on numbers, strong fast baby steps forward.

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• “C” Stance - tackling, backs, “ready” stance: 1.Feet should width apart. Hands up. 2.Head up, bottom down. Bend knees.3.Explode forward and attack your assignment.

Make a C shape for Cloverdale


Offensive Fundamentals•Offense: When we have the ball, we are on Offense. We want to move the ball down the field without turning it over to the other team, and we would like to score a touchdown.

•Goals: The goal of Offense is only to move the ball three yards every time. It’s great to get more yards, but we only need three yards at a time as long as we don’t have a turnover.

•Turnover: A turnover is when we accidentally give the ball to the other team. When we drop the ball and the other team picks it up (a fumble), or throw a pass and the other team catches it (an interception), it is a turnover, and we have to go to defense.

•Downs: A “down” just means a “try”. We get four downs, or “tries”, to move the ball 10 yards. If we go 10 yards in four downs, we get a “First Down” - then we get four more downs, or “tries”. We keep doing this until we don’t go 10 yards in four tries, until we score a touchdown, or until we fumble or turn the ball over.

•Line of Scrimmage: This is where we start our Downs. Nobody can go past this line, where the ball is placed, until the ball moves. If we are passing, none of the lineman can go past the Line of Scrimmage.

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•Linemen: Lineman block for the team and help running backs move the ball down the field, or protect the quarterback so he can throw the ball.

•C: Center. Snaps the ball and blocks.•G: Guard. Blocks for the team.•T: Tackle. Blocks for the team.•E: End. Blocks and catches or runs ball.

•Backs: Backs also block for the team, but on every play, one of them will either carry or pass or catch the ball to move it down the field. •Q: Quarterback. Takes the snap from the Center. Blocks, runs ball, throws. •F: Fullback. Blocks, runs ball. Catches.•H: Halfback. Blocks, runs ball. Catches.•WR: Wide receiver. Blocks, catches, runs ball.

Offensive Positions

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C G TT G EE

Q

F

H

WR

•We will try to get everyone some time early on in each position, but kids will all have an assigned starting position as their main assignment.


Offensive Playbook

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•We don’t have a playbook, we have a system of holes and back numbers.

•Even hole numbers on the right - 2,4,6,8•Odd hole numbers on the left - 1,3,5,7

•Each back has a number as well:•QB: 1 FB: 2 HB: 3 WR: 4

•We call plays with two numbers: the back number, then the hole number.

•35 is three back through the 5 hole. •47 is 4 back through the 7 hole.

•We run this out of four different formations: Green, Black, 31, and 22.

•31 and 22 are going to be optional depending on progress of the players. Mostly to show pass, or to actually pass the ball.

CG TT G EE

Q

F

H

WR

GREEN formation

CG TT G EE

Q

F H

WR

BLACK formation (SPLIT)

CG TT G E

E

Q

F

H WR

31 formation

CG TT G E

E

Q

F

H WR

22 formation


Offensive Playbook - Modifiers

•We call plays like this:•Formation: Green, Black, 31, 22 •Modifiers: Split, Split Crackback, Switch•Back number and Hole number•Run Type and Direction•Blocking assignments / instructions

•We will start simple and add in modifiers later in the season. We may start with this:•Green 34 Blast Right on one.

•We may end with something like this:•Black Switch, Split Crackback, 24 Fake, 35 Blast Left, 4 Iso, on two.

•The coaching staff will use their judgement as the players progress, and move them into more complex plays as the season goes on if the players are ready, and have a firm understanding of the basic offense.

CG TT G EE

Q

F

H

WR

GREEN formation

ONE back

TWO back

THREE back

FOUR back

2 4 6 81357

SWEEP L (7 hole) SWEEP R (8 hole)

SLICE L (5 hole)

BLAST L (3 hole)

DIVE L (1 hole) DIVE R (2 hole)

BLAS

T R

(4 h

ole)

SLICE R

(6 hole)


Defensive Fundamentals•Defense: Defense is when we do not have the ball, and we are trying to stop the other team from getting three yards. We want to keep the other team from moving the ball, and if we can, we would like to make them turn it over by recovering a fumble, intercepting, or turnover on downs.

•Goals: Our defensive goal is to do our assignment every play, and to never give up. We want to play hard until the whistle, fly to the ball as hard as we can, and hit low, hard and fast, every play.

•Tackling: If we don’t learn anything else, we must learn good tackling technique. Low, hard and fast. Head always up, to the side on impact, wrap up and drive. This is critical not only to win games, but to ensure the safety of both the offensive and defensive players involved in the tackle.

•Attacking our Assignments: Every play, every player on defense has a job. They should do their job as low, hard and fast as they can. They should attack their assignment aggressively, with speed, power and resolve.

•Strong Side, Weak Side: The side of the field with the most space or the most players is the “strong side”. This will usually be our left side, as most offenses are “right handed”. It is important to know which side is the “strong side”, so Sam, Will, and the Strong Safety and Weak Safety know where to start. Mike will be responsible for helping the team determine and call “strong side”.

•Blitzing: On top of our “base” defense assignments, sometimes we will “blitz” players. If you are assigned to Blitz, your only job is to seek and destroy - find the person with the ball, and attack them before they leave the backfield.

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•Defensive Linemen: Defensive lineman attack the person with the ball. They shoot through gaps or people and make tackles. •T: Tackle.•E: End.

•Linebackers: Linebackers attack the person with the ball. They shoot through gaps or people and make tackles. Sometimes they cover receivers on passes. •S: Sam Linebacker. Strong side linebacker.•M: Mike Linebacker. Middle linebacker. •W: Will Linebacker. Weak side linebacker.

•Defensive Backs: Defensive backs attack the person with the ball. They shoot to the ball and attack who ever is holding the ball. They also guard receivers on passes. •CB: Corner Back. •S: Strong Safety.•F: Free Safety.

Defensive Positions

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W

F

TT

S

EE

M

S

CB CB

•We will try to get everyone some time early on in each position, but kids will all have an assigned starting position as their main assignment.


•These are the assignments for our BASE DEFENSE on every play, unless there is a blitz call (see next page for blitz call signs).

•We have “gap” responsibilities: •A gap: between Center and Guards•B gap: between Guards & Tackles•C gap: between Tackles & Ends

•Every position has a gap they own, and their job is to tackle anyone with the ball that comes near their gap.

•What is each position’s job?•Tackles: Outside gap between G & T (3 technique)•Ends: Outside gap between T & E (3 technique)•Sam Linebacker: Attacks B gap, reads A•Mike Linebacker: Attacks A gap, reads B•Will Linebacker: Attacks B gap, reads A•Corner Backs: Outside contain & follow•Strong Safety: Attacks C gap•Free Safety: Read and attack

Defensive Assignments

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W

F

TT

S

EE

M

S

CB CB

CG TT G EE

Q

F

H

WR

Strong Left!

A Gap

B Gap

C Gap

A Gap

B Gap

C Gap


Defensive Playbook

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•Defense also has a blitz “system”. Each player on the field has a call sign and a number. When the call sign or number is called, your job changes to “Blitz”!

•Earthquake: Defensive Lineman•Lightning: Corner Backs•Hurricane: Linebackers•Thunder: Safeties

•Blitzes are called by Call Sign and the player number from right to left. •For instance: Lightning 2 is a blitz from the right corner back. Hurricane 3 is the right line backer.

•We can combo numbers and call signs as well. •For instance: Hurricane 231, Thunder 2, Lightning 1 means all three linebackers, the right corner safety and the left corner back are all blitzing.

•We do have some special situation “plays”:•Tsunami: Everyone blitzes•Radar: Zone Pass coverage. Man Corners, Linebackers split the field into thirds 15 yards deep, Safeties split the field in half after 15 yards from scrimmage. •Belly: Everyone to the A gaps.

FS Thunder1 2

WS M

Hurricane

2 31

CB CBLightning

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TT EE

Earthquake

1 2 3 4

•Lineman have special calls because they “blitz” every down:•Left, Right, In, Out - tells gap to shoot•Twister - X stunt - first number called goes in front. •Smash - Bull Rush


Workbook: Week One

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Workbook: Week Two

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Workbook: Week ThreeTrue or False? Circle One!

I can move as soon as the quarterback says “Hut!” When I tackle someone, I should grab their facemask As long as I can see both numbers on the front of the jersey, I can block It’s okay to hit another player until I hear the whistle It’s okay if I hit another player after the whistle When I put my triangle hands up to block, I should grasp the player’s jersey After my opponent has been blocked to the ground, I am done blocking It’s okay to grab the neck of a player’s shoulder pads to tackle them Playing offensive line - guard, center or tackle - I can’t go downfield on a pass It’s okay for me to block a player below the waist on offense It’s okay for me to tackle a player below the waist on defense If another player is trying to catch the ball, it’s okay to push him so he misses Punching, kicking, and tripping are all okay to do on offense and defense Running backs can pass backwards after they pass the line, but not forwards The goal of our offense is to score touchdowns Running backs, quarterbacks and receivers are the players that score On every play, 10 of the 11 offensive players should be blocking

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True False True False True False True False True FalseTrue FalseTrue False True False True False True False True False True False True False True False True False True FalseTrue False

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Workbook: Week Four

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Workbook: Week Five

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Workbook: Week Six

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The Cloverdale player in greenis trying to help you tackle the runner in orange.

Remember - we work as a team to make tackles. Your team mateneeds help!

Contain the runner by movinghim to your team mate!

Start at one, then draw a pathto your team mate by following all the numbers up to 100!

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Workbook: Week Seven

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•What formation is this? Circle one: Black Green Blue Orange

•We are on offense. Do we have the ball? Circle one:Yes! No! Not sure. Sometimes.

•Write the names of the positions above where they stand. Mark them off as you go!Center Guard Guard Tackle Tackle End End Quarterback Halfback Fullback Receiver

•Write the hole numbers between the players! Remember: 1-8, Odd left, Even right!

•Write the back numbers in the circles! There are four of them!

•Color in the five players who can’t go downfield on a pass!

•Put an X on the two lineman who sometimes catch passes!

•Which player snaps the ball? Quarterback Center Guard

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Workbook: Week Eight

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•What is our goal on defense? Circle one:

Attack the ball Stop the run Don’t get blocked All of these!

•Write the names of the positions above where they stand. STRONG LEFT!!! Mark them off as you go!

Tackle Tackle End End

Sam Linebacker Mike Linebacker Will Linebacker

Corner Back Corner Back Strong Safety Free Safety

•What is the “strong side”? Circle Two:

Side with the most people Side with the least people

Side with the least space Side with the most space•How do we hit? Circle one:

Low Hard Fast All of these!

•What goes where? Circle one:

Head: Up DownBottom: Up DownHands: Up Down Heels: Up DownKnees: Bent StraightEyes: Open Closed

•Put an X on the three linebackers!•Color the four defensive linemen Red!•Color the two corner backs Blue!•Color the two safeties Green!

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play smart - clover football playbook + parent guide defensive fundamentals •defense: defense is...

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