Coaching Youth Football – Coaching Philosophy

When I’m [tag]coaching youth football[/tag] I like to focus on skill development and sportsmanship.   This philosophy worked with a 5-man non-contact [no blocking] coed flag [tag]football[/tag] team but the principles apply to all youth football.

What wins is execution, speed, determination, and teamwork.   So how do we get our hodgepodge of guys and girls who’ve never touched a football to feel part of a team that includes some future Heisman candidates?   We have weekly awards for various aspects of sportsmanship [so far, coveted by the players AND parents].   We emphasize the fun of the game.   It’s work, it’s hard, conditions may suck, we don’t always win–but we have fun.   If we don’t we have to change something.   There will be lots of time later for the high school and college coaches to try to take the fun out of the game.

Anyhow, my least-experienced players form the core of my offensive and defensive teams.   They are my “starters”.   My slowest kid centers, my wild hares are pass rushers or coverage specialists, my littlest player is learning to run the ball from concealment [a la Tiki Barber, others].   The most experienced and developed players platoon as receivers, backs, and corner backs.   They are 2-way, all-purpose speedsters, a couple of which can do almost anything with or without the football.   They don’t mind not being labeled “starters” because they get to play just as many plays and usually have more impact.

If the kids think that they’re getting the best deal on the field, they give their best effort and get the most enjoyment out of it.   Finding their niche is sometimes just a matter of convincing them that they are the best player on the whole field at playing their position(s) and doing what they do best.   Good luck and happy coaching!