Game Week Preparations & Play Calling 101

Game Week Preparations&Play Calling 101 Rick Garretson www.thefootballacademy-llc.com

Game Week Preparation • Sunday • WATCH GAME FILM FROM SATURDAY • EVALAUATE THE GOOD/BAD/UGLY • WATCH UPCOMING OPPONENTS FILM (IF YOU HAVE ACCESS) • IDENTIFY OPPONENTS DEFENSIVE FRONTS/SECONDARY • PUT TOGETHER YOUR GAME PLAN BASED ON IDENTIFIED OPPONENT WEAKNESSES AND YOUR TEAM’S STRENGTHS • Create NEW PLAY/GADGET, if desired

Game Week Preparation • Monday thru Wednesday • PUT TOGETHER OFFENSIVE PRACTICE PLAN • Practice offense on last night of practice for the week if practicing two nights per week • For example, if practicing Tues. and Thurs. • Offensive emphasis on Thursday night • TIME SLOTS/TEMPO/DEFENSIVE FRONTS & SECONDARY/DEFENSIVE CARDS • See next slides for example practice plan

Game Week Preparation • Thursday Practice Plan • PRE PRACTICE-SKILL (PASS GAME): 15 minutes • GROUP FUNDAMENTALS: 20 MINUTES • PASS GAME FUNDAMENTALS: 20 MINUTES • OL PASS PRO FRONTS • SKILL ROUTES • IMPORTANT: SCRIPT PLAYS (WRIST BAND FOR QB) • 9 0N 9 INSIDE RUN VS ALL FRONTS (NO WR’S-CORNERS/CARDS): 10 MINUTES/12 PLAYS • 9 ON 9 OUTSIDE RUN VS ALL FRONTS (NO WR’S- CORNERS/CARDS): 10) MINUTES/12 PLAYS • 11 ON 11 PASS (BLITZ/CARDS): 15 MINUTES/ 12 PLAYS • See next slides for example level of detail

Sample Offensive Practice Plan

Sample Offensive Practice Plan (cont.)

Game Week Preparation • Friday Practice Plan (if scheduled) • SCRIPT FIRST 10 PLAYS • FORMATIONS/RUN GAME/PASS GAME • LET’S YOU SEE HOW DEFENSE ADJUST TO YOUR FORMATIONS WITH FRONTS & SECONDARY • After 10 plays, call plays based on what the defense is showing • Try and think 1 play ahead of current play • CALL SHEET: • DEFENSE, DOWN, DISTANCE, & FIELD POSITION • GET PLAY INTO QB QUICKLY • GIVE HIM ENOUGH TIME TO CALMLY CALL THE PLAY TWICE IN HUDDLE • THINK ABOUT THE NEXT PLAY • if 2nd and short now, next down and distance could be: • 3rd and short or • 1st and 10

Game Week Preparation • GAME DAY • COACHING RESPONSIBILITIES • ASSIGN POINT OF ATTACK RESPONSIBILITIES TO STAFF • IMPORTANT: CAN’T HAVE ALL EYES ON THE BALL!!!! • WR COACH-SECONDARY • RB COACH-DEPTH OF BACKS/BLOCKING ASSIGNMENT • OL COACH- DEFENSIVE FRONT/ BACKSIDE • OC-POINT OF ATTACK • NOTE: FIND THE FREE SAFETY • HE WILL TELL YOU WHERE TO ATTACK ACCORDING TO YOUR FORMATIONS

PLAY CALLING 101 • HAVE ONLY 1 PLAY CALLER!!!! • CAN’T HAVE TOO MANY CHEFS IN THE KITCHEN… IF OC IS NOT THE HC, REMEMBER, YOU WORK FOR HIM… • USE FORMATIONS THAT BALANCE YOU TO RUN BOTH TO AND AWAY FROM A TE • SLOTTER/ACE FORMATIONS: 4 PLAYS/8 FORMATIONS/MOTIONS (PITCH OUT OF FLKR & DLR) • ALWAYS ATTACK A 3 MAN SIDE… OPEN SIDE LEAD/POWER • YOU HAVE A NUMERICAL ADVANTAGE – 4 GUYS TO BLOCK 3 • HAVE A PLAY PASS FOR EACH POWER RUN PLAY (ISO/POWER/LEAD) • EXAMPLE SLOTTER 24 LAKE Y CK ME

PLAY CALLING 101 (cont.) • 5. EARLY PASSING GAME SUCCESS (CUT) • 6. CALL PLAYS THAT PUT YOUR TEAM IN POSITION TO WIN THE GAME • DP/SD/JEFF TEDFORD • 7. SCRIPT • 8. ID WHAT PLAYS GET YOUR OFFENSE OFF THE BALL WHEN HAVING A TOUGH TIME • EACH YEAR IS DIFFERENT • 9. KEEP CALLING WHAT THEY CAN’T DEFEND, IF YOU WANT TO WIN • “COULD BE A 3 PLAY GAME” • 10. PLAY PASS ON 1ST / 2ND DOWN • 11. HAVE A FORCEFULL O-LINE ON 1 SIDE / 2ND UNIT ON OTHER SIDE/TOP RB’S WITH BACKUPS • HAVE A “GO TO” SIDE OF THE LINE WHEN YOU NEED TO GET 3 YARDS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A QB • QUALITIES: • 1. RESPONSIBLE • 2. CHARACTER • 3. INTELLIGENT • 4. LEADERSHIP • 5. ATHLETIC • 6. BE A FOOTBALL PLAYER

QB SKILLS & MECHANICS • 1. NEED TO COMMAND A HUDDLE • 2. NEED TO GIVE A CADENCE • 3. TAKE A SNAP • 4. BALL HANDLING SKILLS • 5. THROWING MECHANICS • 6. THREE STEP DROP • 7. FIVE STEP DROP • 8. PLAY PASS (THROWING HAND) • 9. THROW ON THE RUN • 10. SHOTGUN

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS • 1. THROW THE BALL 50 YARDS • 2. COMBINE HERO QB • WHEN THE LIGHTS GO ON AND THE BAND IS PLAYING (TRAINING) • “RUN LIKE TARZAN – HIT LIKE JANE” • 3. “WE RUN A COMPLEX PASSING GAME” • 4. TOP ATHLETE THAT’S A HANDOFF MACHINE • 5. QB’S CAN’T THROW TO THEMSELVES (MUST HAVE PLAYMAKERS) • 6. TWO MINUTE OFFENSE (75 YARD DRIVE)

BUILD THE ATTACK AROUND… • 1. QB’S ABILITIES • 2. O-LINE ABILITIES • 3. RB/WR POTENTIAL • 4. SPREAD ATTACK

SUMMARY • Game week planning: Have a plan for the week • Be organized: think through every day of the week • Prepare an plan for every practice; offensive and defensive practice plan • Share with assistants at least 1 day before practice • Script out first 10 plays of the game, based on tendencies • Prepare for Game Day • Script out pre-game activities to the minute, just like practice – never be caught off guard – stay cool, calm on game day – do not “blow-up” on game day • Play calling • One play caller – play caller should have studied opponent’s defense • Prepare a QB wrist band and a coaches play sheet • Utilize a Balanced attack/formation • Practice the plays you will call in the game • Attack weakness • Know your “go to plays” – don’t be afraid to call them consecutively

THANK YOU! Rick Garretson www.thefootballacademy-llc.com footballacademy@yahoo.com

Game Week Preparations & Play Calling 101