simple middle school offense
there are many philosophies on what kind of offense to run at the MS level. the internet is full of "set" plays run from various formations, featuring picks, double picks, sweeps, motion, etc.
set plays are great, if you have the entire team show up on play day, and have the luxury of practicing them multiple times to get everyone on the same page.
i have watched offensive coaches put in plays for years. i have yet to see more than a handful ever executed with players at the MS level.
i get a kick out of coaches yelling "GET IN HOPKINS" or "RUN SYRACUSE" from the sidelines, only to see a mass of confusion ending in a turnover complete with a fast break goal the other way.
lets face it, you may get 50% of a seventh or eighth grade team to remember a set play at best. that leaves three or your six offensive guys without a clue.
here are some remedies:
1/ teach formations not plays. kids will catch on to a 1-4-1 set or a 2-3-1 quickly. simply moving from one formation to another creates looks and goals.
2/ stay away from tricky names. calling one set Hobart and the next set Hopkins tends to lose some of the pack. I use "14" for the 1-4-1, "23" for the 2-3-1, "22" for the 2-2-2 and "33" for the 3-3 if we run it. The other sideline will know the formation as well. Not a big deal at this level. I you want to disguise it just throw in a word that means nothing, i.e. "jack 14" or
"23 crash".
3/ get it hot. its always a huge frustration when youth players refuse to move the ball around the horn. I have a simple call that virtually eliminated the 1 pass and a shot mentality.
i simply call a color and number combination. for instance "white 7" means we need 7 touches before any one dodges or shoots, i will call "blue 6" or "red 5" etc., etc.
it sounds too simple to work, but it does. like magic sometimes.
4/ "XRAY" . Need to get it to X or settle it to sub? call XRAY. i make a big deal out of this call. make sure the whole team barks it out and respects the call. it will help you settle, get the ball to your best ball handler or feeder and give you time to get a pole off or sub fresh middies.
we always joke OBEY XRAY it sounds goofy, but works like a charm.
I hope this helps...
set plays are great, if you have the entire team show up on play day, and have the luxury of practicing them multiple times to get everyone on the same page.
i have watched offensive coaches put in plays for years. i have yet to see more than a handful ever executed with players at the MS level.
i get a kick out of coaches yelling "GET IN HOPKINS" or "RUN SYRACUSE" from the sidelines, only to see a mass of confusion ending in a turnover complete with a fast break goal the other way.
lets face it, you may get 50% of a seventh or eighth grade team to remember a set play at best. that leaves three or your six offensive guys without a clue.
here are some remedies:
1/ teach formations not plays. kids will catch on to a 1-4-1 set or a 2-3-1 quickly. simply moving from one formation to another creates looks and goals.
2/ stay away from tricky names. calling one set Hobart and the next set Hopkins tends to lose some of the pack. I use "14" for the 1-4-1, "23" for the 2-3-1, "22" for the 2-2-2 and "33" for the 3-3 if we run it. The other sideline will know the formation as well. Not a big deal at this level. I you want to disguise it just throw in a word that means nothing, i.e. "jack 14" or
"23 crash".
3/ get it hot. its always a huge frustration when youth players refuse to move the ball around the horn. I have a simple call that virtually eliminated the 1 pass and a shot mentality.
i simply call a color and number combination. for instance "white 7" means we need 7 touches before any one dodges or shoots, i will call "blue 6" or "red 5" etc., etc.
it sounds too simple to work, but it does. like magic sometimes.
4/ "XRAY" . Need to get it to X or settle it to sub? call XRAY. i make a big deal out of this call. make sure the whole team barks it out and respects the call. it will help you settle, get the ball to your best ball handler or feeder and give you time to get a pole off or sub fresh middies.
we always joke OBEY XRAY it sounds goofy, but works like a charm.
I hope this helps...
posted by 313 LACROSSE at
12:50 PM
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