Youth football plays offense is probably the most fun part of youth football to coach, especially when you have a fast and talented backfield. Before you jump into choosing an offensive formation you should evaluate your youth football players and match your offensive formation on your players. Early in my youth football coaching seasons, I tried to push my offensive formations on my players and it never worked. Your talent pool will determine what offense you go run and what youth football plays you can run.
Once you evaluate your talent, you can choose an offense. There are many offenses to choose from. I like proven youth offensive formations and plays. I know many of you will want to draw up your own plays, but smart coaches will invest in an offensive system and youth football play book that has worked for youth football teams. I know you think running youth offensive plays is simple, but there are a lot of good youth football coaches and talent working hard to win.
In youth football, the sweep is the king of youth football plays, more so than passing. Unless you come across a young John Elway or Aaron Rodgers the percentage of passing plays will be less than or equal to 20% of overall football plays during a youth football game with players younger than 13.
You can find a ton of resources all over the Internet and I will list a few here today.
Single Wing Offense
Double Wing Offense
The Beast Offense
Spin Offense
Spread Offense
I Formation / Power I
Wishbone
Wing T
I personally run the Beast and Single Wing offensive formations for my power formation and the Spin Offense which is a form of the double wing for my passing and sweep offense. I also toy around with the I-Formation.
Whichever offense you choose make sure your talent can run the offensive plays. You might be physically talented but your players may not be able to handle the mental part of the offense. I always find the mental part of the offense is very tough on youth football players. You need a smart player at quarterback that can control the ball. At the youth football level don’t worry if the QB can throw more than 15 yards. That’s all you need. Most youth football teams can throw but they can’t catch the ball in traffic.
Once you have an offensive match find a play book or purchase a play book with well documented football plays, especially blocking patterns. Blocking is 80% of your youth offense. Everyone should learn how to block, especially your backs which are usually your most talented players on the team. Use your backs for key blocks in your offensive football plays.
I usually give a copy of the basic offensive football plays ( 6 to 8) to our starting backs once you identify the players. Have then study and draw the football plays at home. This study time will really help practice running plays.