James Landers Saint Petersburg - Fundamentals by Progression

One does not have to get too involved in youth sports to hear the most over used, most misunderstood word in the game of youth football. All coaches aim to be “great at the fundamentals” yet many at the beginning youth levels fail to gain any knowledge as to what those fundamentals actually are. Some rely on memories from their own playing days and attempt to use those same techniques at the youth level while others properly plan the teaching method. Overall, fundamentals often fail to become a key component that the player can take with him to the next level.

Basic fact: Teams that block and tackle better than their completion normally win. We all know this!!!!! That being the case, why wouldn’t you put most of your focus in this area???

The best coaches teach in progression must the same way the best teachers do. We learned addition before multiplication. To block properly, youth football coaches must develop solid, repeatable progression drills starting with the STANCE on the Offensive Line. The stance(good or bad) says everything about your team. Show me a team with poor offensive line stance and I will likely be able to show you a poorly coached football team, regardless of the number of wins. A solid Stance puts the player is the proper position to make his quick 1^st step which leads to a solid block. It goes from there. During our latest championship season, we spent an entire practice during the 1^st round of the playoffs working on Stance. Some thought we were crazy but those who understood our plan knew that when times get tough, kids are going to fall back on what they know.

With tackling, throwing a kid into the fire without proper progression learning method is asking for trouble. Beyond the basic safety issues, players fail to grasp the concept of what is being asked of him. This usually results in coaches yelling a lot and kids losing their love of the game. In the end, no one wins. Break down the tackle into components(footwork, balance, arm position, location of facemask, etc) and develop drills that teach the component. Once the player understands and is proficient in the one component, move on to the next.

Be patient in the progression and know that skipping any component due to schedule or impatience is foolish. Look at it like building a house. If you rush thru the foundation phase to get to the walls, what type of house have you built? Certainly not one that is going to withstand the type of pressure a season will produce.

Summary on progression teaching of fundamentals

• Research the study of fundamentals and narrow down the methodology that works best for your team.

• Make sure everyone on your staff teaches the fundamentals the same way. This is not an area that you want coaches freelancing.

• Break down blocking and tackling into components.

• Build it like you are building a house, from the ground up.

• Don’t move to the next component without mastering the one you are on.

• Repeat the components everyday all season long. Don’t teach step 4 without quickly reviewing 1, 2 and 3.

• Be crazy on the details!!!!! Do not accept mediocrity in the progression.

• Commit your coaches and team to being the best at the fundamentals. Make it part of who you are rather than what you say!!!!!!!!!!!

By James Landers

James Landers is a youth football coach in Saint Petersburg, Florida responsible for multi conference championships and a leader in off the field youth development programs.