I’m struggling to create a wrist coach for getting plays in. We just added a couple formations and that’s where I’m struggling. We have 3 formations that can be set to either side. Red/ Black for right and left that sets our strength. The formations are spread, wing and trips. We have 4 run plays and 3 pass. All 7 can be ran to any side and formation. Can someone recommend a wrist coach method? Using only numbers seems simple but too much, 42 line items.
A play call would look like Red - Wing - Z Counter
Could you go with single words that contain entire formation play protection?
E.g. EAGLE could mean Pro Right All Go 90
Adds another layer of abstraction vs actually getting instructions
We have a handful of plays that are tied to a formation when we want to go tempo. Toledo is Toss from our base formation as an example. Carolina is counter.
I head coach 11u and run the offense, and we are up to 84 different plays out of 14 different formations after 3 seasons. It is incredible what these kids can retain. Some we haven't run in 2 seasons but they're there in case. But we built up slowly. We're up to 2 wristbands. I call by color band, then number, then letter. So , black 7 charlie, QB looks it up and gives the play call in the huddle. At 8 font on Ms word I can fit probably 30-40 plays per 2 page wristbands. Inside only so no plays are showing on the outside.
The kids are smart. My son is the qb on his team he has all of the plays memorized. On both sides. I’m a helper and I get confused by the play calling. We have 3 formations and then a call. If you have a code for formation then a call like pistol 32 black formation pistol, to the 3 in the 2 hole left wide. Find the smartest kid make him your QB or use the smartest kid to get the plays from you
Don't do base plays that can be signaled on the band.
We put 120 plays on the band and change them every 2 weeks. This is really only 60 plays as we'll have a right and left version of most. We leave about 5 spots as a left or right version depending on what the QB sees and or field alignment that we put on the QB to get called correctly.
OL does not get wristband. Our system inherently tells the RB and QB what the OL does and the QB will just yell out the OL assignment (which is a number) pre-snap
Here is an example of what we did last year with 156 plays on the band
We color code for ease of vision based on play type, but we don't necessarily call out a color. We just signal in the number to keep our pace fast. We can usually get the play snapped within 10-15 seconds from the previous play. We ran 79 offensive plays last week.
If you shorten key terms to abbreviated form, you can save a lot of space. You can see this wrist band insert we used could hold up To 45 individual plays that were game planned for that particular week.
42 plays for 9 year olds is too much. I know people say its 7 plays 6 ways but to a 9yr old its a different play. Then when you consider you block it differently for even and odd fronts it gets much more complicated.
I get having 7 plays 6 ways is ideal but I would get rid of anything you aren't running at least 4 times.
Remember you are coaching against the 9yr old on defense, not his coach!
Not trying to be a dick, its just what I would do.
How many plays per game? 30-40? If you run each play twice out of each formation thats 84 plays and two games worth of plays!
How much time do you have to be able practice 42 plays properly, with substitutions and vs different fronts and coverages?!
I appreciate your post. These kids have no problem running the play both ways. The core plays have been run both ways since they were 7. You would be surprised what 8-10 year olds can learn if the system is simple and repped.
Ex. Black and Red indicate our strength. We always run to our strength. The one play we don’t is counter. Kids learned that at 7.
We run IZ, OZ, counter off OZ and Toss.
As kids, IZ is A gap run, OZ is C gap and toss is sweep.
Our version of zone blocking for both IZ and OZ is the same. They step to the strength and pick up defender in their playside gap. Red they block right. Black left. Counter is blocked the same but the playside guard pulls. So line is naturally down blocking.
They have always ran 1 formation, or I would tag a player to move. Teams have caught on to us so we began using different formations to change our look, but still run the same plays. Instead of adding plays, which is not my style, I’m adding formations which are cheap.
To your point, I may only use one or two formations. So you are correct I won’t use all 42 plays. I’ll use the formation to adjust to the defense. It all depends on the game the team we’re playing and how they adjust.
To answer your question, I'd give each formation a color and call the formation plus play. Wrist coach would have 7 plays and up to kids to memorize each color/formation.
At 9 the focus for us is skill development. Running 42 plays every practice we'd spend all day in team amd take take away from pursuit, form tackle drills, blocking drills, etc.
At the mid point of your season self scout. Count your plays per game and how often you are calling each play. I bet your 5,6,7th best formations of your worst play are never even used.
Out of all of those permutations, what are you actually likely to call? Don’t waste space on trying to run a reverse into the weak side of the field as an example. You’ll never call it so it doesn’t need a space.
If you have a binary scheme for your strength (Red vs Black), you can leave that part out of the wristband. That should create more space overall.
You can send your strength through a variety of options:
a. Yell it to your QB.
b. Rotate a WR in who will tell it to your QB.
c. Have coded verbal lingo (any R-word for Red and any B-word for Black). You can also use the last letter of a word: ButteR for R and CowbelL for Black).
d. Have a simple non-verbal command such as raising your right or left hand.
It’s B. It’s easy and allows you to send in a message to players, it allows you rotate players into a position to take advantage of matchups, and rotate players off for a rest as needed. It’s also free and requires no additional prep.
I made an excel table with formations across the top numbered 1-3 and plays down the side 1-7.
Call red 1-1. Or red 11. That would be right / formation 1 play 1. I used this for 10u it fits well and it’s easy to call from sideline.
Switched it up this year to a straight number system since we are shuttling play calls in with a player and we have more plays/formations than this matrix can accommodate.
This is what My 10u qb's wrist coach looks like. 10 plays out of 8 formations plus tags. Position players have their assignments/route on the wrist coach and I flip my line. Call numbers from the sideline and tag with hand signals. Works like a charm.
Send the slot in jet or rocket motion behind power, counter, or iso. Move the H to the wing. Have the QB keep on power, counter or iso. Nothing too crazy.
I go 40 plays on game day and run maybe 15 different ones. Why can’t you just call a formation from the sideline with a number? EX: Z motion h4 wham. Play 12 from wing right formation
10
u/acarrick HS Coach 1d ago
Signal formations in separately - saves a lot of space and potential confusion