Formation Terminology

[spartancoach]

We are switching from straight "Pro", "Twins" and "Slot" to more multiple sets. For example, we want to be able to run double tight with two flankers, Twins one side - Pro the other, Trips one side with or without TE and either TE or WR other side. However calling the formation is becoming very complicated. How do you spread and one-back coaches call your formations?

[brutis]

1st off, all formations are signalled in as to cut down on the verbage...

we can get into almost any formation we want...

use numbers and tag words to put people where we want them...

We start by teaching a 1 back double wide set (22) then progress to trips (13 & 31) We tell our kids to read left to right so 13 is 1 WR Lt and 3 Rt...

Next we do 1 back w/ TE Pro=TE Rt, Con=TE LT Split end goes opposite.

We tell the kids to always look for their "piece of the puzzle"

With this basic knowledge we can basically get into anything with relatively few signals (or words)

Examples:
1 back Pro / Twins Set for us is "22 Pro"
1 back TE LT Trips for us is "31 Con"

*You can use anything for the 3 basic formations if you don't like numbers...can use colors (Red, White, Blue) so 22 Pro would be White Pro for example...

[brophy]

spartancoach said:

We are switching from straight "Pro", "Twins" and "Slot" to more multiple sets. For example, we want to be able to run double tight with two flankers, Twins one side - Pro the other, Trips one side with or without TE and either TE or WR other side. However calling the formation is becoming very complicated. How do you spread and one-back coaches call your formations?

I'm sure there is a better way, but my faith in 1) my teaching ability and 2) my player's retention is not that great, so....

EVERYTHING is orientated to the RIGHT (unless we call LEFT)
so "I" is I RIGHT.
"I Left" is the I formation flipped to a left orientation.

We call our X & F weak players
We call our Y & Z strong players
A is the wildcard

"I"
--X------------------O--O--[--]--O--O---Y--------------------
-------------------------------Q------------------------Z-------
-------------------------------F---------------------------------
-------------------------------A---------------------------------


"I - Over" (same formation, just brings Z over opposite)
--X------------------O--O--[--]--O--O---Y--------------------
----------Z-------------------Q---------------------------------
-------------------------------F---------------------------------
-------------------------------A---------------------------------


"I - Strong" (same formation, just puts F off set strong)
--X------------------O--O--[--]--O--O---Y--------------------
-------------------------------Q------------------------Z-------
----------------------------------------F-------------------------
-------------------------------A---------------------------------


"I - Weak" (same formation, just puts F off set weak)

--X------------------O--O--[--]--O--O---Y--------------------
-------------------------------Q------------------------Z-------
-----------------------F-----------------------------------------
-------------------------------A---------------------------------

"Ace" - (same formation, just removes F from the backfield weak)
--X------------------O--O--[--]--O--O---Y--------------------
------------F-----------------Q------------------------Z-------
------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------A---------------------------------


"Ace Tight" - (same ace formation, just puts F tight and X off)
------------------F--O--O--[--]--O--O---Y--------------------
---X--------------------------Q------------------------Z-------
------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------A---------------------------------


Trips (kings[trey] & queens[trips open]) & Empty are a different family for us (for personnel) but by tagging an Ace set with "Over" or through motion, we can get a completely different trips matchup)

[Mav]

spartancoach said:

We are switching from straight "Pro", "Twins" and "Slot" to more multiple sets. For example, we want to be able to run double tight with two flankers, Twins one side - Pro the other, Trips one side with or without TE and either TE or WR other side. However calling the formation is becoming very complicated. How do you spread and one-back coaches call your formations?

Our team faced this same issue last year. As primarily a 2 back team, we needed a simple way to place one of the backs out into the formation without a ton of learning/memorization. Here's a PowerPoint of how we did it. The players picked it up in one day, including all motioning. Building off what was already known was the key. Let me know if you have any questions.

www.savefile.com/files/340836

[spartancoach]

Mav, great ideas, and really impressive powerpoint.

[Mav]

spartancoach said:

Mav, great ideas, and really impressive powerpoint.

Thanks -- If you want to hash anything out and/or recreate a similar Powerpoint for your team, let me know. The players seemed to really like the simplicity of the system and us coaches liked the flexibility.

[fbdoc]

We call a formation, such as EAGLE to the right side. EAGLE means line up the way you're supposed to with the strength to the right. If we want it to the left we say FLIP Eagle. Motion calls and play calls will follow.