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Whitepoint Football Coaching Guide

WHITEPOINT YOUTH FOOTBALL 2014 RULES Eddie Gazzillo, Commissioner

General Whitepoint Rules 1.

Whitepoint’s objectives are to teach the fundamentals of football and good sportsmanship while providing a healthful and fun activity. This is an instructional in‐house football program. There is no travel, no standings, and no playoffs. 2. All players must be registered using Whitepoint’s Registration Form. No one will be allowed to practice or play without being registered. 3. No player can be benched without the Football Commissioner’s or President’s approval. 4. Every player must play at least half a game as long as the player has consistently been attending football practices and met the minimum criteria for playing on your football team. 5. Every effort must be made for every player to hold a starting position at the start of the game before any player is selected to play both ways a. Players that miss a practice during the week or shows up late for the practice or game do not have to start and may not play equal amount of time. This is up to the coaches of those players. i. Note: Whatever you’re playing time rules are: 6. Schedules will be given out before the start of the season. Each team will play eight games. In addition, each division will have an All‐Star Game. a. Game time on the schedule is start time. Games can start with less than eight players. The officials will balance both teams out. 7. Game Officials, Field Crews, and Directors are all assigned by Whitepoint. 8. All players will receive a participation trophy at the end of the season. In addition, the following trophies will be given out: 1. They must be applied to all members of your team. 2. They must be clearly stated to the parents of your team.

Most Valuable Player

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Outstanding Offensive Back Outstanding Defensive Back Outstanding Offensive Lineman Outstanding Defensive Lineman

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Sportsmanship Award

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WHITEPOINT YOUTH FOOTBALL 2014 RULES 2

Ages and Weights 1.

Pee Wee Division, Ages 4‐7 a. Players cannot be 8 years old before August 1 st and cannot weigh over 125 pounds b. Players over 65 pounds will be designated as Stripers and cannot carry the ball. These players can only play offensive and defensive line. c. Ball size is K2 2. Minor Division, Ages 8‐10 a. Players cannot be 11 years old before August 1 st and cannot weigh over 155 pounds b. Players over 85 pounds will be designated as Stripers and cannot carry the ball. These players can only play offensive and defensive line. c. Ball size TDJ 3. Major Division, Ages 11‐13 a. Players cannot be 14 years old before August 1 st and cannot weigh over 155 pounds b. Players over 115 pounds will be designated as Stripers and cannot carry the ball. These players can only play offensive and defensive line. c. Ball size TDY

Uniforms and Equipment 1.

Each player must be properly equipped. This includes the following:

Protective cup

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Helmet

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Shoulder pads

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Knee pads Thigh pads

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Hip pads

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Tail‐bone pad

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Colored mouth piece

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2. Each player will receive a game jersey and game pants which they get to keep.

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Field Rules 1. Whitepoint Field length is 60 yards from goal line to goal line and 30 yards from sideline to sideline. End zones are 10 yards deep. 2. Both Teams will be on the same sideline. 3. Team box is from the 10 yard line to the 25 yard Line 4. Down and distance sticks will be on the opposite side of the teams 5. Only USA Football Certified Coaches, Whitepoint Players, Whitepoint Members and professional photographers/press are allowed in the enclosed playing area. 6. Only three coaches for each team will be allowed on the sidelines. 7. Only one coach per team is allowed on the field during time outs. 8. No video or picture taking by coaches while games or practices are going on. All attention must be given to the game and all the players. 9. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at practices, games, or on the field. 10. Coaches will refrain from smoking and chewing tobacco around the players and on the field. 2. Minor Division a. 1 coach per team may be on the field for the first 2 games b. 1 coach per team may be on the field for games 3 and 4 but cannot enter the huddle. c. No coaches will be allowed on the field after the 4 th game 3. Major Division a. 1 coach may be on the field for the first 2 games but cannot enter the huddle. b. No coaches will be allowed on the field after the 2 nd game 4. On field coaches rules a. On field coaches are primarily there to expedite playtime and help align players b. On the snap of the ball, coaches must be 10 yards from their nearest player c. If the coach interferes with a play it will be an unsportsmanship penalty. d. If it happens twice, that team will lose coaches on field privileges for that game Coaches On‐Field Rules 1. Pee Wee Division a. 2 coaches per team may be on the field for the first 3 games b. 1 coach per team may be on the field for the remainder of the season

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Stripers/Linemen 1. Lineman will be identified with a stripe on their helmet and can only wear numbers in the 50 ‐79 range. a. Stripers can only be used as down lineman and can never carry the ball. i. Linemen may intercept the ball, recover a fumble, and recover a kick off, However, they cannot advance the ball.

1. If a lineman does recover the football, the player must fall on the ball. 2. Once the ball is recovered by a lineman, the referee will blow the play dead.

2. A striper at middle linebacker on defense as long as the following is adhered to: a. The middle linebacker must be stacked over the center.

b. The defense is not playing a nose guard. c. The offense is using a striper as their center.

A striper may be used as a kicker or punter

4. If a coach or player removes their stripe that person will be ejected from the game and the league.

Whitepoint Youth Football Game Rules

Whitepoint football will follow general NFHS Rules with modifications.

Time Clock Modifications a. Pee Wee Division

i. Pee Wees will play two 20 minute continuous clock halves. ii. The clock will only stop for timeouts, injuries, official measurements, penalties, touchdowns, and the last 2 minutes of each half. 1. At that point the officials will follow NFHS rules for stops and starts (time‐outs, incomplete passes, out of bounds, penalties and first downs‐moving the chains). 2. There will be a 7 minute half time.

iii. Each team will have 3 time outs per half iv. Offense will have 40 seconds between plays

1. The referee will give an offense a 10 second warning

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Time Clock Modifications Continued… b. Minor and Major Division

i. All quarters will be 12 minutes continuous clock ii. The clock will only stop for timeouts, injuries, official measurements, penalties, touchdowns, and the last 2 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters. 1. At that point the officials will follow NFHS rules for stops and starts (time‐outs, incomplete passes, out of bounds, penalties and first downs‐moving the chains). 2. There will be a 7 minute half time.

iii. Each team will have 3 time outs per half iv. Offense will have 30 seconds between plays

1. The referee will give an offense a 10 second warning

Offensive Modifications a. Offenses must use Official Whitepoint hole and back numbering system b. Offense must keep 3 backs (QB included) in the guard box. c. No quarterback sneaks. d. Offense may not run any type of unbalanced formation at any time. e. The maximum splits for an offensive lineman is 3feet or 1 yard between their feet.

Defensive Modifications a. Defense must use Official Whitepoint Gap Lettering System

b. No Blitzing

i. Only down linemen can rush the passer ii. Linebackers and Defensive backs must wait for the RB or QB to turn their shoulders up field before crossing the line of scrimmage. iii. If the QB rolls‐out or scrambles outside of the Tackles he is considered a running back and can be tackled by anyone. iv. It is up to the discretion of the referee whether or not a blitz or quick read has taken place.

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Defensive Modifications Continued…

v. Blitzing will result in an unsportsmanship penalty

c. Nose Guard Rules

i. Pee Wee and Minor Division 1. No nose guard ii. Major Division

1. Nose guard will be allowed after the 4th game (or as league decides)

d. Defensive Line Play

i. Defensive linemen must align head up with the offensive linemen except for the defensive ends who may align on the outside shoulder of the end down lineman on the line of scrimmage ii. Defensive linemen may not shoot the gaps. Linemen must hit their opponent before making any type of move. iii. Defensive line must make non‐angled (straight‐on) contact with an offensive player directly across from him before reacting to the play. iv. Defensive linemen must deliver a two‐hand punch before any block destruction move, such as a rip or swim technique, is used. v. The defensive player must drive forward, read the play and then react. 1. Whitepoint Football Teaches Defensive Lineman to use the MAN‐GAP‐BALL technique. a. Beat the MAN over you b. Protect your GAP c. Find the BALL vi. Vs. a pulling offensive lineman the defensive line man may run directly to the ball carrier. vii. It is up to the discretion of the referee whether or not a defensive lineman is shooting the gap viii. Shooting the gap will result in an unsportsmanship penalty

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Defensive Modifications Continued… e. Defensive Formations

i. Defensive formation require four distinct levels. 1. Line of Scrimmage

2. Linebackers, four yards off the line of scrimmage 3. Inside the 5 yard line, the linebackers can line up 3 yards off the line of scrimmage. 4. Cornerbacks, at least one yard behind linebackers (5yds off the LOS) 5. Safety, at least one yard behind cornerbacks (6yds off the LOS)

a. After the ball is snapped, the defensive players can go wherever they want

Special Team Modifications a. Punt/Punt Return i. Pee Wee Division

1. On 4th down the offense must declare that they are going to punt. No fake punts 2. Upon the offense declaring punt, the ball will be marked 20 yards from the line of scrimmage. 3. If the 20 yards marked off lands in the end zone a touch back will be declared. 1. On 4th down the offense must declare that they are going to punt. No fake punts a. First four games: i. Teams will align in punt and punt return formation respectively. ii. The Punt team will only snap and punt the ball. iii. They will not rush down the field iv. The Punt Return team must make either a fair catch or down the ball.

ii. Minor and Major Division

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Special Teams Modification Continued…

v. No advancement will be allowed by the punt return team. vi. The Punt return team must have control of the ball to down it. vii. If a ball is battered forward by a receiver, the ball will be placed at first touch. However, if the ball continues to travel further from the line of scrimmage, the ball will be spotted at the furthest point. viii. If the ball travels into the end zone, it will be considered a touch back. b. Fifth game and beyond: i. Teams will align in punt and punt return formation respectively ii. The Punt Team 1. Is not allowed to travel down field until the ball is punted. 2. The punt team must punt the ball to advance it. 3. If the punter is being rushed he may scramble to punt the ball or he can down it. He cannot take off down the field. iii. The Punt Return Team 1. No one is permitted to align over or make contact with the center

2. You may only rush 2 defensive linemen 3. Defensive linemen may not shoot the gaps. 4. Linemen must hit their opponent before making any type of rush 5. Only non‐stripers are permitted to return the punt 6. Linemen may recover a punt, however, they cannot advance the ball. 7. If a lineman does recover the football, the player must fall on the ball.

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Special Teams Modification Continued…

8. Once the ball is recovered by a lineman, the referee will blow the play dead.

b. Kick Off/Return

i. Pee Wee Division 1. At the start of each Half and after Touch Downs, the ball will be placed on the 20 Yard Line ii. Minor and Major Division 1. Kick Off Team will kick off from the 20 yard line

2. A striper may be used as the kicker 3. Any player can line up in any position 4. Kick Return Team will line up on the 30 yard line 5. Stripers may only be used on the front line

6. Linemen may recover a kick‐off; however, they cannot advance the ball. 7. Once the ball is recovered by a lineman, the referee will blow the play dead.

c. Point After Touch Down i. All Divisions

1. After a touchdown is scored the ball will be placed on the 3 yard line. 2. A successful run attempt into the end zone will be rewarded 1 point. 3. A successful pass attempt into the end zone will be rewarded 2 points.

WHITEPOINT YOUTH FOOTBALL 2014 RULES 10

Penalties 1.

Whitepoint follows all NFHS Football Rules. a. In addition to NFHS Football Rules

i. Maximum distance for a penalty is 10 yards ii. Blitzing, Unsportsman like conduct ‐ 10 yard penalty iii. Shooting the gap, Unsportsman like conduct ‐ 10 yard penalty

b. Only the most blatant of infractions will be called. c. After a penalty is called it is the coach’s job to instruct the player on what he did wrong and how to correct it. Coaches Code of Conduct 1. No striking any of the children for any reason. These are children not adults treat them accordingly. 2. Do not, for any reason, pull a player around by his facemask. 3. The Referees are volunteers. Please do not harass them or give them a hard time. They are doing the best they can. a. Only head coaches are permitted to address game officials b. No criticizing officials at any time, on or off the field. This can only hurt the program. c. If you disagree with a call, and you think the official misapplied a rule, you can call a time out and discuss it with the officials. i. This does not apply to judgment calls. d. If the official agrees a rule was wrongly applied, the time out is not charged and the correction is made. e. If the official thinks the rule was correctly applied, the time out is charged to your team and the play stands. f. The referee’s decision is final. 4. The Head Coach is responsible for conduct of his Assistants and parents of players on his team. 5. The head Coach is responsible for the cleanliness of his sidelines after every game and practice is played. 6. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at practices or games. 7. No video or pictures should be taken by coaches while games or practices are going on. All attention must be given to the game and all the players. 8. Coaches will refrain from smoking and chewing tobacco around the players.

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Coaches Code of Conduct Continued… 9. Per Officials discretion, swearing or unsportsmanlike like conduct will result in: a. 1st‐a warning to stop conduct in question b. 2nd‐ejection from the game. c. Ejections will follow the High School rule.

i. 1st ejection‐out for next game ii. 2nd ejection‐out for the season. iii. If this happens on the last game of the season it will be carried over to the next season.

10. Remember at all times this program is for the players benefit, not for the coaches or parents. 11. Coaching Rosters are to have One Head Coach and up to two Assistant Coaches. a. Each coach who enters the field must have a current USA Football Training Course certificate. b. Only assigned coaches with proper certifications will be allowed on your sideline. Playing time for all participants is more important than winning or losing a game. REMEMBER: THIS PROGRAM IS FOR THE YOUTH and not for the coaches and parents. INFRACTIONS OF THE ABOVE RULES ARE SUBJECT TO A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS BY THE BOARD UP TO AND INCLUDING DISMISSAL FROM THE PROGRAM.

Gentlemen’s Agreement 1.

No team should win by more than 3 touchdowns (21 points)

2. If your team is up by 3 touchdowns you are expected to give other players the opportunity to run the ball. 3. No one player should score more than 3 touchdowns in one game 4. In theory, no team should go undefeated. a. It is the goal of Whitepoint for each team to finish with a .500 record. b. There are no standings or playoffs. At the end of the season we will play an all‐star game in each division.

WHITEPOINT YOUTH FOOTBALL 2014 RULES 12

Whitepoint Wolverines Coaching Tips

1. Be Yourself. 2. Create a safe and challenging environment.

3. Be organized and prepared every time you step on the field. Don't let a moment be wasted, have drills set-up and ready to go in order to keep the practice session at a fast pace. Don't allow a child's mind to wonder, keep it moving through organization. 4. Instruct clearly using simple language. Focus on the task or end result desired. Relate it if possible to something they already know how to do. 5. Demonstrate each drill as much as possible, limit verbal instruction. 6. Let the kids have lots of repetitions. Give them an opportunity to learn from their own mistakes and from other kids who are doing the drill correctly. 7. Keep things moving. This keeps the energy at a high level. Don't slow down the whole group to teach one or two players. However, start over if necessary if a number of the kids aren't doing the drill correctly. 8. Praise kids often. Be specific, it's more effective. 9. When a teaching moment presents itself after a drill is completed, ask questions to find out what the child's experience and understanding is. 10. Debrief coaches after the program is finished. Learn from your successes and mistakes.

Seven Guiding Principles for Whitepoint’s Spring Football Program 1. Make it fun. 2. Limit standing around. 3. Everyone plays. 4. Teach every position to every participant. 5. Emphasize the fundamentals. 6. Incorporate progression of skill development for every participant. 7. Yell encouragement, whisper constructive criticism.

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I don't have a lot of coaching experience. How can I be a successful coach? Just be yourself. Don't try to be something you're not. Many of our best coaches are not the most experienced. Since the way we have structured WYF is contrary to some of the "old school" ways of coaching football, some of the more experienced coaches actually have a hard time adjusting. Great teachers know they can't really teach anything. They can only create an environment that facilitates learning in a fulfilling way. Creating a safe and challenging environment is the most important thing you can do. How do I create an optimal environment for the kids? Kids learn best in groups when they are focused, fully engaged and have a clear intention of what to do. This is best achieved by using simple, clear language to explain drills, demonstrating drills as much as possible, and keeping the kids active with as many repetitions as possible. Don't talk too much. Give them a chance to learn from their own mistakes and by watching other kids do the drill correctly. The short time frame of each drill helps to create a high energy environment. Why is this the best way? There is no one right way to teach. But this method is effective because it directly addresses the way kids (and adults) learn. Kids take in information and learn through three primary senses: visual, kinesthetic (feel), and auditory. These are called the three modes of learning. Explaining drills (hear), demonstrating them (see), and giving kids a lot of repetitions (feel, see, hear) covers all three modes. Research shows that the vast majority of people are visual and/or kinesthetic learners yet most coaches use verbal instructions as their primary way of teaching. Is that why some kids don't "get it" right away? Yes. Many kids can't handle or process a lot of verbal information. It may be clear to you but it may not be clear to them. When you wanted to put together the new bike or table you bought were the instructions that came with either of them easy to understand? They're often very confusing the first time we read them. This is why most computers now come with an illustrated instruction sheet with large pictures showing what goes where. Seeing pictures along with the text makes it easier to understand and do it. That is our ultimate goal for working with kids: make it as easy as possible for them to learn. What is the best way to give verbal instruction? Keep it simple. Don't get lost in the details. A good way to give verbal instructions is to focus on the end result rather than the means. For instance, in demonstrating one of the blocking drills there is often no need to explain all the details and technique necessary to perform the drill. Just tell them the purpose of the drill (e.g. to keep the defender from getting the running back when he runs to the left) and then show them how they would block the defender to achieve that. Let them figure out the details on their own. Remember a picture is worth a thousand words! Lastly, you can be more effective if you can connect what they need to do with something they already know. For example, after being taught the breakdown position one of the volunteer coaches had a light go on. "This is the position you would be in after jumping off a chair." She started using this analogy and found the kids understood it immediately.

To summarize: Giving kids a clear task that they feel confident they can perform is extremely important.

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What should I do when the kids do the drill incorrectly? This depends on the circumstances, but we have found that the most successful coaches don't spend a lot of time teaching and correcting mistakes. It simply takes up too much time. The best coaches typically handle this problem in the following ways: A. If one or two kids aren't doing the drill correctly, then… Pull them out of line and have them observe others who are doing it correctly a few times. Ask them to tell you what they notice about the correct behavior to ensure that they understand. Get them back in line as quickly as possible! B. If a large number of kids are doing the drill incorrectly, then you need to start over. It is probably because of the way you presented the drill to them. Because of the short time frame, demonstrate the drill again. Focus on the end result. Point out the ONE key element for doing the drill successfully. Get them back out there as quickly as possible. C. Also, take this as an opportunity to become a better coach by reflecting on what you could have done differently in your presentation. Is there anything else I can do to help the kids learn more quickly? Yes. Learning is accelerated with focus and feedback. Once you gain more confidence and familiarity with the coaching process or if you are already an experienced coach, you can try the following: A. Have the kids yell "YES!" or give you a HIGH FIVE if they have done the drill correctly. This simple act helps accelerate learning by creating what is called "conscious competence." They pay more attention to what they are doing while they are doing it. You also receive important feedback about their internal experience. You can now compare what you observed with what they think they did. B. You can also single out the most important part of the drill and have them do the same thing. For example, if the correct way for the player to perform the upcoming drill is to block the defender's right shoulder with his own right shoulder, he would yell "YES" at that moment. Again, this increases focus and aids memory recall.

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What do I do when the kids do the drill correctly? Praise. Praise. Praise. Praising kids when they do something right is important to the development process and a wonderful way to build their confidence. It makes them feel good and lets them know they are on the right track. What is the best way to praise someone? Praise their behavior as quickly as possible so they can recall their experience. Perhaps the best way to praise someone is to single out a specific behavior and let them know they did it correctly. "Hey Johnny, you really got your hands up on that block! Good job! or "Way to keep your head up on that tackle, Johnny. Nice one!" Saying just "good job" or "way to go" can make kids feel good, but being specific aids their learning. When you have more time, a great way to praise someone is to do it through a third party while they are present. For instance, when speaking to another coach after the drill is over you might say, "Hey coach, did you see how well Johnny blocked with his head in the correct position? He really has a lot of talent!" What about discipline? What do I do when kids are acting up or disturbing others? Hopefully the program director has set the ground rules ahead of time so the consequences of poor behavior or sportsmanship are clear. The best coaches don't get angry or yell at the kids, they simply pull the child out of the drill Are there any advanced coaching techniques I should know about? A good coach helps a player become more aware of what they are doing while they are doing it so they can learn from their own experience. With this style of coaching, the coach does not need to be an expert in the field in which he or she is coaching rather they are adept at facilitating the learning process.

Whitepoint Football Planning Practice

Planning Practice

Having a well-planned and organized practice plan is vital to a successful youth football season. Head coaches must have a whole practice blueprint so that there is no time wasted.

Remember, practice time is limited, make every minute productive.

Five Main Keys to Practice

• Organization – Coaches and players on the same page • Fast! – Change phases of practice, fast and with emotion • Reps – Practice makes perfect, it takes reps to get fluent with plays

• Everyone busy – Every player needs to be active – backs-ups need play reps as well • Coaches coaching – all coaches should have a job and do it with passion, it rubs off on the players Having an up-tempo pace and organized practice routine is extremely important. Make practices fun and upbeat-with a lot of emotion and energy.

Planning & Preparation

• Coaches Goals & Practice Plan

o Delegation of Responsibilities by Head Coach • Develop a Practice Agenda at least 24 to 48 hours prior to every practice. • Communicate the agenda to the entire coaching staff. o Get their input as well! • Assign coaching responsibilities. • Train Assistants • Have a defined stop and start time for every facet of your agenda goals. “Golden Rules” of Practice • Treat every practice like you own the company and it is a work day. • Treat your players like you are paying them to be there. • You don’t want players showing up late or mentally checking out early. • You don’t want players standing around. • You don’t want players with not enough to do. • You don’t want players taking shortcuts. • You don’t want players watching others do the work.

Basic Practice Organization Rules • Keep a constant structure so that players become comfortable at practice and focus on learning. • Establish a set pattern so that your players know what to expect and where to go and what to do. • How you divide your team for practice will depend on: o # of assistant coaches. o Number of players at each position / area.

Planning Practice

o The time you have to practice each week. o If things get confusing, simplify. If players have trouble grasping something, cut back, review, avoid piling on more information.

Ongoing Analysis & Adjustments • Never stop looking for ways to improve. • Never stop coaching fundamentals. • Never stop improving.

Suggested Practice Plan

Pre‐Practice

Run ‐ Stretch ‐ Run Special Teams Practice

0:00 0:00 0:00

Offensive Practice Offensive Individuals

Agilities