2013

PATRIOT
FOOTBALL
COACH DON SMOLYN
973-347-7600, EXT. 113
dsmolyn@lvhs.org

GAME PLANNING
AND PRACTICE
ORGANIZATION

AS A COACH YOU AND

YOUR STAFF HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO
BRING YOUR A GAME
EVERYDAY, TO BE
PREPAREDYOU EXPECT
THAT FROM YOUR

GOAL: DEVELOP MORE

EFFICIENT WAYS TO TEACH
OUR MATERIAL. STUDY WAYS
TO IMPROVE AS A TEACHER.
ANALYZE THE PRESEASON
SCHEDULE

FRIDAY NIGHT
GAMES
PRIOR TO 2012
COACHES
FILM / SCOUTING /
MEETINGS
PLAYERS

GAME WEEK PREPARATION

2012
HUDL
SATURDAY 2012
WEDNESDAY LUNCH

STUDY OF PLAY SITUATIONS IN

AN AVERAGE GAME
STUDY OF DOWN AND
DISTANCE BREAKDOWN IN AN
AVERAGE GAME

PLAY SITUATIONS IN AN
AVERAGE GAME
(TYPICAL GAME8 YEAR
ANALYSIS)
21 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYS
48 OFFENSIVE PLAYS ( + / 2)

DOWN & DISTANCE

BREAKDOWNS
20 FIRST DOWN PLAYS

10 LONG YARDAGE PLAYS

(2ND & 7 PLUS)
3RD & 7 PLUS)

10 NORMAL YARDAGE PLAYS

2ND & 6 OR LESS
3RD & 3 OF LESS
5 CRITICAL DOWNS
3RD & 4-6
PATIENCE-KEEP DRIVE ALIVE-4
DOWN TER

GOAL LINE / SHORT

YARDAGE
4 PLAYS PER GAME

SUMMARY
30 FIRST DOWN / NORMAL
YARDAGE PLAYS
(60% OF CALLS)
18 SITUATION PLAYS
(40% OF CALLS)

SITUATION
OFFENSE
WE CAN NO LONGER
CONDUCT PRACTICES
WHERE THE BALL IS
PLACED IN ONE SPOT
ON THE PRACTICE
FIELD FOR 2 HOURS.
THE GAME IS NOT

PATRIOT OFFENSE
2003-09
20 % SHOTGUN PASSING (40%
PRAC)
35 % RUN / BLUE
45 % 100-900

PATRIOT OFFENSE
2010-12
90 % 2 TIGHT ENDS
ZERO SHOTGUN
ZERO JETS / ROCKETS

PATRIOT
FOOTBALL

WE ARE A 3 HOUR PRACTICE

TEAM
WE ARE IN FULL PADS
(TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY /
THURSDAY 2 1/2)
(PLAY ON FRIDAY NIGHT)
WE PRACTICE EVERY PHASE EVERY
DAY

LENAPE VALLEY
OFFENSE
PHYSICAL RUN OFFENSE
MINIMIZE TURNOVERS,
PENALTIES, MISSED
ASSIGNMENTS, NEGATIVE
YARDAGE PLAYS

EFFICIENT PLAY ACTION

PASSING
GOAL LINE / SHORT
YARDAGE
THAT TIES INTO OUR
BASE PACKAGE

YOUR OFFENSE / YOUR

DECISION
CHART WHAT YOU
ACTUALLY RUN
PRACTICE WHAT YOU
ACTUALLY RUN
PLAY / FORMATION /
COMMENT YARDAGE /
OPPONENT

PLAY FORMATION COMMENT

YARDAGE OPP.
187
PAR

SPLIT

TD

DOES YOUR
PRESEASON AND
WEEKLY PRACTICE
ORGANIZATION
REFLECT YOUR
NUMBERS?

ITS NOT WHAT YOU DO

BUT HOW YOU DO IT(BEAR
BRYANT)
SUCCESS IN THE WING T IS
DIRECTLY RELATED TO HOW
WELL THE PLAYERS LEARN
DETAILS AND UNDERSTAND
THE SUBTLE INTRICACIES
WITHIN THE SYSTEM (AN
ORDER OF FOOTBALL)

SUCCESSFUL COACHING IS ALL

ABOUT AN ATTENTION TO DETAIL
(DEAN SMITH)
ITS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WINNING & LOSING (BEAR
BRYANT)

THE LITTLE THINGS ARE

DONE BY WINNERS, EVERYONE
DOES THE BIG THINGS (JIM
MACKENZIE)
IF A TEAM CAN NOT EXECUTE
AT A MOMENTS NOTICETHEY
WILL FAIL IN THE LONG RUN
(COACH K)

MUST REDIRECT OUR FOCUS

TO THE LITTLE THINGS (NS
2009 SI)
ITS ALL IN THE DETAILS
THERES A RIGHT WAY TO DO
EVERYTHING (ROY WILLIAMS)

WORK HARD BUT WORK

DELIBERATE
(RICK PITINO)
LITTLE THINGS MAKE BIG
THINGS HAPPEN (JOHN
WOODEN)
SWEAT THE LITTLE THINGS

PLAN WHAT YOU TEACH

THIS IS CRITICAL (COACH K)
KNOW THE PARTICULARS
(MARK McCORMACK)
WHAT THEY DONT TEACH YOU
AT THE HARVARD BUSINESS
SCHOOL

THE BEST SHORT CUT IS THE

LONG WAYHARD WORK AND
AN
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
(THE LAST LECTURE)
WE WILL WIN OR LOSE BASED
ON OUR EXECUTION (LOU

WHAT ARE YOU

PREPARING FOR
WHAT ARE YOU
ORGANIZING FOR
FACTS ARE BETTER THAN
DREAMS
OR OPINIONS

YOU CAN ONLY CONTROL

YOUR OWN PREPARATION
WE ALL HAVE THE SAME
AMOUNT OF TIME24 HOURS
IN A DAY
DONT WORRY ABOUT WHAT
YOU DONT HAVE

NICK SABAN 2013

ITS ALL ABOUT THE
PROCESS
YOU MUST ESTABLISH
ROUTINES
(DSTHERE ARE A LOT OF

PRINCIPLES FOR WINNING

FOOTBALL

DEFENSE
LIMIT BIG PLAYS (25 YARDS)
(NFL) (LSU 2011)
STOP THE RUN (100 YARDS) (ALA
6)
PLUS 2 MARGIN IN TURNOVERS

SPECIAL TEAMS
PROTECT THE BALL (SNAPPING /
CATCHING)
CREATE BIG PLAYS (2009 7 / 7,
PLUS 50)
WIN BATTLE OF STARTING FIELD

OFFENSE
PROTECT THE BALL
(HIGH & TIGHTTHROW ON
TIME)
CREATE BIG PLAYS (OVER 25
YARDS)

MISSED
ASSIGNMENTS AND
MIS-ALIGNMENTS LOSE
MORE GAMES THAN
PHYSICAL
MISMATCHES

13 GAME
SITUATIONS
PRESEASON: TAKE THE
TEAM TO THE
PARTICULAR SPOT ON
THE FIELD AND WALK
THEM THRU
EVERYTHING, EXPLAIN
THE ISSUES WITH EACH

2 MINUTE OFFENSE (1)

(WHAT DO WE NEED FG /
TD)
(LV 2010 / LV 2011 / 2012)

4 MINUTE OFFENSE (2)

ONE FIRST DOWN TO WIN

LAST PLAY OF THE

GAME (3)
FROM THE 4 / 7
FROM THE 10
(SUPER BOWL 2013)
FROM THE 25 (TIP PLAY)
DESPERATION

GOAL LINE / SHORT

YARDAGE (4)
COVERAGE MAN OR
ZONE

4TH

4TH & 4
4TH & 7
& 10 (2011)

2 POINT PLAYS (HOW

MANY)

FIRST DOWN (5)

FIRST DOWN
(BEST CHANCE FOR A BIG
PLAY)
(25 YARDS)
FIRST DOWN AFTER A
TURNOVER

GIMMICKS (6)
1 GAME READY PER WEEK
(SCRIPT)
WHEN DO YOU CALL IT
5-6 TOTAL (OFF BEST RUN
PLAYS)

DOWN INSIDE
OWN 3 (7)

ST

(2011) MENTAL
PREPARATION
BALL SECURITY HIGH &
TIGHT

MAN COVERAGE (8)

PACKAGE OF PASSES (5-6)
7 ON 7
BASE KEEP PASS ??
RUN TO POST / FLY
SPLIT KP POST / FLY
NO MO KP DRAG TO END
SPLIT WAGGLE END OPPOSITE
NO MO KP SOLID SE POST / OUT

COVER 2 BEATERS (9)

5-6 PLAYS
WAGGLE AT 5
SPREAD KP STREAK /
POST

SCREENS (10)
3-4 PLAYS (1 GAME READY)
WAGGLE SCREEN TO THE
HB
KEEP PASS SCREEN TO THE
TE
WAGGLE SCREEN TO THE FB

LONG YARDAGE (11)

3RD & 8
3RD & 10
3RD & 12 PLUS
1-2 RUNS
3-4 PASSES BASED ON COVERAGE

NORMAL YARDAGE
(12)
WE WORK ON THESE THE
MOST
(60 % OF YOUR PLAY
CALLS)
1ST & 10
2ND & 4-6
3RD & 3

OVERTIME (13)
KNOW THE RULES
(TURNOVER)
3RD OVERTIME (2 PT PLAY)
COIN TOSS
4TH DOWN FIELD GOAL VS
1ST DOWN
WHO IS THE BETTER TEAM

THE ANSWER IS TO TAKE

THOSE 13 OFFENSIVE
SITUATIONS AND INSERT
THEM INTO A SPECIFIC DAY
IN YOUR WEEKLY GAME
WEEK SCHEDULE AND IN
YOUR PRESEASON
SCHEDULE.

PRESEASON
PLANNING
COME UP WITH A 4 WEEK
PRESEASON CALENDAR ON
THE COMPUTER AND PLUG
IN EVERYTHING YOU NEED
TO COVER.
TRICK IS TO STICK WITH IT
WHEN THINGS DONT LOOK
PERFECT.

DEVELOP A CHECKLIST FOR

EVERY ASPECT OF PRACTICE;
FOR EXAMPLE TEAM PUNT,
KICK OFF, SWEEP DRILL,
PURSUIT DRILL, TACKLING
CIRCUIT, ECT.
IMPORTANT FOR PRESEASON
PLANNING

LENAPE VALLEY--EVERY 4TH

DAY FROM THE FIRST DAY
OF PRACTICE WE WORK ON
GOAL LINE / SHORT
YARDAGE / 2 POINT PLAYS.

2 SEASON
APPROACH
PRESEASON
FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE
TILL GAME SCRIMMAGE
MUST SELL THIS MENTALITY
TO COACHES AND PLAYERS
(DIFFICULT)

MAKE A LIST OF EVERYTHING YOU

NEED TO COVER TO WIN THE FIRST
GAME
DEVELOP AN INSTALLATION
SCHEDULE FOR EVERY PHASE OF
THE GAMEOFFENSE / DEFENSE /
SPECIAL TEAMS / LIFTING /
CONDITIONING***

DAILY PRESEASON
PRACTICE
TEACHERS CAF / 3 WEEKS
PLAYERS START AT 8:30
COACHES START AT 7:00
DAILY MEETING / DAILY
FILM
GOAL: GIVE THEM FIRST 5

NJSIAA PRESEASON
GUIDLINES
COLLEGE MODEL 2 & 1
(5-6 DOUBLES)
WALK-THRUS
NO EQUIPMENT / NON
STRENUOUS
WE DO IT IN GYM

2013 LVR PRESEASON

PRACTICE
FIRST DAY OF PRACTICE
THROUGH GAME SCRIMMAGE
3 SCRIMMAGES
11 SINGLE SESSION DAYS
4 DOUBLES

SINGLE SESSION
DAYS
OLD DAYS

2013 11
PLANNING WILL BE CRITICAL
BE GREAT TEACHERS
VARIED MODALITIES
WALK THRUS / FILM / MEETINGS /
TEAM / SMALL GROUP

WALK-THRUS
POSSIBILITIES ARE
LIMITLESS
FIRST STEPS AT EVERY POSITION,
ASSIGNMENTS, ADJUSTMENTS,
QB / C EXCHANGE, STANCE,
FORMATIONS, SHIFTS,
ALIGNMENTS, LOOK SQUADS

PRESEASON OFFENSIVE
PRACTICE
OFF. INSTALLATION PLAYS OF THE
DAY (20)
(DOUBLE 2 HOUR OFFENSIVE
PRACTICE)

SPECIAL TEAMS (15)

SITUATIONAL OFFENSE (15)
OFFENSIVE PERFECT PLAY (5)
SCRIPT
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE (25)

PASS VS RUSH (15) SCRIPT

TEAM OFFENSE (25) SCRIPT
TEAM OFFENSIVE PERIODS
2 GROUPS: VARSITY 4
COACHES 33 PLAYERS,
YOUNG GROUP 2 COACHES

VARSITY: 1 COACH WITH

DEFENSE, #1 GROUP ALWAYS
ON OFFENSE
PLANNED ROTATION FOR
OTHER PLAYERS
SCRIPT ON PRACTICE
SCHEDULE

INSTALLATION OF PLAYS OF
THE DAY
(15-20 MINUTES

PRESEASON)

ON PRACTICE FIELD 4 TEAMS

WITH SUBS
ONE COACH WITH EACH GROUP
SET UP IN A SQUARE
SHIELDS / CONES FOR SPACING
(ODD / EVEN)
# 1 OFFENSE DEMOS

SCRIPT SHOULD
MIRROR GAME
BELLY (8)
2ND BACK (6)
COUNTER (4)
KEEP PASS / COUNTER PASS (6)
GIMMICK (1)
TEAM OFFENSE 25 MINUTES / 25
PLAYS

IMPORTANCE OF
SCRIPTS
SAVES TIME / HITS ALL PLAYS
PASS VS AIR 12-18 PLAYS (REC)
WB / PS
PASS VS RUSH 10-12 PLAYS WB /
PS
TEAM OFFENSE 25 PLAYS WB / PS
DEFENSIVE RUN 12-15 PLAYS PS
PASS SKELETON 12-15 PLAYS PS

IN-SEASON OFFENSIVE
PRACTICE
OFFENSIVE PERFECT PLAY (5
PLAYS) WED.
(DEFENSIVE PERFECT PLAY TUES.)
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE / 15
MINUTES
PASS VS AIR-PUP / 15 MINUTES
SITUATION / 15 MINUTES
TEAM OFFENSE / 25 MINUTES

MONDAY IN-SEASON
PRACTICE
TEAM LIFT (DEFENSIVE
COACHES)
OFFENSIVE / DEFENSIVE REVIEW
ON FIELD
INDIVIDUAL SPECIALS
OFFENSIVE / DEFENSIVE
INTRODUCTION
PASS SKELETON
PASS VS AIR / O-LINE BLOCKING

TUESDAY /
WEDNESDAY
2:48-5:48
DEFENSIVE WALK-THRU (15)
SPECIAL TEAMS (20)
FUNDAMENTAL CIRCUIT (10)
INDIVIDUAL DEFENSE (15)
PASS SKELETON (20)
RUN DEFENSE (25)

PERFECT PLAY (5)

SITUATION / GROUP / WALKTHRU (15)
INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE (15)
PASS VS AIR (15)
TEAM OFFENSE (25)

THURSDAY
SPECIAL TEAMS (40)
GOAL LINE / SY OFFENSE & DEFENSE
(20)
DEFENSIVE REVIEW (15)
TEAM OFFENSIVE SCRIPT (15)
TEAM DEFENSE (15)
TEAM OFFENSE (15)
OFFENSIVE SITUATIONS (15)
PASS SKELETON (15)

OFFENSIVE PERFECT
PLAY
WEDNESDAYS IN-SEASON
PRESEASON EVERYDAY
5 MINUTE PERIOD
4 TEAMS
5-6 PLAY SCRIPT VS AIR (2013 ??810)
ALL SHIFTS, CADENCE CHANGES
HUDDLE PROCEDURE, FIRST
STEPS, TEAM TAKEOFF, FAKING,

GAME DAY PLAY

SHEET
ONE SIDE HAS EVERY PLAY
LISTED NUMERICALLY BY
GROUP:WAGGLE, WAGGLE
SOLID THB, WAGGLE OUT,
WAGGLE SWITCH ECT. (80
PLAYS)
MATCHES QB WRIST BAND

SECOND SIDE: 13
SITUATIONS
PLAYS & NUMBERS LISTED
IN PREFERENCE ORDER
DONE ON THURSDAY
NIGHT