Developing a Productive Practice Plan for Youth Football

A good practice plan is essential for the development of your team. You need to get the most out of your practice without wasting valuable time. Football is a sport of good fundamentals. If your team is fundamentally sound the winning will take care of itself. My first few years as a head coach I made the mistake of long periods of stretching and conditioning. I would spend about 25 minutes of my practice in this area, which would cut my plan short in all other aspects of developing my players. I keep the stretching and conditioning to under 10 minutes. My practice plans are very high temple and the kids are constantly moving from station to station. My number one rule is "there is no walking on the football field." Most my conditioning is implemented within the practice pace of the practice plan. If I do add a conditioning section to my practice plan the team usually run 10 fifteen yard wind sprints, which signified our season goal. The goal was to make it to the Conference Championship, which was the 10th game of the season.
One of my favorite quotes is, "Football is a game of blocking and tackling." Especially if you are not blessed with a talented football team. As a coach we all hope for those few kids that take our teams to the next level. It doesn't always work out that way. So as coaches, we always have to keep in mind to prepare our teams the best we can regardless of the talent we end up with. We should never make excuses why we cant win. Always find a way to win. Before you step on the field as a head coach. Make sure you always have a practice plan in place for every practice and your coaches have a copy as well.  Winning comes with good preparation and a good approach.
 Here is a sample offensive practice plan:

6:30-6:40 Warm Up Stretch

6:40-6:55 Tackle Stations (Four stations) 50%

 1) Angle

2) Splatter

 3) 1:1 Form

4) Three Hole Challenge

6:55-7:10 Individual Offense

 Lineman; pass block, wedge block, board drills

-QB’s; drills, three step drop, option drill

 RB’s; 3 minutes blocking, bag and cone drills, ball security

WR; 3 Minutes blocking, catch and tuck, goal post drill

7:10-7:15 Water Break; Chalk talk

7:15-7:30 Mesh

Lineman; Review 21/22 Trap, 36 Power, Boot Left vs odd and even front

Backs; Review 21/22 Trap, 36 Power, Boot Left

7:30-7:40  Team Offense vs Air 

7:40-7:50 Add 22 Wedge

7:50- 8:10 Team Offense Fit Freeze; vs odd and even front.

8:10-8:12 Water break

8:12-8:20 Gold Team "Two Minute Drill"

8:20-8:30 Punt Team and Kick Off return

Please contact me with any questions or discuss your practice plan on this forum.
Thank You!!