Importance of Football Fundamentals for Kids

Alonzo A. Stagg, at a football clinic, once said, “Fundamentals and morale are the two most important things in the development of a successful football team.” Most coaches I have known throughout my years agree with Stagg's words.

Dr. H. C. Carlson, in his book, You and Basketball, has a fine essay on another type of fundamental. He covers fundamentals that are common to all successful accomplishments. These are not covered here, but deal with psychological traits, touching on the spiritual side of athletics, which all coaches and athletes would profit by reading. It contrasts well with what Paul W. “Bear” Bryant once wrote, Growing up on a small farm in Moro Bottom, Arkansas, didn’t provide a lot of so-called advantages for a youngster. The only instruction I can remember getting before I playsed a football game was to try to kill anyone on the other team.”

That was a long time ago. Proper instruction is essential, today.

As in most other sports, the fundamentals of football, today, are the same as they were when Coach Frank Thomas and Coach Hank Crisp taught them to “Bear” Bryant at the University of Alabama in 1931 and will be the same fifty years from now.  This is not to say that football hasn’t changed, because it has; but, you still must start with the basics.

Football was a way of  life for the “Bear”, but is not going to be that for everone; however, it can help your child learn values that will be an important. Before advanced things can be attempted, successful coaches must stress and practice the fundamentals of football. This groundwork lays the foundation for success. It is essential that the coach synchronize his fundamental teachings with his chosen system of play. Unless there is a progression of the fundamentals and a carrying out, much of his efforts result in wasted time.

Teams well drilled in the fundamentals usually possess a stronger degree of confidence in their ability. However, only proper preparation and presentation of these fundamentals will produce that confidence. If you can instill this among your players, they will be hard to beat.

How to teach the basic fundamentals

This could also be called the psychology of groundwork. In the interest of learning, here are a few points for the inexperienced coach in the teaching of any specific fundamental.

1. Demand strict attention.
2. The first fundamental drill should be simple and non-competitive. Only after the mechanics are learned, revert to a game condition drill to gain efficiency in developing the whole. Never allow carelessness or horseplay.
3. The coach and more experienced players should demonstrate the fundamental first at half-speed and later at normal speed. A good demonstration of a skill tends to give a group a more uniform mental picture of that particular fundamental.
4. Use the whole method in explaining the fundamental and its place in your chosen offense. Such explanation gives a better understanding of the fundamental, its purpose, and your particular offense.
5. In the beginning, constantly stress correct form and habits. Speed can be emphasized, later.
6. If your squad is average to large, divide players into small units with an experienced player, acting as player-coach. Using a player in this manner develops responsibility and leadership. The coach can make the rounds, lending hand to players who need help.
7. Use the part method by stressing one, or two, main points at a time. As progress continues, go on to other points in the execution.
8. Do not practice too long and one particular fundamental. This tends to dampen enthusiasm of players.

Discipline among young football players

Discipline is even more important. Participation in all athletic endeavors demand a lot of discipline, and this is something for which many young football players are ill prepared.

Success in football is built around a group of athletes working together, both physically and emotionally. They bond together to achieve a common goal.

Watch children at play sometime. You will soon see that teamwork does not a natural condition of the neighborhood. Teamwork must be learned, and to be learned, teamwork must be stressed from the very first day of practice. A well-prepared coaching staff will have a carefully developed routine that that they introduce the first practice session.

Conditioning period

Practices are limited. There is never time enough to teach every football fundamental that should be taught. This is particularly true if practices are restricted to two or three a week, which is most often the case with athletes at this age.

If you expect a winning season, you must plan, control your youngsters, and organize to make the most efficient use time allotted your team. And, as the season wears on, your practice sessions will become complicated. You will find it necessary to concentrate on specialties, often resulting in dividing the team into smaller groups.

 Only during the initial conditioning sessions, does a coach have the luxury of working with the entire team under no stress conditions. Make it a special point to establish discipline, during this period of time, and create a good coach-team relationship.

A properly disciplined team will be punctual for practice. They should start warm-up drills, on their own, and be ready to practice when the coach arrives. Unlike professional and full-time coaches, the volunteer coach usually comes from his regular job, this can save a lot of time. A team who does this also develop team character more quickly.

 Also, teach these youngsters that only the quarterback talks in a huddle, only the designated captain talks to the referee, and the team listens when the coach talks. These are little things that go toward making a football team; however, they do not come natural to young players. If the kids learn these things early, your job as their coach will be easy.

A good conditioning period also provides a chance for the coach to see what talents their players possess. It will not take long to determine which boys really want to play the game of football, which ones are strong, conditioned, and which ones are the natural leaders.

The leaders become particularly important. During games, they inspire confidence and inspire order among the inexperienced players.

From the first practice session, as their coach, you should make a concerted effort to establish leadership from amongst the players, themselves. When the going gets tough, this will make a difference.

Once the routine has been established, encourage players to conduct the exercises during the preliminary warm-up period. Of course, you should back them up to make sure they get the cooperation needed from the rest of the team; however, never permit them to become overbearing.

Early practice sets the tempo for the rest of the season. If the initial confusion is allowed to endure, you will find it difficult  to get rid of, as the season progresses. Nine and ten-year-olds find it hard to settle down, under the best if circumstances.

 Coaches should not hesitate to start right out with standard punishments:

1. Laps around the field

2. Wind sprints

3. Push-ups

      But, be careful to be fair, impartial, unemotional, and to never humiliate. And pray that parents will understand and lend support.

The conditioning period should begin with a three-week program. Prior to the beginning of formal practice, this program should have the players begin getting ready on their own as stated earlier. This part of every session should consist of a specified and increasing series of walking, jogging, and stretching exercises.

 Next, follows several weeks of light practice. There is no contact, concentrating on:

1.  calisthenics

2. running

3. fundamentals as the three-point stance and signal drill

4. drills consisting of stretching isometrics

5. sprints

6. running backwards for agility

Another good exercise is the grass drill, where the players, from running in place, flop on their stomachs and flip over on their backs on signal, then jump back up and continue running in place. This is particularly effective in teaching the body to absorb shock when it hits the ground, but is also a good conditioner.

Sounds easy enough doesn’t it? But after “fooling around” all summer it comes as a shocker to the kids.

 Parents should be prepared for their child to come home feeling exhausted and complaining, “how impossible it all is.” Do not give in to your child, nor let them give in to themselves.

 If the first weeks are not tough the children will not be in condition to play the game of football, once the competition begins. And that is when they run the risk of real injury. It goes without saying, however, that common sense is required on everybody’s part. Early practice must be geared to conditioning the players. Although team members must be pushed to extend themselves, it can be overdone. Parents who listen to the way kids tell it, will think coaches are murdering them with only five minutes of grass drills. Parents, encourage your child. Most of all, do not let them feel sorry for themselves.

Second week of practice

During the second week, helmets and perhaps shoulder pads can be added. This should be done more to familiarize them with the burden than to provide protection.

Teach them the basic offensive and defensive formations. Also, it is the appropriate time to expose them to pass patterns, your play-book, and play assignments. Meanwhile, continue to concentrate on their physical conditioning. One thing should always be kept in mind, however. Your players are only nine and ten years old and many have no training, whatsoever, in football fundamentals.

 Coaches should assume nothing, but should not dwell on one subject, either. At that age, kids learn quickly, but have short attention spans. They learn best by doing.

They are also quick to believe they know it all and have nothing else to learn. This  adds to a coach’s challenge. It’s quite common to hear, “Why do we have to do that again? We already know how to do that.”

 This is their way of challenging the coach’s practice system. Innovative practice drills go a long way toward holding their interest, and activities should be varied. Make contests of the drills. This is especially helpful during the conditioning period. Relays are good, as are races and other games that capture their imagination and competitive spirit. They should be given a good workout, yet drudgery should be avoided.

As the season progresses, game-drills may not occupy such a prevalent position in the practices session; but, the diversion in the drills is as important as ever. A series of drills with essentially the same purpose will have better results than a single drill that soon becomes boring to them. Even while recognizing the importance of teaching the serious nature and the discipline of the game, the coaching staff should strive to make it fun.

 It does not take much effort to make practice enjoyable without sacrificing productivity. The coach’s attitude and his enthusiasm will be an important factor. And the parent’s support and interest can influence both the coach and the players if that interest is directed toward the good of the team and not the glorification of individual players.