Creating a Youth Football Offensive Playbook

There is no need to re-invent the wheel when creating a youth football offensive playbook. No matter the type of offense, coaches use a variety of numbering systems which have been around nearly as long as the game of football itself.

The focus is to diagram and name each play so it can be easily taught and quickly recognized by the players.

Hole Numbering

There are two traditional numbering systems familiar to coaches at all levels of competition:

• Wing-T System: In use prior to the introduction of the Wing-T itself, the system became synonymous with Tubby Raymond's Delaware Wing-T scheme. Each hole, the space between the players on the line of scrimmage (LOS), has a designated number and begins on the right. ('1' hole in the area outside the last man on the right side of the LOS, '2' hole is between the receiver and the right tackle, etc.)
• Odd/Even System: This system uses the center as the starting point for hole numbering; even numbers to the right of the center and odd numbers to the left of the center. ('2' hole between the center and right guard, e.g.)

Numbering the Backfield

1 = Quarterback

2 = Primary Running Back (Tailback or Left Half Back)

3 = Fullback

4 = Wingback or Right Half Back

Letter the Receivers

Y = Tight End

X = Split End, Wide Receiver of weak side Tight End

Z = Slot Receiver or Flanker

Use Descriptive Words

• 24-Lead instructs the fullback to lead block for the '2' back through the '4' hole.
• 26-Power instructs the left guard to pull and follow the lead block of the fullback through the '6' hole, with the '2' back receiving the handoff.
• 17-X Reverse instructs the quarterback to run toward the '7' hole. Instead of continuing on the sweep, he hands off to the 'X' receiver who will run in the reverse direction.