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Essential Routes: Comeback

9/22/2012

Description – A 12-yard sideline route.

Technique – Sprint hard past 10 yards to sell deep Fly route. Gain depth to 14 yards. Break down by planting on inside foot. Spin 120 degrees towards the sideline. Ball is in the air as receiver works back to the sideline to a depth of 12 yards.

Coaching Tips – Keep defenders in front of you when running downfield. Running past the defender puts them between you and the QB, which increases the difficulty of the throw.

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Running Clock

9/15/2012

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Managing the clock is a vital skill in tackle football, and flag football is no different. It's just a little tougher to do without the big clock on the scoreboard. But reading the rules of flag football, you'll discover one trick that can give you an edge in running time off the clock to protect a lead.

Normally you have 3 time outs per half. In my league they only allowed 3 time outs per game, so we had to be extra careful about when and how we used them. I made it a priority to preserve all 3 for one final drive, when they would do the most good. Therefore, during the bulk of the game, I would prefer to take a 5-yard Delay of Game penalty rather than burn an irreplaceable time out. In my mind, it was easier to earn back those 5 yards than it was to work the sideline inside of 1 minute to stop the clock. My standing rule: "Only Coach Art calls time outs!"

Here's an example: In one close game, we had driven down to about the opponent's 10 yard line. I was unsure of what play to call, taking an awfully long time to make up my mind. I wanted to throw a Slot Post, but we were a little too close to the end zone. Another 5 yards would give us room to throw it. So, rather than run a play I didn't want, and rather than burn a time out to give me time to select a different play, I simply let the clock run down and took the penalty.

To their credit, my QB (who was barking at me for the play call) did not call for the snap and make up his own play. The Center, knowing the time was ticking down, did not snap it himself. They both were very frustrated when we got the penalty. While the ref reset the ball, I called the team over and explained what just happened. "Why didn't you tell us?" they complained. I told them the truth. "The refs needed to believe it was unintentional."

The next play we called Slot Post and scored a touchdown.

What's important is to make the time ticking away seem "unintentional." See, in flag football, the clock runs continuously until the final 1 or 2 minutes in the half or game, depending on your league's rules. But the bulk of the game ticks silently away. If the officials believe you are intentionally bleeding the clock, they'll penalize you and stop the clock until you snap again.

Taking a penalty is a useful tool every now and then to extend a drive. But if you're trying to run a lot of clock to protect a narrow lead, don't take a bunch of penalties. Instead, consult with the back judge (or whichever official keeps time in your league) and ask the official to call out when 5 seconds are remaining on the play clock. If you have been kind and respectful to the officials, they should do this for you without complaint.

Instruct the team to get in and out of the huddle quickly, get set on the line, and wait. When the ref calls 5 seconds, the QB counts to 3 and calls "Hike" for the ball. In this way, you can insure that you are using virtually all of the play clock and running the most time off the game.

How does your team run clock? Share your suggestions in the comments box or via Twitter @MyCoachArt, or on Facebook on the "Winning Flag Football" page.

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A True Story

9/8/2012

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I like this story. It has the virtue of being true.

In the early 1990's, I was a student at the University of New Orleans. UNO hosts the American Collegiate Intramural Sports (ACIS) Flag Football Championship every January. Teams from around the country fly in to compete. Click here to see past winners.

In college, my friends and I played regular pickup games at the UNO fields, usually 2 or 3 times a month during school. We hadn't formed a single "team" or played in an organized league. We just really liked playing and would invite other players already on the fields to join us.

One January, we were out having fun, just 6 or 7 of us, playing touch football. It was one of those bright days in January. There had been a rainstorm, and the ground was sloppy and soaked, but the rain had scrubbed the air clean. The grass seemed greener, the mud looked browner, the sky bluer. The day started chilled and crisp but quickly got warm, every step squishing up the smell of grass and mud.

Too excited by this "football weather," I didn't warm up my arm properly. After about 10 passes, my arm was spaghetti. And just as I'm ready to pack it in, over walks the NC State championship flag football team, in town for the competition. It was a great opportunity, and we couldn't refuse a friendly game.

Look, these guys were the real deal. The website says they won the Co-Rec Collegiate Division in 1990 and 1991, which wasn't that far removed from thMany of us were physically overmatched by NC State's players. Since I was useless with a bum arm, I watched from the sideline and did my best to "coach." No avail. We didn't practice as a team, so we weren't successful.

The QB we were using was a flashy ball hog who couldn't compete at QB against a real team like NC State. After going down 3 TDs to 0, my guys wanted me in the game. So, bum arm and all, I trotted into the huddle. My main goal was to not let my friends down. My secondary goal - avoid making a fool of myself.

1st Down: I called a Double Outs. Pre-snap, my right WR looked open at 10 yards. Snap was good, my receiver ran a great route, I planted and threw a clean pass, surprisingly strong considering the condition of my arm, and the ball was nearly picked off. Talk about closing speed!!! CB baited me perfectly and nearly made the play. I was disheartened. Here I had made the best read and throw I could muster, and it was almost a pick-6 the other way!

2nd Down: Don't even remember. I dropped back and the rush immediately swallowed me in the backfield. I recall the blocker whiffed and I just curled up in a slide to the ground. To my credit, I didn't chuck the ball blindly into the secondary.

3rd Down: Flood Right. The two previous plays, while disastrous, had clued me in to the defensive rush. I had the sense that they pushed hard on the edges and aimed at 7-10 yards in the backfield. As such, it was difficult to rollout against and impossible to drop deep against. The only solution was to step up in the pocket.

I took the snap and began a deep drop. I could see the rushers aiming for a spot in the backfield. As the rush closed in, I popped forward. The rush whizzed past me, arms outstretched. I was thrilled, but out of sorts - I had been watching the rush the whole time and taken my eyes off the receivers, and now I had no one to throw to. As I scanned downfield I could feel the rush loop around behind me. I panicked, thought about running, then deep in the secondary, behind all the coverage, was my best receiver, all alone and waving his arms. I hurled the ball to him 25 yards downfield, and every cell in my arm exploded in fire and pain.

The ball quietly dropped into his hands and he trotted into the end zone. A 50-yard pass play, like magic.

I told my friends, "I'm done." My arm was shot. I couldn't even lift it to wave bye.

Throwing that TD sparked the team to greater performance. NC State beat us 6-3, but we had spotted them 3 TDs. After I threw that pass, we were playing at the same level with a championship caliber team.

What I learned from that game was:

1. Warm up your arm before you play QB (dummy) and 2. You've got to believe you can win before you can win.

We were intimidated. But after I hobbled out and threw the touchdown, NC State seemed very human and not at all invincible.

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"Coach Art"

Started coaching in New Orleans in 1992. Won 3 flag city championships in 5 years. Master strategist. Here to help you win!

Essential Routes: Comeback

Running Clock

A True Story

"Coach Art"

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