Youth Flag Football Tutorial | Most Popular Defense Formation 5v5, 6v6, 7v7 | Top Defense Techniques

[@TheSae6]

Coached my first shutout game using this defense. It really works. It’s such a versatile formation that allows small adjustments in game depending on what you see fit. Thank you for the videos coach!

[@CoachD]

Np! My pleasure. Love to hear this - great job making those adjustments to shut them down. Can’t wait to hear about the next one!! 🏈🔥

[@mikeyg4625]

@thesae6 what league are you in here in San Diego?

[@KoovsKoovs]

Just won my first 6on6 35-12 as coach in a youth league. This defense formation was incredible. Locked everything down. The MLB was probably the most valuable.

[@hoffy7191]

Just finished our season a couple weeks ago, first time coaching 8U. 5th year coaching my son in 5v5. Every season I've coached him it's been a new group of kids, usually with about half the time being first time players. It's rough. We finished this season 1-7 unfortunately, but the team didn't look too terrible most of the time. It sucks when you have 9 kids on your roster, 3 or 4 never played before, some games only 5 or 6 would show up, and you play against teams that have been together the past 4 seasons and have 12-14 kids on their team. I think I'll try this defense out next season and see how it goes. Looks promising.

[@CoachD]

Been there ever since my son went into 5th grade and we moved to CO Springs from Castle Rock. We used to be that team that stuck together and it was so easy to accelerate their growth and sync season after season. Now I pride myself on taking on the newer players and finding a way to build their confidence in the fundamentals of the sport and life skills. So it’s an adjustment. You’re making a major impact in their lives win or lose, so keep it up!! Yes, give this a shot and shift around your players until you find their sweet spot - you’ll find it and then celebrate them as they surprise you. I like this for newer teams so you should be good. Thx for sharing coach! Looking forward to hearing more next season!

[@Kauaiboy13]

Coach D great stuff once again. I coach a 7 on 7 league, all pass plays, no qb rushing. Been playing a man with one high safety but been struggling against better teams. Would like to incorporate a good zone defense. What formation would you recommend to shut down a crossing drag route or those short quick crossing routes. My safety’s are quick and have great field awareness but I’d like to give an advantage to my other players that are struggling with man defense that are not as quick on their feet. Thanks in advance!

[@CoachD]

I just updated my 7v7 defense playbook to include recommendations just like this. Sorry for the delay. I like a 2-3-2 with my 2 LBs 3 yards off, the MLB and 2 CBs 7 yards off, then 2 safeties about 10 yards off - depending on. I’d have a top player in that MLB position to shut down that quick crossing route with additional CB coverage to contain the sidelines. Check out the defense playbook here: flagfootballwithcoachd.com/products/coach-ds-complete-coach-defense-playbook-new-and-popular This one also includes the clipboard from the video: flagfootballwithcoachd.com/products/defense-plays-and-clipboard

[@reddhole3422]

Would you change this at all in a 6V6 league where: 1) Defense must line up 5 yards off the ball 2) Blitz line is 10 yards back 3) QB can run when blitzed Also, how often do you have the blitzer go from the QB's non-throwing arm side (allows the QB to roll to their preferred way)? Maybe occasionally to mix it up if the QB starts automatically rolling that way?

[@0342CMK]

Thanks for the information. Our 7 V 7 is a little different as it's prep for tackle, so full pad but with flags. So offfensive guards and center can't go out for passes. We haven't played any games yet but thinking of doing a 2-4-1 or 2-3-2 since the guards have to be head up or lined up on their outside shoulder. Also no blitzing. Field is 33yd wide so thinking 4 might be too many in the middle. Any Advice?

[@CoachD]

Depending on the deep threat you may need to drop 2 safeties. I like both and being able to quickly adjust to the QBs arm and number of top receivers they have. With 2-4-1 you can contain the mid to deep ball keeping most plays in front of the offense. I would start with 2-3-2 and bring a safety up if they are either effective in running or doing 5-10 quick shots and eating up quick yardage.

[@shelbymustang3049]

I’m trying the Husker D tomorrow! 🏈

[@CoachD]

How did it go? Had a ton of coaches reach out with positive feedback. How did your team do with it?

[@shelbymustang3049]

@@CoachD Hey Coach, unfortunately we didn’t get to implement it yet but I will implement it for our practice this week and for the playoffs. Defense wins Championships! We’ll see 🏆

[@tedsamgus]

We have to be 10 yards out to blitz. I'm not sure this will work for me just because my safety will be the only one able to blitz. Your thoughts and thanks in advance!

[@CoachD]

If you want to mix up your rusher then would line up the CBs, MLB 10 yards off vs. 7 to confuse the QB. Then when the ball is snapped all 3 run up (the rusher continues to the QB) the other 2 run to the position I describe in this video to ensure their zones are covered. That way the Safety can do the same and line up 12-15 yards back and when the ball is snapped move into position. You can experience with this during practice to get it down and make sure you have full coverage while still honoring the 10 yard blitz rule. Thoughts?

[@tedsamgus]

@CoachD best dame idea yet thanks coach, that will send the league for a loop!!

[@emmettmortgage]

How do you play against a high tempo passing team? Can you still play zone if you get up on the line with them vs giving them cushion?

[@CoachD]

I would match up my CBs (2 and 4) with their top 2 receivers and take them away from their offense. If I’m making any adjustments from the Husker I just need to make sure they are matched up and can keep up with their best players. So I would give 2 and 4 those matchups. Then allow 1 to keep the run in check with the front zone, allow 3 to cover side to side in the middle and keep 5 and 6 deep to provide deep protection in case one of the CBs gets burned. This will allow for gap coverage while taking away their best WRs. What have you been doing against this type of offense?

[@emmettmortgage]

@@CoachD Ive never seen it before until this season. Usually teams run shotgun and drop back or run the ball, misdirection, etc, ie fairly predictable. In all the seasons Ive coached I thought Ive seen it all...until this group. That team gets the ball out fast. Like super fast. 1-2 yard passes with YAC if they arent covered up. I think just by playing up on the line with my current D will be fine. I dont want two safeties because of their quick hits, and very few play safety coverage well. It was the first game of the season and other teams we beat have beat them, so maybe it was just the novelty that threw me. Ill coach em up on coverage and I think we will be fine.

[@leeschuetz]

It depends on your personnel and matchups, but if they're spreading the field horizontally, another option could be to force/bait them into what they don't want to do. Maybe tweak it into a 2-3-2, spreading your DL out a little wider. Take away the quick hits outside and force everything back to the middle where there's help. It's stealing from tackle football defenses some but get comfortable with bend don't break.

[@florianseibert6438]

Would you recommend this even if blitzing is not allowed?

[@CoachD]

Absolutely! It provides great coverage across the field. Good question! 🏈🔥

[@gatherblast5080]

What if you have 3 fast guys and 3 slow guys how would position them

[@CoachD]

Depends on what you see from the offense. Safety is always your fast player. MLB is fast and depending on which side their best players are on I’d put my other fast player as CB on the side of their fast players. Does that help? In my defense playbook I tell you which players to put in which position. Good question.

[@wfrost24]

What happens if all the players run a fly route ?

[@robertphillips1474]

What age group do you think this works best for?

[@CoachD]

I like to keep 4-1 until 2nd grade when it’s primarily run. Then I’d move to this at 3rd or 4th grade depending on the type of offense I’m playing. If they are starting to pass heavier - earlier, then I will likely introduce this at practice and make the appropriate adjustment based on what I see during their first offensive series.

[@emmettmortgage]

You didnt address 6v6

[@CoachD]

Coach, I know you’ve been using this from the beginning. And yes, I mentioned you add that 2nd safety in the back and split the field with them both giving full coverage across the back of the defense making sure nothing is behind them. All else stays the same. Is that what you have found to be effective (outside of the recent question about the high tempo offense)?

[@emmettmortgage]

@@CoachD Last season we had 4 shutouts with it. So it works! This season I really was on my heels playing against that high tempo passing team. We play them again at the end of the season, so at least we know what they are gonna do. We have been doing well with the 1-4-1 variation. Great flag puller on nose. Good corners in zone. One super fast rusher. My best athlete at Safety and one floater I can put in weaker kids. They can rush, hang out in zone or whatever, they just take up space for the QB to think about. What was killing me against that team was the quick passes and they ate up the cushion quick and were high tempo and I could not sub. I dont want to have to go to man, and I think I can cover them up and play zone.