High school football plays that install in one week
High school offenses win with a small number of concepts run from many looks. You have limited practice time, a roster that turns over every year, and a quarterback who may only start for two seasons. This is the concept list that consistently produces on Friday night.
Levels covered: High school
Six run concepts that carry a season
Run these from every formation you have before you add a seventh.
- —Inside zone — your base. Double team to the backer, one cut.
- —Outside zone / stretch — stresses pursuit and sets up the cutback.
- —Power — down blocks plus a pulling guard; the answer to an odd front.
- —Counter (GT) — two pullers, misdirection, best short-yardage call in high school.
- —Quarterback draw or duo — makes the defense account for eleven.
- —Jet sweep — punishes slow-flowing linebackers and sets up everything off motion.
Pass concepts that beat the coverages you'll see
Most Friday opponents play Cover 3, Cover 2, or man-free. Carry one beater for each.
- —Four verticals — the Cover 3 seam killer.
- —Mesh — beats man, sits down against zone. The most forgiving concept in football.
- —Smash — high-low on the corner, great against Cover 2.
- —Stick / snag — fast, reads the flat defender, safe on third and short.
- —Play-action deep cross — off your best run action, once a half.
Defensive calls that hold up
Pick one front and two coverages. A 4-2-5 with Cover 3 and a man pressure covers nearly every high school offense you'll face, and it lets your players play fast instead of thinking.
Building the call sheet
Script your first fifteen. Keep an openers list, a third-and-short list, a red-zone list, and two must-have shots. Anything you cannot fit on one laminated sheet is not in the game plan.
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