Game planning and calling plays can sometimes be the most stressful parts of coaching but they don't have to be that way if you have a solid game plan in place.

There are really just two types of game plans.

1. Plans for teams that you have scouted or have film on.

2. Plans for teams that you have not seen and are not able to see any film.

Typically the first game of the year in high school – unless there are scrimmage games – fall under the second category. After that, if your league has a film policy most teams will get at least a couple of games film or be able to send a coach to film the weeks prior game. Here are some things to keep in mind for game planning in general.

1. KISS – Keep it simple stupid. This is one I didn't do so well early on because I just couldn't say no to plays that I loved. It might be the best play in football in your opinion, but if it's too difficult or doesn't fit into your scheme, you shouldn't be including it. The fewer blocking schemes you have, the better you will be at running them. Even professional teams may run only 5-6 run schemes, so water that down to HS and you probably should only have 2-3. You can always add more later but if you add them all early and don't learn any of them well you are now in a hole you have to dig yourself out of. At the youth level many successful teams only have two schemes. Think punch/counter punch. So if you run power, your #2 play could be toss. You now can attack inside and outside.

2. Watch Film – Preferrably with your staff is best. Setting aside that time to make sure you are all seeing the same things is critical. HUDL makes this seem like it isn't necessary but coaches that don't do it may be missing out on some things or struggling to be all on the same page.

3. Draw it up – This is my #1 strategy because until you draw up plays against a defense, You don't have the complete picture of what strategically puts you in the best postion to succeed. Off of that you identify the formations that are ideal for that week's game plan. I've even gone as far as drawing up all the plays against their fronts to help me visualize our offense and keeping it on a few sheets in a sheet protector on the sideline.

4. Don't chase ghosts – I got tip this from another football podcast and I think it is a wise strategy. What it means is that when you make a game plan, make it for what you know. Don't try to anticipate everything they might possibly ever do. Build your gameplan on what you know. If you don't know anything on them yet, keep it really simple with multiple punch counter-punch play packages. One of the two plays is bound to be good and when they stop that you use your counterpunch.

5. Stick with what you know – Don't try to run other teams plays. It may be tempting when you see it work on film but those plays are part of their system and personnel and the circumstance will be very different for your team. We just don't know what all the variables will be and trying to copy someone else

Throughout the season it is essential to have someone write down all of your plays calls during each game. If you can get it into HUDL or another kind of play tracking system, then you can do a self-scout breakdown – which is always helpful for game planning. Here's a sample sheet you can create or print and copy if you like.

One season, I took all the plays and the results and Down and Distance and put it into a generic spreadsheet – before we had HUDL. The more data you can include, the more you can sort it and see the results. If you can't do that, just looking over your game sheet where you recorded all the plays can be huge. Good defensive coordinators are going to use at least your last 3 games to get your tendencies. They will then factor this into their defensive calls. Ex. If you are 80% pass on 2nd and long, they will be much more ready to dial up a blitz. Know this and be prepared in advance by having solid checks for blitz situations or special plays that break your tendencies. Beyond this, they are watching your games against teams that are either most similar to them or where other teams were most effective against your offense. I always assume that they have access even if we didn’t trade, because they probably do! Checking back also help you track and measure your most and least successful plays. This can be a red flag for plays that are not working so you can figure out why and make the changes you need. It will also give you confidence on what your identity is with the plays that are successful.

One other note you should consider. If you find that every team you face you are drawing up a bunch of new plays, then you are becoming a “flavor of the month” offense. Your execution and confidence will drop and you will inevitably struggle. The base plays in the Pro-Spread are all able to be run against any front/blitz/stunt. Once your team has mastered the base plays, you can dress up your offense with other wrinkles, but you will know that all your bases are covered no matter what call you make. I am not talking about formations as much as blocking schemes and backfield actions. Formations, can be changed or modified as needed game to game to get better matchups or angles.

Here are the steps to building a solid game plan:

Download Defensive Scouting Sheet Here

Draw up your opponent’s alignments vs. their opponent’s formations. Identify their base defense. You will need a formation sheet ready with data fields for you to write in all details of the plays you are identifying. Include their favorite blitzes and stunts. The more of this you do the better. I had a coach who when I was a Graduate assistant at Trinity International had me go through 4 games of drawing up every single play on paper and labeling each play. It was tedious, but yet still fun because I knew I was learning football. That's why I suggest drawing up the play. You are forced to take note of every little detail pertaining to the other team. This can play big dividends when you build the scouting report. So I do as much of it as I can to prepare for an opponent.

Identify your opponent’s coverages and checks. Know that they may change based on blitzes and formations. Again, this is all summarized when you draw it up, but specifically look for keys to blitz movement. Defenders who have to change their zone or assignment will need to move out of a base position to get to where they need to go and cheating pre-snap is sometimes necessary. Watch for safeties moving pre-snap laterally or even moving up closer. All defenses are based on three numbers. 3-5-3 for example. This tells me that they have 3 down lineman – 5 linebackers – 3 defensive backs deep over the top. Identify each of these for each play you break down. Teams that are deep third teams vs Cover 2 – deep half teams will have different weaknesses downfield.

Identify your opponent’s personnel. I will actually draw up their numbers on their base formation to see who is in each position. Find out who is a difference maker and who is not yet ready for prime time that you can attack. This is helpful with a roster sheet. Just start making notes next to each players name as you watch. I look for how aggressive a player is to begin with. We will run toward less aggressive athletes. I also look to see how they move. Can they change direction well forward and backward or laterally side to side. Size is another factor you want to take note of if it's a factor. Finally, how do they react to keys. Do they come up on run quickly and who are they reading. If they read backs, make sure you run counters and good fakes. If they read the line, have some some false keys, play actions and reverses.

Starting with your base runs, determine if you need to make any adjustments to scheme, personnel, formation, motions and shifts. What puts you in the best situation? Try not to get too carried away here with new material. Start writing your game plan script. We always keep our base and then add one or two variations to the scheme. The reason for this is because we never want to change up too much and lose our effectiveness. But adding one little variation can mix it up just enough for the defense to question their keys.
Look at your pass plays vs. their coverage scheme. Which one’s will find the holes or seams in their coverage? Pick out the best pass plays you have and list them according to the situation you prefer to run them (short yardage, third and long, etc.). Make sure they match up with your previously chosen run formations. Start your passing script.
Pick your auxiliary plays…screens and draws. Look for the numbers advantage. Use formations, motions and the playcall to put you in the best situation.
Pick a couple of trick plays. Then decide when you will run them! Commit to calling them the first time you see the situation you are looking for early because you are wasting time if you practice them but never run them. Use another coach to remind you and keep you accountable to call it.

At this stage you have a list of plays in each category. Finish up your lists either adding or removing if you have too many or too few. To know how many plays you need in each category, break down a few of your own games tracking the number times you call each play. Remember that simpler is always better. Also go by the 5 minute rule. If it will take longer then 5 minutes to teach your team, it's not worth it and should be scrapped.
Rewrite out your list by formation for planning purposes. Star plays that require additional instruction in the classroom or walk-through time. Revise list according to scheduled practice time.

Practice Day #1: Explain and walk through by formation versus scout defense.

Practice Day #2: Big work day. Run through on air, then with bags until the memory work is done. Finish up with some thud work but only against their base defense. Do not throw blitzes or a ton of variety at them yet.

Practice Day’s #3 on: Use scripting and reflection of team practice sessions to further revise play lists until you have a final game plan that everyone is comfortable running! Add in blitz and stunt situations showing them what they like to do. Don't get carried away and show them everything. Just be able to run against their main looks.

Scouting Reports: These things can easily get out of hand if you create them for your players. Just make sure you keep things simple. If they can feel like they can master the scouting report and the game plan then they will be confident. Confident players play fast and fast players win games! One recommendation I do have is to pick one focal point for the game to emphasize all week offensively. We call them the "Key's to the game." Highlight these in your scouting reports.

Sample Offensive Scouting Report - Taken from Football Offense Talk Group