5 Tips to Improve Your Football Game Plan

• By Andrew Dohre

One of the most important pieces of advice I ever received came from my high school coach: "Give me players, not plays." This sentiment has stuck with me throughout my career, and I think it resonates with many coaches at every level of football. A great player can make us look like geniuses as coaches, but those players depend on us to have a solid plan in place that sets them up for success.

But what does a truly great game plan look like? The value of an excellent game plan goes far beyond simply calling the right plays at the right time. It’s the difference between crossing your fingers and hoping that the next play works and knowing that you will be successful because you and your staff have put the work in and set your players up for success.

The process of game planning might differ based on the team, level of play, or situation, but there are key principles that apply at all levels. Here are five essential tips that can make a huge difference in your football game planning process.

1. Understand how much Time you HaveHave

One of the biggest challenges of game day prep is the limited amount of time available. Coaches not only have to worry about the time on the clock once the game starts, but have to maximize the time in the week leading up to game day to ensure a good football game plan. This includes balancing practice time to get players familiar with the plays, time for film for players and coaches to be able to recognize and react to situations for game day, and time for recovery so players are physically and ready for game day. Implementing time management to balance all of these situations coaches go through on a weekly basis is crucial in ensuring you get the most out of your practice sessions and that you’re adequately prepared for the game.

As Andy Kotelnicki, the offensive coordinator at Penn State, has pointed out, the key to a successful game plan starts with time management. Whether you have a week or just a few days to prepare, you need to be intentional with the time you have.

Start by assessing your available time and then break down how you’ll break it up into different parts of your preparation process. Focus on the areas that will have the most impact on your performance first, but don't neglect the little things that add up. Time spent on film study, reviewing past games, or even a quick chat with your players can all add value to the preparation process.

Effective time management will allow you to maximize your team’s potential and ensure that you are doing everything necessary to put your players in a good position to win on game day.

2. Divide and Conquerquer

Game planning is a massive task, and trying to do it all yourself can quickly become overwhelming. Whether you have a large coaching staff or you’re flying solo, splitting the work up is an essential part of the process. A strong coaching staff works together to bring different skills and perspectives to the table.

Successful teams at all levels use the divide and conquer method with their staffing responsibilities. Even if your staff is small, dividing responsibilities ensures that each area of the game plan gets the attention it deserves. 

Take a page from six-time state champion coach Jason Mohns’ playbook, where he implements this strategy saying how his team at Saguaro High School divides up the work. Each coach takes ownership of a segment of the game plan, whether it’s offense, defense, special teams, or specific positions.

This allows coaches to hone in on their areas of expertise and ensures that no aspect of the game is neglected. It also helps foster collaboration and communication within your staff, which is essential for ensuring that all parts of your game plan align.

3. Evaluate and Adjustjust

What looks great on paper might not always translate to success on the field. And that’s okay—game planning is not a one-time event, it’s a fluid and ever changing process. When implementing your plan, you need to continuously evaluate and adjust it based on how things are working during practice.

Jim Collins, former offensive coordinator at the University of Dayton and current head coach of Wittenberg University, emphasizes the importance of tracking efficiency throughout the week. By grading practices, calculating success rates, and analyzing player performance, you can identify what’s working and what’s not. Are certain plays consistently producing positive results? Are there areas of your game plan that aren’t translating well during practice? 

Evaluating throughout the week also allows you to adjust your game plan for unforeseen circumstances. If you have injuries, weather concerns, or an opponent whose tactics differ from what you expected, adjusting the game plan on the fly is crucial for ensuring your team is always prepared for any situation.

4. Make Sure Players are Getting Touchesches

Putting players in a position to succeed is the most important thing for a coach, and it starts by making sure players get the ball enough to make things happen. A game plan is only as good as the players executing it, so one of the best things you can do as a coach is to ensure that your key players get the opportunities they need to make an impact on the field.

Exemplifying this, Mississippi State running backs coach Eric Mele, who works within Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, explains how the offense is designed to make sure playmakers are getting the touches they need to make a difference. 

Mike Leach’s Offense may have a pass-heavy structure, but the goal is always to put the players in a position to succeed—whether that means passing to a wide receiver or handing the ball to a running back. Tracking and planning how much you get your playmakers the ball will make an immediate difference in your program.

A great game plan doesn’t just focus on plays—it focuses on players. Giving them the touches they need to shine is what will set you apart on game day.

5. Set Parametersters

The idea of putting parameters on your game plan might seem restrictive at first, but it can actually be one of the most effective strategies for ensuring a focused and efficient approach. By setting clear boundaries around how much offense (or defense) you’re going to carry into a game, you’re forcing yourself and your coaching staff to make better decisions.

Brian Billick, former NFL head coach, advocates for this kind of structured discipline in his book on game planning. When you limit the number of plays, formations, and schemes you’re using, you avoid overwhelming your team with too much information. Coach Keith Grabowski, host of the Coach and Coordinator Podcast, goes on to talk about this strategy in his course.

To help with this, use technology to simplify the process. Many coaching tools allow you to quickly script and organize your plays, which saves time and minimizes the chance of confusion. With everything laid out, you can quickly see how each part of your game plan fits together.

By focusing on quality over quantity, you’ll be able to deliver a well-rehearsed game plan that your players can execute with confidence and precision.

Overviewview

As football coaches know, a winning game plan is the result of hard work, collaboration, and careful consideration. By using these five tips—understanding your time constraints, dividing the work among your staff, continuously evaluating and adjusting, making sure your players get the touches they need, and setting clear parameters—you’ll be able to craft a game plan that positions your team for success.

Remember, the key to success isn’t just in executing plays—it’s in putting your players in the best possible position to win. With a well-thought-out game plan, you’ll be ready to take on any challenge that comes your way.