No Huddle Question

Coach, we implemented the no huddle and let me tell you there is virtually no way the defense could figure out what side you are running or the play that is called. They think they know but they don't. If the defense is spending time trying to figure the code out they are not playing on their toes (especially if they are guessing). Send me your email and I will forward my phone number etc. so we may be in contact. I have also helped other staffs implement the no huddle and would be more than willing to do so if you are in our vicinity. It is alot of fun. You could have decoy words. One of our resources has been Mark McElroy of Saddleback College.

Jakeman,

Thanks for the input. I kind of figured the defense would be too busy to try and 'predict' what's coming. Even if they hear what they think is the play, they have to react and tell the others. By that time, we're into the secondary. Again thanks for the input.

-Coach G
email > MGIPSON2@Rialto.k12.ca.us

jakeman,
I would love to chat with you through email about what you've done.
BlakeSPreece@yahoo.com

Just became too much for what we're doing. We just have such a big package we didn't need it. It's still in our playbook but we only use it in a 2 min situation with a scaled down package.

Additionally, the big advantages of no huddle are

a) limits substitution (I haven't seen much of this in Hs for it to be needed)
b) limits defenses - we feel that our offense by it's very nature does that
c) pychological (this is the only HS advantage I see)

We studied our no huddle vs huddle stats they were about even so we didn't see a need. I may go back to it some day when I feel a need.

John Iannucci

The biggest drawback that I see, is not in calling the plays at the line. Where I see problems arising is HOW you signal them in from the side-line.

As a HS coach, a few years ago, we played a no-huddle team. We scouted them at their jamboree and learned their signals. We were able to watch the signals, and holler what the play was from the side-line. They made a few adjustments at 1/2 time, but by then it was too late, we had them beat. The final score was 27-0. They had less than 100 yds.

We ran a no-huddle for a few years at Taylor University. It was fairly effective. However, as a QB, I didn't feel that I could lead and encourage the team as well, without the huddle. There was also one game, where some guys were a bit psyched out b/c they thought that the other team knew what was coming.

It can be a very effective weapon, but you need to have some answers ready, if your system is figured out, so that you don't have to waste an entire 1/2.

Coach Teeter

Here is one idea: have two names to call a play. For example, you could call the FB trap Texas or Tucson. You can give the direction (right or left) a number of ways.
1) Simple coach that TEXAS is always the trap to the LEFT and TUCSON is always to the RIGHT.
OR
2) Give a call, before the play name, that gives the direction: RED, Tucson (red tells team that play is trap right);
3 TEXAS (3 is an odd number, play is trap left)
3) Some coaches simply signal in the play name and have an indicator as to where the play should be run (i.e.
hands above head, play goes to right; hands below belt, play goes to left

I feel that by having 2 calls, in addtion to some kind of direction call, the defense will not be sure what's going on. They will have a tought time deciphering which call is the play and which call is the direction. I would not worry about the defense picking up your code. For years we have been calling defense based on the offensive formation. We might make the same call for 2 or 3 formations, and no one has picked it up yet. If the other guys are spending time trying to decipher your code, they aren't spending enought time on the stuff that really wins games.

A great book to get is COACHING THE NO-HUDDLE OFFENSE by Mark McElroy. This book presents a fewsimple, but realistic ideas on this subject.
Hope this gives you some food for thought.

Coach Madden,

There the ones used with CAD drawings (on-screen) and also for digital signatures (signing a credit card receipt - a plug in device). The CAD type 'pen' has a small menu that you touch and transfer the shape to the 'notepad' it's pretty simple. I'm not sure of the name or product manufacturer, but I'll look into it and get back with a post.

Coach G.