Call motions in the huddle or not?

We don't normally call the motion for our pitchbacks, and usually don't for others who go in motion. They know where they have to be to make the play, so the formation tells them when to use motion. For example, if our H-back (who is going to get the pitch) is lined up opposite the play, he knows he needs to go in deep motion. If the formation has him towards the play, he knows he is either backing up or going in "twirl" motion--and we've told them which of those we're using before we go out.

We will call the motions early in preseason practice until it becomes second nature to them.

Ha this is a horrible question but lets say you don't tag a motion and your quarterback forgets all about it and never sends him? It's sad but it has happened a few times, hense I don't like to motion much.

An example of a long play call would be - Rice Falcon Right Idaho Deep 7 Chief Blackhawk 8 Dos.

Rice - unbalanced

Falcon Right - Formation

Idaho - Line Splits (tight A Gap)

Deep- Motion and sometimes we have may need to say Deep with a direction

7 Chief- Play and Line blocking scheme

Blackhawk- Back blocking scheme and creates the pitch man

8- Direction

Dos- On Two

Now sometimes we are considering making our falcon right automatic unbalanced.

There are games when we just tell the lineman to use Idaho splits against a certain defense.

I'm looking at how to get rid of motions especially out of different formations. Our base is actually double tight bone and if we can just sit in that and pound everyone we will and it's a nice lovely night. It's 7 Chief 8 all night. No formations, no tags, no motions.

Trust me we don't like having to use all these, the kids do learn them but it is difficult getting the plays in so we try to keep things as simple as possible but for us to maintain all the weapons we may need to be successful.

That is a mouthfull! Do the kids do better with picking things up on that system, or do they do better with called plays? For instance, in my current terminology, I might call something like Twins Right Z Over 36 power. Basically a simple off tackle power play with the slot receiver coming across in motion. For this the line needs to know the difference in blocking scheme between a simple iso call versus blast versus power. They tend to do fine, but a man has forgotten to pull more than once. I too have looked at the possibility of tagging blocking schemes for the linemen and nixing the play names. This same play might then be Twins Right, Z Over, Gold, 35. A simple iso would be the same only it would be "...Blue, 35". My running plays are not too complicated in either system, but passing plays in the "newer system" get a bit more complicated. Instead of a play like Pro right 44 veer pass, it might be Pro right, red 44, 897, 3-swing. Rather than being overly word-heavy it gets number heavy. I like to be able to break everything down for myself, but, as you said, can I count on plays getting in to the huddle correctly, etc? When it is all said and done, I think simpler is always better when working with high school students who have limited football knowledge and limited time for practice, etc.