Systems and Personalities...

1) Your offensive system and why;

A: I (70%), Gun (15%) and Single Wing (15%) for a change of pace - As a youth coach (10-12) I began utilizing Coach Campbell's I back and Single wing offenses several years ago. I'm going to attempt to put in a couple of option plays (10/11 midline and 12/13 veer to the openside) this year, so it should make for an interesting and hopefully fun year on that side of the ball. I have yet to see a youth team run a true triple option well and realize the challenge of teaching it at this age level, but am very much looking forward to giving it a shot. I'm very fortunate to have Coach Campbell and his coaching staff available across town for guidance!

2) Your defensive system and why;

A: Reduced 50 Base (Weak Eagle) and 5-2 with the SS walked up as a monster. We'll also play a 31 as a different look if we need to drop seven into coverage or apply blitz pressure. I grew up playing high school ball in a 50 defense which initially led me to install it as our base defense due to my familiarity with it. Although I've learned a little more about the game since then, I still find it to be a great defense at the youth level.

3) Your personality type (as you see yourself);

A: Overall like many of you, I'd describe both my personality off the field as well as on as being conservative. Since becoming a youth football coach, I've learned the value of teaching solid techniques through as many repetitions as possible. The one area I'm considered very aggressive in is what I expect my kids to learn and apply about the game. I've found that the vast majority of kids in the 6th grade can gain a pretty good grasp on concepts many coaches think are too complex. That's definitely where I find the most satisfaction - teaching what many believe is too difficult to teach at that age. If you've got the time to devote to it like I'm fortunate enough to have, I encourage any of you coaching kids to coach what you know but don't underestimate what the young ones can pick up if you can punch the right button!

4) Your gut reaction to 'game turning events' (i.e. Aggressive - opponent is driving for a go ahead score and you are blitzing instead of playing deep prevent - or - Conservative - You are up one score before the half and you run out the clock on the opponents side of the field - or - somewhere in between - use your own words) **"it depends on the situation" is not allowed. Just think about all of those situations from the last year and tell us what you did the majority of the time.

A: Defensively, particularly because of the age level I coach at, I'd always prefer to "go down swinging" by applying as much pressure I can apply. Offensively, if field position is on my side, I'm not one to run out the clock in the first half. Success in games at our level are very often predicated (as you might guess) by big plays, so the number of quality snaps we get on offense increases the possibility of breaking a big play.

I'd also like to say that I've learned a great deal from many of you that post on this board over the past year. As a youth coach there's obviously a lot that's either way over my head or not really applicable to the situations I come across, but I'm always interested in trying to learn more about the game and then take on the challenge of refining and simplifying it enough to suit an 11 year old's mentality. I wish you all the best of luck next season and in your careers as coaches. I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to have Coach Campbell coaching here in my hometown and to have Coach Lansdell visiting here soon as well. It's the best game there is and I am lucky to have the opportunity to learn about it from all of you outstanding coaches!