Using Wristbands in a no huddle system

We have done both with our teams. We have given them all wristbands and made them look over, and then we have just given them to the Lb's to make the call. We would practice all we using them to force the kids to look over to the side lines to get the signals. It does work but I agree that it does limit you to what you can call. We basically use them now in a 2 min. drill situation.

Coach Could you send me your ideas and more examples of what you do? I'm trying to keep it simple for the kids to understand and execute. please email me at rjarvis1@cfl.rr.com
Thanks. HawkDC

Does anyone run a 4-4 defense and utilize the wrist coaches?
If so how might you organize and call your wrist coaches?
An e-mail of an example wrist coach would be appreciated dcaldwell@hvrsd.k12.nj.us

thanks,
DC

We are a Wide Tackle-6 front, and we have done this many years (before the no-huddle offense became popular). We do it without giving our kids any wrist coach or other aid. We feel taht it takes too much time to look at the formation, then check a chart on a wrist band to see what call to run.
After going through the scouting report and determing what and where the offense likes to run out of each formation, we decide what the 2 best fronts and stunts are for each formation. We don't necessarily try to stop every thing cold in its tracks. We try to come up with calls that will put defenders where the ball is going. If we can use a front/stunt combo for more than one formation we do, since it will make life easier for the signal caller. For example: we might simply slant to the TE vs all 2-back sets (if scouting report says they like to run to the TE).
Vs 1-back formations we usually have 2 different calls. One is a SAFE all where we might run a simple line stunt and back it up with zone defense. The other call might be an attack call where we stunt a number of folks and back it up with pure man.
The key is that no matter what we do, these calls are not "gourmet" or complicated stunts; it's all basic stuff from our package. if we do run something complicated, we give it a 1-word name that identifies it. An example of this is JAILBREAK. When this defense is called, the kids know it it always from a 4-4 front; it 's always a strong OLB stunt and a weak LB stunt and that we are playing man-to-man. One word tells the entire defense what we're doing.
We start practicing these calls by aligning up a scout offense vs the LB's, OLB's and secondary. We show the formation, and then tell the caller what call we want and where. When we get to our group run period, we have the scout offense simply align in different formations and go through the calls. The offense will have a full team, but they do not run plays; they simply align and snap the ball. The call is made, and the defense runs the called defense. In team defense, the scout team will run the formations and plays we want to see. On Tuesdays we work only on the first call for each formation. On Wenesday we intoroduce the second call (during pre-practice skellys). During the combo and team periods we will have the kids alternate between the first call and the second call.
We rarely find ouselves calling a timeout to adjust to a formation unless it's something we have never seen. Sometimes, if surprised, the call might not be the best call; but it's better than leaving gaps or people uncovered.
We eventually got to the point where we could change calls every series or quarter. With some groups we were able to add a third call or totally change a call during the game.
Hope this helps. Post any questions you have.

Coach Mikell, Regarding the call sheet mt email is keith.ragan@baesystems.com



Thanks