Pre Game Practice Plan for Youth Football / Pre Game Routine

A reader of my football forum ask about a Pre Game Practice Plan for Youth Football / Pre Game Routine example so I wrote up a quick post. I decided to turn the FB post into a article so more youth football coaches can learn more about game plans & practice planning for youth football. Below is a simple pre game practice plan schedule and a real example.

Pre Game Practice Plan 60-90 minutes

• 15 minutes – Pre Warm Ups – QB / Center Snaps
• 05 minutes – Coach Team Talk / Attendance
• 10 minutes – Dynamic Warm Ups
• 15 minutes – Special Teams – KO / KR / Punt
• 05 minutes – Bathroom / Water Break
• 15 minutes – Defense Review – Main Formations, Blitz Calls Stunts
• 20 minutes – Offense Walk Thrus – Formations / Plays / Blocking Rules
• 05 minutes – Pre Game Coach Team Talk
• Game – Play for Fun and Winning is Funner!

I know many of you will say 90 minutes, really? We are trying to get everyone there one hour before the game and ready to play. If we do not say 90 minutes then there are always late comers. Plus 90 minutes gives us time to wake anyone up for an early game and still make the game. This has happened several times. Not to mention traffic and trains.

During this pre-game / late comer limbo period, usually about 20 to 30 minutes, we will start the QBs and Centers to start snapping and any running back that takes snaps. We will have the Receivers throwing to each other and the linemen working on their stances, steps and blocking rules. We will also be checking equipment, mouthpieces, chin straps, ankle braces and any injury issues we may have for the game.

Then we will move into a quick team talk and take attendance to start planning for any no shows. One coach will start calling or texting late players. Then we will get the team to start dynamic warm ups. This is the start of our real pre-game practice.

After dynamic warm ups will move quickly to Special Team line ups. Do not forget to do this. I watch too many coaches during the game yelling at players to line up correctly on Special Teams. We will do Kick Off and kick once or twice and then Kick Return. If we are punting much that season we will quickly set up Punt and Fake Punt. Punt Return will quickly be covered on Defense. We hardly ever set up a punt return except at 12U due to too many turnovers in the past trying to field / catch punts.

Usually after Special Teams many of the players need to use the bathroom, so we will send them to the bathroom, get water and address any lingering equipment, tardiness, and no show issues. If Centers stay we will practice snaps.

We then move to Defense and go over alignments with starters and subs. We then review any unique Defensive schemes for this opponent and remind everyone of their responsibilities and keys especially Defensive Ends playing Contain.

After Defense we will end with Offense. We will review starters, subs and main formations. Then we will run through our top plays. When doing walk thrus make sure the OLM are doing the correct steps for blocking calls.

We will adjust pre game practice times so Offense always gets their time no matter what.

Below is an example of a pre game practice plan for an 8/9U team.

Example of Pre Game Practice Plan

Here are more practice plan articles and practice plan templates.

Below is an Opponent Worksheet I used in Denver in 2008. We would have this filled out before the game and also try to fill out remaining pre game or after the game. You could also attach your summary scouting report to this.

Opponent Game Worksheet

Please leave me a comment below or contact me anytime. I love talking youth football, and how to be a better youth football coach using Pre Game Practice Plans for Youth Football. I especially love talking about old football formations like the Yale Single Wing or Beast Offense.

Remember to Play for Fun and Winning is Funner!
Coach Parker
Fort Worth, Texas / Keller / N Fort Worth

PS: Stay Safe & Be Nice.