This page showcases in great detail the 10 best youth football plays. These run plays work very well on the youth football level. If you’re looking for plays to build an offense around, any of these best youth football plays will work.
In this content will break down each play in great detail. We will talk about blocking schemes, about the formation, execution, showcase game film, and have play diagrams. I have used all these plays at some point in my coaching career. I still use many of these plays today!
Click below the desired play to jump right to it:
Power is a staple in most youth football playbooks. It is one of the best youth football plays. It can be executed in various ways and out of multiple formations. The 10 best youth football plays list wouldn’t be accurate without Power! The 10 best youth football plays – here’s an overview of the Power Play:
Formation and Execution:
The Power Play is typically run out of a formation like the I-formation, Single-back formation, double wing, wing t, wishbone, direct snap formations, or even from shotgun formations. The front side of Power usually features a double team on the point of attack and the backside guard wrapping / pulling.
Pulling Guard: One of the key features of the Power Play is the pulling of the backside guard. The backside guard (the guard opposite of play-side) will wrap (pull across the formation) to lead block for the running back. Usually the backside wrap puller will block the play-side linebacker or middle linebacker.
Kick-out Player: Usually you will have a full-back, H-back, or even the TE kick-out the edge defender. The kick-out player will be determined by the formation. For example, Power out of the I-formation will have the FB kick-out the DE, whereas in a spread formation, the H-back will probably kick-out the DE.
Running Back’s Role: The running back’s role is to follow the backside guard wrapping. The RB will hit the designated gap, which is usually off the inside hip of the pulling guard or the kick-out blocker.
I-formation Power
Power out of the off-set I-formation is my favorite way to run Power. You get a double on the play-side defensive tackle. The F will kick-out the defensive end / contain player, and the backside guard will wrap and block the play-side linebacker. This is easy to install and will work on any age level of youth football. This is definitely one of the best youth football plays.
Power out of 20 Personnel
I love power out of 20 personnel as well! It allows you to spread the field while maintaining a strong inside run threat because of the H. He is pretty much like a TE. The same blocking rules apply- regardless of formation. You can also take the S and line him up on the left side and run power. This will force the defense to take another play-side defender out of the box. We have a really good 20 Personnel Playbook.
Below is a link to a fantastic article we written on different formations to run power out of. The article features blocking rules, formation, play diagram, and video breakdown.
Why Run Power.. Key Advantages:
Physicality: The Power Play is known for its physicality. It’s an off-tackle gap scheme run play that will give your kids great blocking angles and leverage at the point of attack.
Versatility & Variations: This play can be adapted to gain more substantial yardage by adjusting blocking angles and the point of attack. There are several different blocking combinations that can be utilized on the Power run play. Coaches may implement variations of the Power Play to keep the defense guessing. This might include changing the side of the pulling guard, incorporating play-action passes off the same formation, or adding misdirection elements like counters and reverses.
Control: By pulling a guard and using a lead blocker, the offense has better control over the point of attack and can create running lanes for the ball carrier. Pulling the backside guard will get you an extra blocker at the point of attack.
The Power Play is a fundamental running play in football, known for its simplicity and effectiveness in gaining tough yards. Out of the 10 best plays for youth football, power is definitely one of the best ones. The play-action passing concepts off of Power hit big!
The counter play in football is a deceptive running play designed to misdirect and confuse the defense. It involves the ball carrier initially moving in one direction (usually towards the strong side of the offensive line) before quickly changing direction and cutting back to the weak side of the line. The counter play is often effective because it capitalizes on the defense’s pursuit to the strong side, creating opportunities for the ball carrier to find running lanes on the backside of the play.
The success of the counter play depends on the timing, coordination, and blocking of the offensive line and lead blockers and/ or pullers. It is a staple in many offensive playbooks and is often used strategically to keep the defense guessing and to complement other main running plays. The 10 best plays for youth football – here’s how the counter play typically works:
Formation and Execution: You should always have a counter play off of your best base run play. For example, a good 1-2 punch would be running Power, then Counter. Counter will look like Power in the initial steps, but end up going opposite. Counter plays are best executed when youth football defenders are reading the backfield- which is the case 99% of the time.
Blocking Schemes: The offensive line executes specific blocking assignments to create running lanes on the backside of the play. This often involves “down blocking” on the strong side, where the offensive linemen block the defenders to the inside, while a pulling offensive lineman or lead blocker goes to the weak side to clear a path for the ball carrier. This counter can be executed to the short side of the field as well.
Here is a great video of Counter out of 20 Personnel Formation:
Cutback Lane: The counter play is designed to create a cutback lane for the ball carrier, allowing them to exploit the weak side of the defensive formation. The ball carrier reads the blocking and defensive flow to determine the best cutback angle.
The jet sweep is a popular and effective play that emphasize speed, misdirection, and attacks the perimeter of the field. It’s designed to get a fast and agile ball carrier in motion across the formation before the snap, with the goal of quickly advancing the ball to the outside edge of the defense. Jet is our favorite play on this 10 best players for youth football list. Here’s an overview of the jet sweep play:
Motion: The key feature of the jet sweep is the FULL SPEED pre-snap motion. A wide receiver or running back starts in a position wide of the offensive formation and goes in full speed motion across the backfield towards the quarterback. He will take the handoff from the QB and get outside. It’s important to note that the jet motion player cannot go or lean forward until the ball is snapped.
Blocking: The offensive line, tight ends, and sometimes fullbacks or H-backs block to create running lanes for the jet sweep ball carrier, by reach blocking to the playside. They may use zone-blocking or man-blocking techniques, depending on the play design.
Heavy Right Jet Sweep
This is Jet Sweep out of our heavy formation. On heavy, we bring our TE over to the SE side (now he’s not eligible because he is covered by the SE). If you don’t want to bring your TE over you can go tackle over. So if we call heavy right our LT will go over, and vise versa. We’ve had a ton of success running Jet Sweep out of this formation. Below is a video of us running Jet Power with our ‘Charley’ tag called. This just tells the SE and play-side wing they are switching blocking responsibilities.
Spread Formation (2×2) Jet Sweep
Here’s Jet Sweep out of a spread formation. Running it out of the spread formation will allow you to stretch the field horizontally, allow for more running lanes inside. Running Jet out of a spread formation will actually help set up the complement plays inside or any play-action off of Jet Sweep. For example, if you see the S is flying out of there and making a play on Jet, just have the QB keep the ball inside- run QB Iso (T lead blocking for the Q).
Why run Jet Sweep… Key Advantages:
Speed and Misdirection: The jet sweep is designed to capitalize on the speed and agility of the ball carrier and create confusion among the defenders. The motion before the snap often forces defenders to shift their positions quickly or get burnt. This play forces the defense to react quickly or else get beat outside for big yardage.
Stretches the Defense Horizontally: By getting the ball to the outside quickly, the jet sweep stretches the defense horizontally, which can open up running lanes and passing opportunities elsewhere on the field.
Big-Play Potential: A well-executed jet sweep can result in significant gains and even touchdowns because of the ball carrier’s speed and the element of surprise. The jet sweep player receivers the ball running full speed, while the defender are standing still! The great thing about Jet Sweep is you can get outside just as fast as a Toss Sweep Play and not have to worry about the pitch execution.
Sets up Counters / Complements: Jet Sweep is one of the 10 best youth football plays not only because it gets your athletes the ball in space quickly, but because it sets up other completes off of it. You can fake jet sweep and run Counter, power, inside zone, buck, or trap. The jet motion forces the defense to react and shift, many times leading to them over-shifting. On the youth football level all the defenders will have their eyes on the motion player- which means you can use him to deceive the defense.
Versatility: The jet sweep can be run with various formations and personnel packages, making it a versatile play for offensive coordinators. The best thing about Jet is that you only really need to block two-three defenders to gain big time yardage. You can to get the play-side DE, OLB and CB blocked.
Play-action Passing: The play-action passing off of Jet Sweep is explosive. The best play-action off of Jet Sweep is Post-Wheel. Here’s a video breakdown of the Post-Wheel play off of Jet Sweep action:
The success of the Jet Sweep depends on precise timing, blocking execution, and the ball carrier’s ability to make quick decisions based on the defense’s movements. It’s a play that can be a valuable addition to an offensive playbook, especially when used strategically to exploit the defense’s weaknesses on the perimeter. I will say that the Jet Sweep motion timing does take some practice- it needs lots of reps and the timing will vary based on age.
The “Iso” play, short for “Isolation,” one of the best plays in football because it is simple. It’s designed to create a one-on-one blocking situation at the point of attack, with the goal of opening up a running lane for the ball carrier. The lead blocker will block the play-side linebacker- the defender they are Isolating. This is also known as Lead or Insert. Out of the 10 best youth football playss, this play is probably the simplest. Here’s how the Iso play works:
Formation and Execution:
The Iso play can be run from various offensive formations, but it often involves a fullback or H-back positioned in front of the running back (usually a halfback or tailback) in a two-back set, such as the I-formation or pro set. The FB or H-back will lead block through the hole, blocking the play-side outside linebacker.
Blocking Scheme: The key feature of the Iso play is the “isolation” block. Here’s how it typically unfolds:
The offensive line will block straight ahead, with each offensive lineman responsible for blocking the defender in front of them.
– The fullback or H-back, often referred to as the lead blocker, will lead through the hole and engage the linebacker.
– The running back follows the lead blocker and aims to hit the designated running lane, which is typically off the inside hip of the lead blocker. The running back’s job is to read the block and make a decisive cut to exploit any opening created by the lead blocker’s block.
Strong ISO
The best thing about Iso is that it’s simple and it’s downhill. It’s a play where everyone just base blocks and the Fullback leads through the hole and Isoing the play-side S backer.
Spread Quarterback Iso
QB ISO out of a spread formation is a great way to utilize a mobile QB. Spread the field and hit the defense inside! If they don’t respect or match the receivers outside you can through the bubble or even run a now screen.
Why run ISO… Key Advantages:
Physicality: The Iso play is known for its physicality. It’s a power running play that relies on strong blocking at the point of attack. It’s a simple downhill run that works well on all age levels of youth football.
Short-Yardage Situations: The Iso play is often used in third-and-short or goal-line situations when the offense needs to pick up just a few yards for a first down or to score. It’s a fast hitting, downhill play that can be executed to the strong side, or weak side of the formation.
One-on-One Blocking: The isolation block sets up a one-on-one battle at the line of scrimmage. If the lead blocker successfully engages and controls their defender, it can create a clear path for the running back.
Counter Iso: This variation incorporates misdirection by having the lead blocker initially move in one direction before countering back to the opposite side of the formation. It’s designed to catch the defense off guard.
Weakside / Strong Iso: Instead of attacking the strong side of the formation, the play can be ran to the weak side, where the defense may not be as heavily concentrated. Weakside is the opposite side of the TE. The strong side Isolation play is executed to a Tight-end of H-back side.
Play-Action Iso: The offense uses the Iso play as a setup for a play-action pass, fooling the defense into thinking it’s a running play before throwing the ball downfield. Faking ISO on a run down or distance will usually big for big yardage.
While the Iso play is straightforward in concept, its effectiveness depends on the execution of blocking assignments by the offensive line, the lead blocker, and the running back’s ability to read the blocks and hit the designated hole with authority. It remains a valuable tool in short-yardage situations and for teams with a power running game. You need to be able to base block defenders if you want to run Iso successfully.
The Buck Sweep is definitely a play worthy of making the 10 best plays for youth football list! It’s a play that we’ve run much more the last 4 seasons- because it has been one of our best run plays. We’ve racked up a ton of yardage on our Buck Play off of Jet Sweep action. The 10 best youth football plays – here’s the Buck Sweep breakdown.
The Buck Sweep is a classic offensive play in American football, particularly associated with the Wing-T and Single Wing offenses. It is designed to create running lanes for the ball carrier by using misdirection and quick blocking schemes. Here’s how the Buck Sweep play typically works:
Formation and Execution
The offense lines up in a specific formation, such as the Wing-T which often features a tight end, two wingbacks (one on each side of the line), and a fullback or blocking back. The Buck play can be executed with great success out of any formation. It’s most commonly known to be the foundation of the Wing T Offense. You see more and more spread offense utilizing the play. It’s a play that isn’t very common on the youth football level. This is a good thing, because most defensive coaches don’t know how to stop it.
Pulling Guards: The key element of the Buck Sweep is the pulling of the offensive guards. Both guards (left and right) pull to the side where the ball carrier is going, leading the way and creating a wall of blockers. The kick-out block will be executed by the play-side guard. The wrap / lead block will be executed by the backside guard.
Blocking Scheme: The play-side blocking scheme for the offensive tackle and Tight-end or H-back is GAP-DOWN-Backer. The backside Offensive Tackle will have to down block to replace the backside pulling guard.
Buck Sweep | Wing T Formation
This is Buck out of the tradition Wing T formation. The play-side blocking rules are Gap-Down-Backer.
Diesel Formation Buck Sweep
We love running buck out of 3×1. It spreads the field and lightens up the box. Above is a good example of a well executed Buck Play.
Why run Buck.. Key Advantages:
The Buck Sweep is effective because it forces the defense to react quickly to the motion (if you run it off of jet sweep action like we do) and the pulling guards.
Down Blocking: Buck utilizes down blocks to the play-side with a kick-out of the edge defender. These down blocks will create excellent blocking angles on the defensive linemen. Keep in mind, that the defensive linemen will have their head turned inside, looking at the ball and won’t even see the down block coming. It’s much easier for youth football players to down block and kick-out, rather than base block (one on one drive block).
Kick-out Block: The kick-out block is easy to execute for your guards. It’s an easy block to execute because most DEs and OLBs (depending on the defense) are taught to box / contain. The Buck Play is all about blocking angles, and the kick-out for the play-side guard is easy because he will have a great angle on the kick-out defender
See Also: 8 Ways to Run the Buck Sweep Play | Same Play Different Formation
Playbooks that feature the Buck Sweep Play:
Download: Gun T Formation Playbook
Download: Trips Formation Playbook
The toss play is a fundamental running play in American football that involves the quarterback or a ball handler tossing the football to a running back, usually while the running back is in motion or standing slightly behind the quarterback. The toss play is designed to quickly get the ball to the running back and allows the offensive line and lead blockers to create running lanes on the outside of the field. 1o best youth football plays – here’s how the toss play typically works:
Formation and Execution
The offense lines up in a standard formation, often with the quarterback under center or in the shotgun. The running back lines up in the backfield, typically a few yards behind the quarterback. This play is usually executed out of the I-formation, Split-backs, or Single-back / Bunch Formations. However, Toss can be implement out of any formation / personnel grouping.
Snap and Toss: The quarterback receives the snap and, rather than handing off the ball to the running back, he tosses it laterally or backwards to the running back. It’s important that the QB executes a good pitch. He must square up to the running back and follow through on the pitch. Make sure your QB doesn’t pitch around his hips. The QB must be square to the player he is tossing the ball out to.
Blocking Scheme: The offensive line blocks to create a running lane for the ball carrier on the outside. This often involves the linemen blocking down or sealing off the interior defenders, while tight ends, fullbacks, or pulling linemen lead block to the outside to clear a path for the running back. Crack blocking schemes are often implemented in the blocking scheme of this play. You can also just have all your offensive linemen reach block to the
Lead Blocks: Lead blockers, such as fullbacks or pulling linemen, play a crucial role in the toss play. They engage defenders at the point of attack, clearing a path for the running back and helping to secure the edge.
See Also: Toss Sweep Series
Why run Toss… Key Advantages..
The toss play is effective for gaining yards on the perimeter of the field and can be particularly successful when a team has a speedy and agile running back who can turn the corner and exploit open space. It can also be used to keep the defense honest and prevent them from stacking the box against inside runs.
The best thing about the Toss Play is that you will be able to get your athletes the ball in space very quickly. In addition, you really only have to block 2-3 defenders to gain big yardage. It’s a great play that also offers great counter runs (off of Toss Action).
However, the toss play requires good timing, blocking coordination, and disciplined running from the ball carrier. A well-executed toss play can be a valuable tool in an offensive playbook and is often used as part of a larger rushing attack strategy.
Wedge is one of my all time favorite plays and is very much worthy of being featured on the 10 best plays for youth football. It’s a play that will allow you to generate a lot of force and get your those tough yards. Many people think wedge is mostly good for shortage- this is true, however, we’ve hit some of our biggest plays on Wedge.
We run Wedge off of Jet Sweep action and with our QB. It seems to hit much faster and allows our QB to fit himself into the wedge much easier and faster, then if we did a handoff.
Blocking Scheme: The O-linemen must take an inside step and press on the linemen inside of them. They should place their ear hole right on the hip/rib cage of the offensive linemen inside of them. They then put their inside hand on the lower back of the the linemen and drive. The shoulder pads should be in the rib cage of the linemen inside of them.
The first inside leverage step critical. It’s important to understand that your linemen are wedging the center, not the defenders. If they start reaching for defenders it will break the wedge and allow defenders to penetrate through. Reaching will ultimately break the wedge.
Why run Toss… Key Advantages..
Easy to Install: The Wedge Play is very easy to install. It doesn’t regular a lot of practice time.
Guts Any Defense: Wedge is great because it doesn’t matter how the defense is aligned- it will plow through any front. Again, emphasis on wedging the Center, not a defender. When you wedge the Center, you are able to generate a lot more force.
Demoralizing: It’s a great play to call when you are in a short yardage situation. When Wedge is executed properly, it’s very difficult to defend. The only way the defense can stop the Wedge is if they submarine the Center (cut the Center down). The defense will have to commit to stopping it, which will open up other plays.
We will always cheat our splits down when we run wedge. So when the defense starts to notice that, you can line up like you’re running wedge (go with wedge splits) and call Jet Sweep and watch it score.
The trap play in football is a deceptive running play designed to exploit the aggressiveness of the defensive line. It is commonly used in various offensive systems, such as the Wing-T and Power-I formations, to create running lanes for the ball carrier. Trap is great on the youth football level because most coaches teach their defensive linemen to penetrate. A great answer for that is running trap! The 10 best youth football plays – here’s how the trap play typically works:
Formation & Execution
Blocking Scheme: The key element of the trap play is the offensive line’s blocking scheme. Instead of blocking the defender in front of them directly, one of the offensive linemen (usually a guard) will pull out of their usual position and block (trap block) the play-side defensive tackle. This pulling lineman is known as the “trap blocker” or “kicker.” The play-side offensive tackle will let the defensive tackle (defender that’s getting trapped) go and work onto a linebacker.
Trap Block: As the play begins, the offensive linemen take their initial steps, with one guard pulling across the formation. The pulling guard aims to quickly engage and block the defensive tackle or defensive end on the opposite side of the line (the “trapped” defender). This is where the term “trap” comes from, as the defender is essentially “trapped” by the pulling blocker. The aiming point of the trap guard is the inside hip of the defender he is kicking out. The trapping guard must pull tight off of the butts of the down blocks.
Trap Blocker’s Timing: The success of the trap play relies heavily on the timing of the pulling guard. They must reach the trapped defender before the defender can react and adjust their positioning. This often requires a quick and precise block.
Blocking Down: The other offensive linemen on the play side will typically block down or to their inside, sealing off the inside defenders and creating a running lane toward the trapped defender.
Running Back’s Path: The running back takes a step in one direction and then cuts back toward the trap block, following the pulling guard’s lead. This quick cutback allows the running back to exploit the gap created by the pulling guard’s block and the down-blocking offensive linemen.
Trap Wing T Formation
The Trap is a staple of the Wing T Offense. It is also commonly utilized out of the I-formation. Trap is a great play because it hits fast and when you add jet motion to it, it becomes a deceptive play.
Why run Trap… Key Advantages..
The trap play is effective because it capitalizes on the defensive linemen’s natural tendency to attack the line of scrimmage. By trapping a defensive lineman and creating a running lane inside, the offense can gain significant yardage. However, it requires precise timing and execution by the pulling guard and the rest of the offensive line.
Coaches often use the trap play strategically to keep the defense off balance and to mix up their running game. It can be especially useful when facing aggressive and penetrating defensive linemen. You can also have the trap side guard double team the N with the Center. This is great for when you are facing a disruptive Nose Guard. Out of the 10 best youth football plays- the Inside Zone is probably the one that is becoming most popular.
The inside zone play is a fundamental running play in American football that is commonly used in various offensive systems. It is designed to create running lanes for the ball carrier between the offensive tackles, often by using double-team blocking and zone blocking principles. The inside zone play emphasizes quick, north-south running and can be an effective way to gain yards on the ground. The 10 best plays for youth football- here’s how the inside zone play typically works:
Formation and Execution
The Inside Zone run is a staple of the spread offense. Many spread formation teams utilize the Inside Zone Scheme. If you could only carry one run scheme this would probably be one of the best ones to choose. On the youth football level I prefer gap schemes. However, more and more youth teams are building around the Inside Zone play. There are several different adjustments, tags, and RPOs that can be implemented. This run concept is definitely worthy of making the 10 best plays for youth football list.
Blocking Scheme: The key element of the inside zone play is the zone blocking scheme employed by the offensive line. Zone blocking means that each offensive lineman is responsible for blocking the defender in their immediate area, rather than having specific assignments to block a particular defender. The linemen work together to create double-teams at the point of attack.
Snap and Initial Steps: The play begins with the snap to the quarterback or the direct handoff to the running back. The offensive linemen take their initial steps in unison, moving laterally in the direction of the play. This lateral movement is designed to create double-teams with adjacent linemen on the defensive front. It’s all about getting the first level of defenders blocked.
Double-Team Blocks: Along the offensive line, two offensive linemen may work together to double-team a defensive lineman, driving him off the line of scrimmage. This double-teaming helps create a vertical seam or running lane for the ball carrier.
Read by Running Back: The running back, upon receiving the handoff, reads the blocks and the flow of the defense. They aim to find the softest spot in the line and make a quick, decisive cut to get up-field. The running back’s vision and patience are essential in this play, as they must react to the openings created by the offensive line. On Inside Zone the running back will usually have a two-way go. He will end up banging it or bending it. Banging it means he will hit right off of the guards zone block. Bending it, means he will cutback and cut off of the backside Guard’s zone block.
Cutback Option / ‘Bend’: If the running back sees that the primary running lane is clogged or if the defense overcommits to the play side, they have the option to cut back to the opposite side of the line, following the flow of the offensive linemen’s blocks.
Quarterback’s Role: If the quarterback is in the shotgun formation, they may also have the option to keep the ball and run it themselves or execute a pass based on the defensive reaction- this is called Zone Read. The QB will read the backside DE and if he chases / squeezes the zone block, the QB will pull the ball.
Second-Level Blocks: Once the offensive linemen have secured their double-teams and engaged the defensive front, they may release to block linebackers or safeties at the second level to clear a path for the running back.
playbook—
Why run Inside Zone… Key Advantages..
The inside zone play is effective because it emphasizes blocking continuity and creates opportunities for the running back to find the best running lane based on the flow of the defense. It is especially useful when facing defensive fronts with multiple gaps to defend.
Coaches often incorporate variations and complementary plays alongside the inside zone to keep the defense guessing, making it a staple in many offensive systems. Complementary plays like Zone Read, Jet Sweep, and several different tags and RPOs. It’s a great play that you can build an entire offense around.
The outside zone play, also known as the “stretch” or “zone stretch” play, is a fundamental running play in American football. It is designed to stretch the defense horizontally, create running lanes for the ball carrier along the perimeter of the field, and exploit the edges of the defense. The outside zone play is commonly used in various offensive systems, including zone-based offenses like the West Coast Offense and the spread offense. Here’s how the outside zone play typically works:
Formation and Execution
The Outside Zone play is another play that you can build your offense around. Much like the Inside Zone, you can add blocking tags, RPOs, and execute the play out of multiple formations. It’s a great play because it will allow you to get outside. It’s also a great play if you are undersized upfront.
Blocking Scheme: The key element of the outside zone play is the zone blocking scheme employed by the offensive line. In this scheme, each offensive lineman is responsible for blocking an area or zone rather than a specific defender. The linemen work together to flow laterally in one direction, aiming to seal off or pin the defensive linemen inside. The major different between inside and outside zone is the aiming point of the running back.
Snap and Initial Steps: The play begins with the snap to the quarterback or the direct handoff to the running back. The offensive linemen take initial lateral steps in unison, all moving laterally in the direction of the play. This will help create double teams at the point of attack and move the line of scrimmage. This will force the defensive line to move with it or create running lanes.
The offensive linemen maintain their lateral movement and aim to engage and seal off the defenders along the line of scrimmage. This lateral movement stretches the defense horizontally, creating gaps between the defenders.
Running Back’s Path: The running back, upon receiving the handoff, reads the flow of the offensive line and the defense. They aim to find the softest spot in the line and make a decision to either bounce the run to the outside or cut back inside based on the blocking and defensive pursuit. Aiming point is usually the outside foot of the play-side OT.
Stretching the Defense: The primary objective of the outside zone play is to stretch the defense horizontally. This can force the defensive players to move laterally, creating opportunities for the running back to exploit gaps and cutback lanes. The goal is to get the running back to the edge of the defense.
The offensive linemen work to seal off the defenders they engage, preventing them from flowing to the outside and allowing the running back to turn the corner. This sealing of defenders at the line of scrimmage is crucial for the play’s success.
Second-Level Blocks: Once the offensive linemen have secured their blocks at the line of scrimmage, they may release to block linebackers or safeties at the second level to maintain open running lanes for the ball carrier.
The outside zone play is effective because it relies on the offensive line’s ability to work together and create lateral movement, which can disrupt the defensive front and create opportunities for the running back to exploit openings along the perimeter. It is particularly useful when the offense has a running back with speed and agility who can make quick decisions and cutbacks.
These are the 10 best plays for youth football. You can build your entire offense around these plays. They’re all fairly easy to install and will work at any age level of youth football.
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