Illegal Formation?

[bcl1127]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Huh? This is the sort of play that'd never work in the NFL, and is only suitable to children's football because it is a "stupid play". We'll take advantage of the other team's "stupidity" (inexperience, really) any time. Last night we were practicing this one and it even fooled me in that I lost track of where our TE was because I was counting OL positions from where our QB lined up. Of course it helps that confusion that in practice sessions our snapper has a fetish of carrying the ball with him into the huddle instead of leaving it at the spot!

Any opinions on other "stupid" plays like snapping the ball on "set" instead of "hut"? Or LBs saying, "Hey, I'm coming" whether they are or not? There's lots of stuff that works only with children, hardly any of whom are ever going to play in the NFL anyway, assuming the NFL still exists when they grow up.

The reason why I think this is a stupid play is exactly for the reasons you say, it only works with the little guys. So it is really great that the coach is taking advantage of the kids that are trying to learn the game. The game is about the kids playing and learning sportsmanship, not about how the coach can trick other kids. What lesson are they learning when they are using these plays that only work with kids? It's the coaches ego that gets stroked when he comes up with a play that tricks 8 - 14 year old's.

Some of the coaches in the youth league where I work for 10 year olds, have 60 play cards and they give the card to the QB to start every play and the kid shows it in the huddle. These kids get so confused they don't know what to run and then get yelled at. There's a good way to teach the love of the game. Remember these are kids, and the biggest thing they can get out of playing is a love for the game and good sportsmanship.

Ok, I'm not trying to get into an argument here, but if a play only works because it is against kids, that play is something the coach put in to stroke his own ego of "I'm a great game planner, I can out smart kids!" and yes, I think that is kind of pathetic.