We are teachers and it is our duty as a youth football coach to make sure every precaution is taken to avoid player injuries. In football, it all start with the proper blocking and tackling form for the players. No player should be allowed to participate in any contact until he knows how to get into a proper stance and tackle with the proper form. This must be explained in great details during the tryouts and player evaluations. You will have a very short coaching career if you do not put the players safety first.
It does not matter the age levels of the players on your youth football team, you must make sure each one of them can get in the proper stance and tackle with the proper form. The difference between the younger and older kids in that you will have many more players who need work when they are younger.
Both tackling and blocking are not hard to teach or drill. The players will pick it up quick, but will need a lot of reinforcement. As they get older, some players get lazy so it is important to keep reinforcing the proper techniques and form.
Please read the section on the website showing the proper three-point stance. I believe it is the most detailed and accurate description on how to teach the proper three-point stance.
The same goes for the tackling technique. You will learn exactly how we have taught and reinforced this over my 22 plus years of coaching youth football. You will not only keep your players safe, but also teach them the basic skills they will need the rest of their playing career.
Check out the BEST Youth Football Drill book ever written!
