defensive huddle

Hold a huddle. The player who is leaving stays in the huddle as the new player is coming on and asks "Can anybody get in?" He then leaves the huddle and comes to the sideline coach with any reply. Meanwhile, the new player has now joined the huddle with the next defensive call. For the sideline coach, here's what's happening. He gives the player the defensive call and makes the defensive player repeat it back to him. This allows the coach to make sure the kid got it right. Failure to do this could result in a mistake on the field and - And as we all, the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins. After the kid leaves, the other kid is coming back with the answer to "Can anyone get in?"

Ideally, kids on both sides of the center are saying they can get in. If you hear that, you're winning. But let's say that only the right side says it can get in. If so, that tells you you're having problems on the left and you want to look at this area on the next offensive play. Is someone out of position? Is someone getting blown back? Maybe you want to switch one of the guys on the right with one on the left? The information gives you advance warning, that something's wrong on one side. You don't have to wait for that side to give up a 40 yard TD to know something's wrong. The bad news is when NO ONE reports they can get in. You have a problem. But AT LEAST you know you have the problem before the 40 yard TD takes place. Start looking to identify the problem (technique or alignment), burn a time out, and get everyone adjusted as needed. Otherwise, the 40 yard TD run is about to take place. It might be the next play. It might be five plays from now. But it's coming.