Youth Football Blocking Question

Hey coach, I have a 9–10 year old team that we’ve always had problems with in blocking. Defenses shoot gaps so easy on us. I was planning on using wing t type concepts on offense, and I found they like to use the shoulder to block. I’ve always been a hands blocking coach, but I found a video for youth wing t blocking where they lead with the shoulder that they want to push the defender in (turn him left use left shoulder) but they also shoot hands simultaneously with the shoulder. What do you think about that? Also I noticed my line likes to creep up instead of having their toes on the centers heels, that could be why they have less time to block. How you do line your lineman up based off the center? With the hands blocking if I stick with that, I heard you talk about t-rex arms in a YouTube video, does this mean keep your hands short with the elbows bent while your hands are in the defender’s chest? I know on defense the d line wants to lock out their elbows to keep separation, for offense should I teach t-rex arms to try and prevent the defense from locking out their elbows. Like keep the arms short while we’re driving the guy out? I hope I explained my questions well and I hope to hear back from you! Thanks!

Hi Coach,

Thanks for your question.

If you are getting defensive players shooting gaps, your OLM gap splits might be too wide. We do less than 6 inches or “Bear Claw” We make a fist like a Bear claw and that should be our gap width unless we make a swider plit call. We are hands on first into chest engaging then maybe lean in for shoulder block but I like to engage the defenders with hands then inside with helmet, neck or shoulder to help turn the defender. We will engage or hold opponent shoulder pads with Trex arms inside and steer the defender where we need them. If Trex arms extend then we get holding penalties. If we are having issues with blitz splitting gaps we will go to a crab / bear crawl block with helmet into gap and butt up in air and side bear crawl our hips into the defender. This will usually cut off two people. We cut Center foot in half then toe up on all others. I don’t worry about that too much really.

I really worry about inside steps since we usually block some type of Gap On down rule. We want to put our knee cap into the opponents crotch or help shooting a gap. We hard 30 degree angle step into the down gap to cut off defenders. If the OLM step straight the inside gap is huge especially if his neighbor blocks down hard and he is stepping straight. Watch for that issue. Usually there is always an issue in the A Gaps since most youth football Centers are slow to snap and get off. Make sure your guards are “GUARDING” the Center, QB and football.

Also slow OLM may need a two point stance vs three . We make them get in an Elephant stance so low their arms are like a truck out in front of them on their knees ready to engage.

1) Hard inside Gap Step — knee in helmet of gap defender hard angry step

2) Small Gap Splits to speed up step

3) Quick Hands to the chest

4) Steer and drive left or right straight back is too hard

5) Drive for 5 or on butt and find another one to put on ground

6)Do not watch a tackle become part of the tackle and push defenders off your RBs

7) Help up your RBs don’t let them lay there

Hope this helps,

Parker