How do I stop speed running back in youth soccer?

Speed ​​is king in all sports, but especially Pop Warner football. If you have a player who cannot be caught, you will have a great season without having to do a lot of training. If you are facing a team with great speed, then you need a game plan.

How your speed matches your speed will determine how you design your defensive game plan. You have to change a scheme to contain, or at the very least, take advantage of the fastest player on the opposing team.

I have become a huge supporter of no surprises as a coach. I think to use intense exploration, with full reports so that you have an idea of ​​what you will be facing. A comprehensive scan report is your most valuable tool.

As a coach preparing the game plan for the next opponent, the first question a defensive coordinator must ask himself is who is the fastest player on the other team. You will set up your backs and defensive ends according to this guide. Your goal is to regain your speed outside of your containment defender so you can run freely down the sidelines.

Your main defensive strategy should be to not allow this to happen. You must convey to your players that they need to contain the speed of the runner. By using team defense, your holding players will force you to run quickly to the center of the field and back to where the other defenders are. You can minimize the speed advantage by forcing him to run towards the center of your defense. It sounds easy, but believe me it is not. It is not impossible and with the proper preparation you should be able to take advantage of the speed backwards.

When designing your defensive scheme, line up your defensive ends and cornerbacks a minimum of 4-5 yards closer to the sidelines than you would on your base set. This will make it difficult to run around the ends and reach the outside freely. This helps wingers see the game as it unfolds. When a runner sees a defender, his instinct is to run to the other side, even if he is back in traffic.

The opposing offensive coordinator quickly becomes frustrated and has to change his game plan live while the game is in progress. Even if you have a backup plan in place, it’s difficult to adjust it on the fly.

I’ve seen quite a few rival coaches come in at halftime, yelling at their speed back, blaming the kid when he, as a coach, has no idea what’s going on.

In conclusion, the best way to nullify speed is to make your opponent run towards the middle. The other payoff is that you are getting the speed back where you have more defenders to help make the tackle.