How to Simplify Football Game Film
Usually, football coaches aren't using multiple game film angles to come up with ingenious innovative ways to run new or old plays. Although that’s definitely not to say that they couldn’t! But more often than not, game film is used to simplify a play so that a coach can understand why it succeeded or failed. And there's nothing wrong with that.
As a coach, this knowledge is invaluable. It allows you to know what kind of adjustments need to be made on the fly during the game and/or what you need to instruct your players on.
With that said, here are a few simple rules to follow so that you can simplify your football game film:
1. Identify the Play and its Purpose
The first step is fairly obvious. We need to understand what kind of play is being run and where it’s going. Identify the basic formations of both the offense and defense and what they hope to achieve before the play is run.
2. Highlight the Principle Players
Whether examining offense or defense, watch the play a few times and identify the key players that will be driving the play forward. For example, if it’s a pass, identify the intended receiver and his covering defender. If it's a run, the back and his defender.
3. Segment the Play by Pre-snap and Post-snap
Think of the play pre-snap as the play’s theory. Each team has a specific goal they hope to achieve based on their scheme. Post-snap is how that theory actually played out. Separate the two so as to distinguish whether or not mistakes are a result of pre-snap formations or motions or if a play’s failure is a result of post-snap mistakes.
4. Segment by Each Key Position One at a Time
Once you have a broader understanding of the play’s goal, the principle players, and the pre-snap and post-snap elements, you can then hone in on the finer details of each section of the play. Highlight positions on the line of scrimmage and make notes of the key players’ defense and attack. Depending on the play, next move on to either the back or the receiver and their defenders. Or you can look at the quarterback. This will come down to personal preference. But however you do it, just be sure to analyze one play position at a time.
The wide Pressbox view (or the All-22) is a great angle to have for following these rules and studying game film. It’s best to switch between this angle and the Endzone view in order to form a complete picture of each and every play.
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Posted on April 21, 2017 at 11:30 AM