Footballs4Family.com



June 3, 2008

Family football is designed to be fun for both players and spectators. Making it the most fun requires that the game be played with both sides seeking to win. After all this is a competition between two teams and each wants to win. While there are no awards for winning there is the basic desire by all players to be part of a winning team. This article describes some simple tactics that can be used in any family football game to assure a winning outcome.

Family football is a passing game. While there is some football running, the logical offensive weapon in family football is the pass play. Therefore, maximizing scoring potential from the passing game requires some easily understood and executed pass plays. Ad hoc passing will not accomplish nearly as much successful offense as well run pass plays. Also, the most successful pass plays tend to be short. They are easier to handle by receivers and more difficult to defend against. Long passes are more spectacular but they are markedly more difficult to accomplish and much easier to defend against. So in the family football game build the offense around a well defined short passing game.

You still run the football on offense. Running the football in family play makes sense particularly as a feint for passing. For example, the fake pass (draw play) can work well and gain good yardage. It can be particularly effective close to an opponent's goal. So don't forget the run when putting together a family football game plan.

A good offensive weapon is the kick. Where it is permitted in family football play kicking can be extremely helpful in moving the football downfield. When three downs fail to get the required ten yard gain for a first down, kicking is the logical way to change possession. Some family football games ban kicking in order to speed up the game but kicking should definitely be included to give the game more realism.

Blocking at the line of scrimmage adds to game realism and helps the quarterback to execute plays. Any other blocking is unnecessary and only invites serious injury. This is also true for tackling. Family football should not seek to emulate the professional game. It is meant to be fun and injury free. Unrestricted blocking and tackling greatly increases the potential for serious injuries and should not be allowed.

Family football should never be an undisciplined game with few rules and no tactics. Therefore, to avoid this and to make the family game more realistic and fun there should be a few simple plays in place. These allow family football teams to focus on game tactics and not just bull strength to be victorious.

Robert J. Waugh, 2119 Main Street, Unit 2, Lubbock, TX 79401-2997, 1-806-792-0433