1. Colts Wishbone Offense for Youth Football Complimentary Version
A simple offense that plays to the strengths of youth level football
Complimentary Version
(This version of our eBook contains the level one basic plays of the “non-pitch” version of the wishbone. It does not include Coaching tips, position profiles, blocking assignments, and full compliment of the offensive plays). If you would like to purchase the full deck for $10, please contact Coach Magee via and you will receive instruction on how to order via Paypal.

2. Why the Wishbone for Youth?
If you look back over the past 50 years of college and high school football, you will find that more teams have won more games with an “option” offense than any other kind… more than the WingT, Ace Back, Single Wing, West Coast, or the Air Raid offense. Not that these aren’t fine valid offenses, but they just don’t have the numbers that the option teams do. And of the various types of option offenses (Deep I, Split Back, Wishbone, Wing-bone, Pistol, etc.)… the version with the most victories is the “wishbone” offense from the late 60’s to the mid 80’s! Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, Nebraska, Arkansas, Air Force, and so many more great programs… the list of great championship ‘Bone teams is pretty impressive, and long running. While not as flashy as the “air raid”, the results are there for all to see. You can’t argue with success!
Despite being a less popular system now, we feel it adapts well to the youth football level for several reasons… all of which are very important for the youth level football team:
Easy to understand and install - for both players AND coaches!
One primary formation – players are almost always in the same position
Power at the point of attack - much like the double wing and single wing
Great for misdirection - lots of moving bodies in the backfield confuse young defenders!
Balanced offense - no true “strong” or “weak” side unless you CHOOSE to have one!
Versatile - for both power running, speed running, and a nice passing game.
Hard for youth to defend… they have to defend the entire field from sideline to sideline!
Great for spreading the carries amongst multiple backs… we usually have 5 or 6 RB’s with carriers per game…and our receivers get action too!
Promotes precision – There isn’t a ton of confusion for the offense to deal with… the linemen do almost the same thing on every play… so they can focus on pounding the defense… the backs just have to follow the path of the play!
Some say it is a “boring dinosaur” offense, but kids love playing it… and when is winning boring?

3. Offensive Philosophy
This is an ‘inside-out’ offense… if you establish that you WILL keep trying to run up the middle throughout the game, then the outside and the misdirection runs are all likely to get big yards. Don’t EVER stop pounding the middle! It is the heart of the offense, and will wear down the will of most defenses late in the game.
We try to own the FB DIVE & QB keeper within the first two series… that sets everything else up. Don’t overuse the Counter… it is a great play if you use it no more than once or twice per 10 plays.
Install the plays in the ORDER they are shown… this is also similar on how to use the offense in a real game… the plays on adjacent slides set each other up!
Pass if you feel like it… we target to throw 6-10 passes a game… the sooner you establish your running game, the sooner and more effectively you can elect to throw play action passes… especially on first or second down on a long drive.
The final page will show you a “typical” breakdown of our play results over the course of one season... And 8 game season with a two game playoff. Our one loss was the championship game (special teams killed us!). You might be amazed at how well this offense puts up the points!

4. The Playbook
NOTE TO COACHES… we don’t try (or recommend!) you put in all these plays the first week… run the basics well, and you will do fine! You will see a number “1” or “2” in the upper right corner of each slide, telling you which plays are “core” plays to focus on first and to get perfect, before adding in the expanded play set later...

5. We have four variations of the formation – all dealing with TE/WR’s

6. We have four variations of the formation – all dealing with TE/WR’s
We can run basically any play from any formation...
moving the ends around provides better blocking
angles on some defenses, and helps displace
a talented defender by moving him away from the L

7. FB Dive

8. Automatic Pitch Sweep

9. Counter Lead

10. Toss Sweep

11. Screen Pass

12. QB Option

13. Quick Pitch

14. Flood Pass
Fake FB Dive left, then delayed QB short roll right… run if TE is covered. FS CB CB
COACHES NOTES
TE on right is primary receiver, and usually wide open. Best used when LB’s are keying on RB’s with only 3 DB’s (such as , 6-2-3, or 4-4-3). Y TE needs to draw full attention of Safety… hit him if SAFETY rolls with QB. QB should RUN if X and 2 are covered, as the edge will be open.

15. And two special plays we only run in one direction…

16. Order Information
The Wishbone Option for Youth football Complimentary version is intended to provide coaches with the basic plays of the offense. You need to supply your own blocking scheme for your linemen, and you can add plays you design yourself.
We have run the full set offense for the better part of 16 seasons, without ever posting a losing record… that is a LOT of boys, and a lot of teams comprised of a variety of players. The system works from team to team, because it allows players to become very good at what they do, and EXECUTE, rather than try to memorize 25 different techniques for any given play.
The Full Set of the Wishbone contains many more plays, including a lot more in the passing game, which really provides a coach with all the tools you need to keep a defense guessing and reeling! We also provide a lot of coaching tips for each play, and suggestions of how and when to use play combinations to gain yardage while setting up the next big play.
If you would like to order the full package for $10 in Microsoft Powerpoint format, please contact and you will receive instructions on how to purchase this product via paypal.
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