Backyard Football Tips

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What’s at stake in a family, pick-up game of touch football? Usually, just bragging rights. Or, maybe the stakes are higher, e.g., who has to do the dishes after the meal. Whatever the case, it’s important to enter into the game with a plan of attack.

Here are some strategies and tactics to help your team post a “W” and enjoy the spoils that come with victory.

How to Win at Backyard Touch Football

1.) Dress the part. Everyone knows that when you look good, you play good. In this case, players are outfitted with Cabin Crew jerseys from Great Lakes Clothing Company. The cotton jerseys, a collegiate take on women’s crew necks have an over-sized cut giving players plenty of room to stretch for those long passes. (Even if you don’t play football, they’re super comfy and warm). On sunny days, don’t forget to add a little eye black under the eyes. Yeah, it might reduce some glare, but more importantly, it will help intimidate your opponents.

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2.) Team selection is half the battle. Lots to factor in here including: speed, size, experience, sibling rivalry, hurt feelings, and more. As with NFL games, pick-up touch football is a quarterback league. Make sure you have a QB who can throw the ball on your team. After that, as tempting as it might be to draft for speed, go for players who have some experience playing football. Things like running routes and catching the ball are difficult to teach in one session. The “best-athlete-available” direction is not a bad approach. Remember you won’t have time to administer a Wonderlic test, so try to pick players who are quick studies.

3.) Put the ball in your best player’s hands. Let your star player star! Position selection and play calling are all about trying to make sure your best player touches the ball a lot on offense. Good things happen when your best player has the ball.

4.) Creative play calling rules the day. Reverses, laterals-and-then-forward-passes, and of course, the old hook-and-ladder plays should make up at least ½ of your offensive play calling. Also, you’re doing something wrong if a stop-and-go pass route isn’t called on 2 out of 5 pass plays.

5.) Take advantage of your field of play. Try running the curl route around the maple tree. Or, make sure your defender has to run through every puddle or slippery spot on the field. Use the imperfections of your field of play to your team’s advantage.

6.) The early, preemptive celebration. On questionable pass receptions and “did the ball cross the end zone” issues, if you’re on offense, celebrate immediately as if the ball was caught or the ball crossed the line for a TD. An early, and loud celebration dampers any protest attempts by the other team.

7.) Focus on fun. In a short time, the outcome of the game will soon be forgotten, but memories of the experience will last a long time. Let everyone have a shot at quarterback who wants to, don’t take it too seriously and cheer good play from both squads.

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7 Killer Plays for Touch Football

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If you’re looking for some creative plays, try some of these:

1.) The zig-zag pass route. Have 2 players run in zig zag patterns instructing both of them that the pass might come on the zig or the zag.

2.) The crossing brush pattern. Receiver on the left crosses to the right, and the receiver on the right crosses to the left. Both receivers nearly touch shoulders as they pass each other creating difficulties for the defenders.

3.) The question mark pattern. One receiver runs the shape of a question mark.

4.) The angle shotgun. Center hikes it to receiver who is standing a foot behind the line of scrimmage. Quarterback goes out for pass – they always forget to cover the QB – and receiver tosses the touchdown pass.

5.) The Hook-and-Ladder. Receiver A runs a 10 foot button hook. Upon pass completion, receiver A laterals the ball to teammate B who is sprinting to the goal line within lateral range.

6.) The Statue of Liberty play. Quarterback takes ball back as if to pass, and holds it there for a receiver or back to come around, take the ball and run.

7.) The Hail Mary. Everyone goes long and the QB throws it far and high. See Doug Flutie’s pass against Miami in 1984 to fine tune your approach.

Backyard Football Tips

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Photo credits: MJ O’Halloran & Mike O’Halloran

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Fall is in full swing, which means it’s football season once again — but not just for the Titans and Volunteers. A backyard pickup football game is a fun way for your family and friends to spend quality time together.

You don’t need to be a football fanatic (or even an athlete) to be your party’s starting receiver. Backyard pickup games are meant to be easy on kids and fun for parents. So, huddle up and learn what you’ll need to get started, and how to make the game safe for players big and small.

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Relax the Rules, But Count Your Players

Don’t worry about sticking with all the rules and positions you see on television. After all, a simple backyard pickup football game isn’t as complicated as a four-quarter game of tackle.

Keep things lighter by playing two-hand touch, but make each play as simple or as in-depth as your group wants. Just make sure to establish guidelines before you start playing, so no one gets confused.

You can have as many or as few people on each team as you want, as long as the teams are even. If you have an uneven number of players, one person can opt to be quarterback who plays offense for both sides. You might also take turns letting one player make calls as referee or sit out and get some rest.

Mark Your End Zones, But Simplify the Score

Next, you’ll need to define your end zones. If you don’t have fences to mark off natural boundaries, mark off your end zones with cones or lawn chairs instead.

Keeping score in backyard games is almost as easy. Depending on what your group decides, teams can earn seven, six or one point for touchdowns. Because most backyards don’t have goal posts, pickup games usually don’t need extra points, so don’t worry about losing the ball to a rogue field-goal kick.

Make It Family-Friendly

Backyard pickup games don’t just have to be for the big kids and grown-ups. Try these simple tips to help your little one get in on the fun, too:

  • “Touch” instead of “tackle.” Instead of ending a play when a knee touches the ground, finish each play like a game of tag instead. It’ll give little kids a chance to learn the ropes without the risk of getting hurt.
  • Get excited about uniforms. Although you don’t need uniforms for a backyard pickup game, a cool, colorful outfit can turn up the fun factor on a challenging activity.
  • Shorten the game. Kids under six years old often focus on one thing for just 20 minutes, according to Parents Magazine. Not sure your youngsters will have the stamina or attention span to keep up with everyone for an hour? Try cutting your game down to a half hour instead.
  • Let kids coach. Allow even the littlest ones to take charge by giving them a chance to organize plays.

Who Won?

As for determining the winner, your group can do one of two things: play until one team reaches a predetermined score, like 21; or play for a predetermined amount of time, like an hour and the team has the higher score at the end wins.

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Just be sure to celebrate the youngest victors, too. Congratulate the entire winning team on a game well played with homemade certificates or trophies. It’ll work wonders for their interest in sports later in life.

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