So you want to be a Double Wing coach huh? Before we go too far here it's important that you realize that the DW is more than just an unusual formation or set of plays. It's a unique approach to offensive football....A 'philosophy' if you will. This offense is definitely not your father's I formation.

To coach an effective DW, you need to understand and prescribe to certain principles of football. These principles are as old as the game itself, but no less true today than they were 100 years ago. The concepts of numbers and leverage are the root ideas that form the building blocks of all true DW offenses. Indeed, just about all pre-modern era football offenses (Single Wing and T formation for example) operated on these principles. Double teaming, pulling, and mis direction were the tools of numbers and leverage in that time.

Today, football is still a game of numbers and leverage, but the methodology in which a modern offense attempts to use these concepts has changed dramatically. Now-a-days, many offenses attempt to gain numbers advantages by spreading their eligible receivers across wider and wider areas of the field. They attempt to gain leverage advantages by using wider and wider line splits. The concept behind this approach is fairly simple - Gain running space by forcing defenders to cover larger and larger areas of the field.

The problem with the state of current football thinking of spreading everything out is that it places higher and higher athletic demands on the offensive players as well. Just like the defense, the offensive players also have to cover all that extra space. And, they must have the speed and athletic ability to do so in a one-on-one situation. Wider line splits and spread out formations mean that getting 'help' from a team mate is more difficult and disruptive to an offensive scheme.

To compensate, you need superior athletes. And not just a few of them either. A typical "spread" type of offense will require a greater number of "stud athletes" than a "pre-modern" offense would to achieve similar results if all other things are taken equally.

Don't confuse my observations on spread offenses as a condemnation of them. They are effective, deadly offenses when placed in the hands of high caliber athletes, with good coaching. They are considerably more versatile in their passing attacks than any of the pre-modern offenses are. Unfortunately, it's rare that a youth football coach will garner the quantity of gifted athletes required to truly excel within the framework of a spread offensive attack.

So what is it that makes the DW a superior youth offense to the various other offenses out there? Simple, it offers you an effective set of tools for gaining those same numbers and leverage advantages with lesser athletes than you might need to achieve the same results with a spread offense. By closing down line splits, using two tight ends, presenting a balanced formation, and placing all of it's eligible ball carriers in close proximity to ball, a DW coach can use tools that are not available to many spread formations. Liberal application of double teams, multiple pulling lineman, and deceiving misdirection can all be used simultaneously to gain numbers and leverage advantages at the point of attack.

Double teaming, pulling, and misdirection...all are methods that do not require the greatest of athletes to execute. Contrast that with the type of athletes needed to gain similar leverage and numbers advantages from spread formations and the benefits of running a system like the DW at the youth level become more and more obvious. Make no doubt though, the better your kids, the better your DW. But the true strength of the DW is it's ability to make average athletes look good, and good athletes look great.

The DW takes dedication, as does any offense. To be successful with the DW you must adhere to certain norms of execution. Pulling and trapping lineman and closely choreographed backfield actions are a must. A desire to play 4 down, ball control football is a must. And most importantly, a rock solid commitment to the system that remains unwavering in the face of criticisms from those who say it can't be done.

If these are the football principles that guide you, then the Double Wing may be just the ticket... Read on and investigate the remainder of this site. Scan the drills, surf the links, check out the videos and playbooks, and absorb as much as you can.

~The EndZone