INTRO TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AT THE YOUTH LEVEL

Outside zone blocking is a scheme I have been interested in for a while but never really understood the mechanics behind it . As I
picked the brains of many way smarter than me and watched a very good video about it I decided I would dive in head first and see
what happens. If nothing else, I could bail in pre season with little harm done since I had no real certainty about what I was doing.

It was shaky at first but I saw the light and stayed the course. Like anything new I learned as I went along and dealt with the trouble
spots as they arose systematically. I knew our team needed an edge running the football because we are small but very athletic.

I decided to run all off tackle plays as outside zone blocking, all sweeps and pitches as reach and run blocking since that is about all
our team did last year. Then all inside running was 100% traps. This worked beyond my expatiations to the point we hardly ever ran
outside. We were a powerhouse running the off tackle plays which opened up the play action passing game to no end. One of our
receivers scored 15 TDs in 10 games. We became so good at the play action both of our tackles each scored twice thru the air. We
scored 49TDs and more than half of those were off tackle runs. BTW, we never pulled a single linemen all season even on the traps.

We finished the regular season as the 9th ranked scoring offense out of 220 teams in 7 different age groups. We were number 1 for all
10 year olds and are considered rather small as a team. Our league is an independent unlimited weight league that is just over 60
years old so the competition is quite fierce. We punted once in 10 games.

Anyway, as I plugged along the games became more and more lopsided. We ran the outside zone out of 3 different formations so it is
flexible. What stood out over all else was once taught it did not matter what the defense was showing therefore the teaching
progression was much faster than I had anticipated. I was told that zone blocking covers everything by simple rules that do not
change per the defense. I was told the defense is always wrong even if they stunt and blitz. This was all proving to be true. We played
verses the gap 8, a really well run 44 stack, many very aggressive 62s and practiced every day verses the 46. Everything was indeed
covered by the base rules and I never once stopped a practice to re-message a linemen's brain because of the defensive alignments
except for the 44 stack. That did take a little extra coaching because of the chasing it creates in very young minds. Once they
robotically went through their progressions as a unit we were very solid up front. It also helped improve our pass blocking 10 fold.

The following describes how I eventually taught this system successfully to 5 th graders. There are many way smarter than me out
there who may do things differently but this worked just great for us…beyond great. Feedback from those who have experience with
outside zone blocking is appreciated. Next season we will inside zone…a whole new animal indeed. Coach Mike ( mahonz)
 THE RULES
-There is only one rule to outside zone blocking….determine whether you are covered or uncovered before the football is snapped.
-If uncovered then you will slide step play side and attempt to take over the block of the next man over play side attacking the far
funnel of the defender and getting your butt to the football bumping the next man over play side off his block. The funnel is the area
from the center of the chest plate up to the shoulder and down to the elbow. Hitting a perfect funnel is right into the armpit.
-If covered then you will t-step through the defenders play side number standing him up and turning him slightly so he is facing the
football. Then attempting to block a scraping linebacker once the backside next man over bumps you off your block
-Uncovered means there is no defender aligned over you or fully in your gap to the play side. Ignore backside gap unless that man is
also uncovered. Basically if no defender is shading your pads your are uncovered.
-Covered means there is a defender aligned right over you or fully in your play side gap. Must always pay attention to the backside
gap. Basically if a defender is shading your pads anywhere you are covered.
-If uncovered and a linebacker walks up over you then you are now covered even if you don’t think you are.If he is on the line and
anywhere near you then you are covered. If you are now covered then it is possible you will get help from the next man over backside
if he is uncovered.
-If covered and a linebacker walks up into either your backside gap or the play side gap you are still covered. It is up to the next man
over either way to pick him up but you will no longer get any help and will not release to a linebacker.
- If uncovered and the d-lineman attacks hard to the backside gap then he is that uncovered mans immediate block without having to
bump the next man over off play side as the covered man will now be immediately rotating to a scraping linebacker.
-If covered and the d-lineman attacks hard to the play side gap then the covered man is alone on the block and the uncovered man
next to him backside immediately rotates to a scraping linebacker.
-Any late shift by the D-line could or will change the rules of being covered or uncovered.
-All linemen could be considered covered all at once but never all uncovered…that would be a stupid defense.
-If the d-line ever runs a twist then the vacating d-linemen is not your problem if he goes backside but the one about to show up is
your problem. Same holds true with stacking and stunting linebackers. Who ever shows first is your man as you take the first zone
step as determined by your pre snap rule. Never chase a stunt. Run your steps by rule and the stunt will get caught up somewhere in
traffic. The rules hold true for all down blockers EMOL to EMOL.
-Fast feet, fast hands, fast eyes all come after a fast brain. Think first then do and before long you can do without thinking. If wrong
then fix it the next play but never hang your head. Have a short memory and talk it over with your buddy on the way back to the
huddle. Troubleshoot your tandem on the field per the defense. The coaches can only emulate so much for you during practice. Play
football and figure out the tendencies of the defense. They can only do so much and eventually you will know what that is…exactly.
We go through this T STEP WHEN COVERED
progression each day for 10
minutes, birddog to full speed. Play side foot is the first step and is equal both vertical and horizontal depending on your
player. 6x6 or 8x8 or 10x10. This foot then plants and sets for the third step. Both hands
cock and aim for the defenders far number. Thumbs up palms out. Stay low until hands
engage. Then drop hips and lift hard during the power step.
Back side foot is the second step and is the power step long and hard into the defenders
crotch. It is important the power step is straight away and stays underneath the shoulders
of the blocker. This step then plants and sets for the fourth step while maintaining a good
base. The hands power into the defenders far number as hard as possible turning him
and standing him up. Keep shoulders square.

Third step resets the blockers base as he waits for the take over move by the
next man over while maintaining a good base. Blocker collapses into the the
defender and waits for the next man to bump him off. He must not leave until
he is bumped. Standing up the defender is critical as you roll the butt to the
football. As he waits he spies the second level.

Fourth and fifth steps slides off the block while

maintaining a good base. Up field foot is first.
Find and get on linebacker.

Path of the football

1 2 3
We go through this SLIDE STEP WHEN UNCOVERED
progression each day for 10
minutes, birddog to full speed. Play side foot is the first step horizontal with the distance once again depending on your
player but should not stretch the player unnecessarily. This foot then plants and sets for
the third step. Both hands cock and aim for the defenders far funnel. Thumbs up palms
out. Stay low until hands engage. Then drop hips and lift hard during the power step.
Back side foot is the second step and must be horizontal and equal in distance to the first
step so the blocker maintains a good base. Both hands power into the the defenders far
funnel as the blocker drops his hips and lifts. Keep shoulder square.
Third step is a big power step that attacks into he defenders crotch as he is slightly
turned and stood up by the next man over. Blocker then collapses into the the
defender and then literally bumps the next man over off with his play side hip while
collapsing into the defender with head up field.

Fourth step is a t –step to maintain a good base

as the next man over leaves then getting his butt
to the football head up field then drives to the
whistle maintaining a good base with fast feet.

Path of the football

1 2 3
 HOW IT LOOKS

UC C UC

C
UC

1 2 3

Path of the football

Direction the entire zone is rotating.

 WHAT IF FOR THE D-LINE
Path of the football

UC C Direction the entire zone is rotating.

UC C
The defender goes hard into the covered mans
play side gap. Then the covered man gets both
hands on the backside numbers and takes the
block on alone riding the defender hard on his
natural path. The uncovered man then gets
immediately to the linebackers. Steps do not
change.

The defender goes hard into the uncovered man.

Then the covered man gets both hands on the
defenders play side hip and pushes off to the
linebacker immediately. This actually helps the
uncovered man take over. Steps do not change UC C

We teach the linemen to key the defenders helmet if

in a 3 or 4 point stance, the belt buckle if in a 2 point
stance. This tells the linemen immediately where the
defender is going. Eyes are not down field until The defender goes hard into the covered man.
engaged with the first level defender. If a defender Then all rules apply and they run the defender
bear crawls then which ever linemen meets him first until the uncovered man bumps the covered man
fall on him so his buddy can continue to the off. Then the uncovered man rolls to the
linebacker. The footwork and the hands must be linebackers. Steps do not change.
fast…fast …fast and stay as square to the LOS as
possible until you begin to rotate in tandem.
 WHAT IF FOR THE LINEBACKERS
Path of the football

UC C Direction the entire zone is rotating.

UC C
The linebacker walks up and fills the covered
mans play side gap. Then both blockers slide
step into their defenders. Neither lineman will
release to the second level and both blocks
become big on big getting their butts to the
football. A big power step is critical when not
getting any help.

The linebacker walks up and covers the uncovered man.

Then both blockers t-step into both defenders. Neither
lineman will release to the second level and both blocks
become big on big getting their butts to the football. A big
power step is critical when not getting any help. UC C

The linebacker zone blitzes backside or play side. This actually helps the scheme since the d-
linemen will attempt to shoot a gap and pull the double team. The rules don’t change as the
blockers are attempting to block the linebacker anyway. If the blitz comes backside then the
covered man takes the d-line by rule because the d-lineman goes hard to the play side gap
and the uncovered man picks up the blitz. If the blitz comes play side then then the covered
man picks up the blitz because the d-lineman goes hard backside and the uncovered man
takes the d-line. If the blitz is a jailbreak up on the line then all blockers t-step into the
jailbreak. If the jailbreak is all zone then the blockers play by rule depending on the immediate
action of the d-line. That is why we do teach eyes on the d-line first….then down field.
 THE LINE RULES vrs. BASE 5-3
Whether cover or uncovered, t
stepping or slide stepping the Path of the football
steps are always TOWARDS
the football. The ball carrier will Uncovered then slide step
always run WITH the flow of
the line not against until he hits Covered then T step
his monument. See page 14.
In other words the zone will
ALWAYS rotate to the football.

9 3 0 3 9

Direction the entire zone is rotating.

 T-STEP MAT DRILLS w/ LIMBO BAR
Limbo bar

Blocking dummy
added later

Rubber industrial kitchen mats ripped into 6 inch strips 3 feet long. These can be
purchased at any Home Depot in 3 foot by 6 foot sections. These work great in
grass and will grab lazy feet without tripping the players.

We use a limbo bar that is set 12 inches over the linemen’s facemask. They cannot touch the limbo bar as they come out of their
stance. Both heels must touch the horizontal mat with the play side foot touching the vertical mat. On the coaches whistle they t-step
under the bar. It is very difficult to keep the second step which is the power step underneath their bodies at first. Stress that they do.
Shown is practicing a t-step to the left. Move the vertical mats to the right to practice going right. The first step is across and to the far
side of the vertical mat and forward equal distance. The second step is to the same side of the vertical mat and long to the end of the
mat. As they get comfortable with their steps under the bar add a bag to hit into with a piece of tape marking the aiming point ( near
number). They need to power up the hands on the first step and get the palms out thumbs up. Stress quick feet and good hands and
power into the tape collapsing hard into the bag while he lifts keeping his hands on the tape. Zone blocking is susceptible to holding
calls. Stress hands inside, aim, collapse and lift. We do this drill for 5 minutes each direction and eventually use the bags full time.
 SLIDE STEP MAT DRILLS w/ LIMBO BAR
Limbo bar

Blocking dummy
added later

Rubber industrial kitchen mats ripped into 6 inch strips 3 feet long. These can be
purchased at any Home Depot in 3 foot by 6 foot sections. These work great in
grass and will grab lazy feet without tripping the players.

We use a limbo bar that is set 12 inches over the linemen’s facemask. They cannot touch the limbo bar as they come out of their
stance. Both heels must touch the horizontal mat with the play side foot touching the vertical mat. On the coaches whistle they slide
step parallel to the bar. Shown is practicing a slide step to the left. Move the vertical mats to the right to practice going right. The first
step is across and to the far side of the vertical mat parallel with the bar. The second step is to the same side of the vertical mat and
parallel to the bar and is the same distance as the first step to maintain a good base. The third step is the power step along the far
side of the mat and to the end of the mat. As they get comfortable with their steps under the bar add a bag to hit into with a piece of
tape marking the aiming point ( far funnel ). They need to power up the hands on the first step and get the palms out thumbs up.
Stress quick feet and good hands and power into the tape collapsing hard into the bag while he lifts keeping his hands on the tape.
Zone blocking is susceptible to holding calls. Stress hands inside, aim, collapse and lift. We do this drill for 5 minutes each direction
and eventually use the bags full time. This drill will also dictate your horizontal splits. If the first step steps on the next mans eventual
second step foot then the splits are too close or you may want to use the bucket step instead of the slide step if using tight splits.
 THREE MAN DRILLS w/ LIMBO BAR
UC C UC

C
UC

Limbo bar

1 2 3

We use a limbo bar that is set 12 inches over the linemen’s helmet. They cannot touch the limbo bar as they come out of their stance.
This forces them to stay low until they lift the defender on their power steps. The lift is critical to the block so that it takes the power
away from the defender as the blockers rotate. We allow the blockers complete success at first. Whether you use a live defender or a
coach with a shield the blockers must be allowed success as they get used to rotating and lifting. We basically tell the defender he
will allow the blockers to kick his butt then as the blockers get comfortable they add resistance. We birddog this through all 4 major
steps then go live. Coach checks, steps hands and eyes. The defender is eventually allowed to attack any gap after the blockers get
their bearings. At figure 1 all 3 players should be in their stance and by figure 3 nearly upright. This is not a stay low and drive block. It
is stay low then lift block. Very important difference is vision to the second level. The blockers want to emphasize the hard punch
with hands and the lift while they collapse into the defender. The lift and drive has to be powerful enough that if they did it on air they
would face plant into the turf. We do this drill every day for 10 minutes with 2 blockers on one defender. As the blockers get
comfortable we will add a scraping linebacker to the drill for the next 10 minutes but we progress the same every day. At first for the
footwork we spray paint white dots in the grass for them to follow.
 3 SECOND COMPETITION DRILL
We set up two teams for this drill and
crown winners. The two blockers must
execute the perfect zone technique per the
coaches set rotation( left or right) and
then the proper blocker must release and
then drive the bag on its side with his
hands only for 3 full seconds. Whoever
drives the gag the furthest in 3 second Blocking dummy held
wins. If the wrong blocker releases that by coach
team is disqualified. What his does is
trains the blockers not to release early but
to at least release and who is supposed to
release. The coach holding the bag will
dictate who releases by how he attacks
the tandem with his bag and who he
covers. This also trains both blocker to
maintain their blocks no matter what for 5
full seconds without paying any attention
to their buddy after they release. During
this drill you want to really train the eyes. It Blocking dummy on
is difficult to read to the second level while end 3 yards away.
engaged in a block so we use this drill to
stress the eyes on the bag since it is
stationary. We found that stressing the
eyes only confused them as they learned We do this drill twice a week
the steps and the punch. Once they for 10 minutes.
release they will hit something so this drill
also helps out with that aspect.
 5 SECOND COMPETITION DRILL

We set up two teams for this drill and

crown winners. The blockers must execute
the perfect zone technique per the
coaches set rotation( left or right) and
instruction ( covered or uncovered) Then
they both execute their pre determined
rule and immediately release to drive the
bag with their hands only for 5 full
seconds. Whoever drives the bag the
furthest in 5 second wins. What this does
is trains the blockers to execute their steps
and get downfield as fast as possible in
the case they have no one to block. This
also trains both blocker to maintain their
blocks no matter what for 5 full seconds
without turning around to see where the
ball is in the case they have no one to
block. We stress there is always another
Blocking dummy on
victim downfield and every play in football
end 3 yards away.
will last about 6 seconds. This drill is very
good at getting blockers downfield. We all
know what typically happens if a young
man does not have someone to block. You
We do this drill twice a week
can add the limbo bar to this drill if you
want to stress staying low but we stress if for 10 minutes.
you fire off and land on air get vertical
immediately and hit something…anything.
 TEACHING THE RUNNING BACKS
Direction the zone rotates Path of the football

9 3 0 3 9

We teach the backs to fill the tackles pre snap shoes no matter what. If running right RT, left LT and this is not negotiable with them.
Once they fill those shoes then they have 3 options. 1- Continue the path 2- cut outside once 3- cut inside once. No dancing bouncing
or delay of any kind. Your are a missile to the tackle then one cut and go. In the above diagram all 3 possibilities are there. IF the DT
attacks the B gap then the LT at the point of attack can easily get on the play side OLB at a good angle and the running back can go
straight away or cut outside. IF the DT attacks the C gap then the LG will not get on the play side OLB at a good angle therefore the
back must cut back inside. If the POA is clogged the back still finds whatever seam he can and takes it. If he comes in like a missile
he will gain a little something through the seam or get caught up into the flow of the zone and and pop out the other end. No matter
where the back starts in formation he must fill the tackles shoes first. The back must start rather deep if it is a straight handoff or
delay if it is a cross buck or wrap around from the backside. Either way the line must have some time to engage and begin to run and
rotate the defense before the back arrives. The more times you run this play in a row during the games the better it gets. There are
only a few things the defense can do defending the off tackle and they are all covered by rule so its just a matter of allowing your
players to get comfortable and execute. There is not a designed hole but rather a monument. The play side tackles feet pre snap is
the monument. From there the play now has options and can take on a life its own and those options are dependent on the defense.
 DRILLING THE RUNNING BACKS
Running back 6 yards
deep.

QB practice opening up and

handing off then boot away.

Blocking dummies
standing upright

Coaches with hand

shields 3 yards deep.

We tried a few things but this was the best. The running back would run in-between 4 upright blocking dummies split 2 by 2 and
touching one another. This would take his downfield vision away. Then 3 coaches or players holding shields would wait on the other
side 3 yards deep and spread 3 yards apart. As the runner came through the hole one of the three shields would attack him so he
would have to quickly think and make his cut or stay the path. This really helped as the season progressed and we ran this drill for 20
minutes at a time using 5 backs and 2 QB’s. The shields could not attack until the runner was completely in the hole since most of our
players were shorter than the bags so they came out blind. It was very apparent this drill worked when we went team. The cuts were
crisp and very quick or when he would stay on path and would beat the scrape. Back aligns 6 yards deep and behind the center. The
QB would practice handing off and booting away while he RB took a proper handoff. The drill easily flipped to go to the right and left.
TROUBLE SPOTS AND THOUGHTS … DON’T FORGET I AM A ROOKIE WITH THIS STUFF
- Do not lead a back through the zone. They just get in the way. - The linemen have to know one another and how each man
You can use the FB or WB to mesh to kick out or to log at the thinks. Since each zone play is a 3 man tandem working as one
perimeter but to isolate a backer with a back gets messy. unit they must trust one another.
- Slow lumpy linemen do not work. The linemen have to be - You can delete the hole numbering system. We created zones
athletic and use quick excellent technique. Fast feet and fast and that told the line how to block. Zones 3 and 4 was for all
hands are a must. sweeps or the quick toss outside the TE. 1 and 2 were all OZ off
-- The stance we use is a bit unique. Heels even with one tackle plays and 0 was for all traps. For pass blocking they would
another, butt low, head up, back straight, 80% of the weight on key the call. All calls ending in a digit was a run to that zone, all
the balls of the feet 20% on the down hand. This allowed for plays ending in a letter was a pass.
good vision and quick lateral movement. The feet are under each -- We ran OZ off tackle plays out of 3 formations. An ace back
armpit so the stance is rather skinny with the knees slightly out. with the back at 6 yards, the wing t with the full back at 6 yards
Like a frog leaping out of his stance. and the HB at 3 and the I with the FB at 4 and the TB at 6 yards.
-- Vertical splits are maximum, horizontal splits depends on your We ran an OZ to the wing t HB as he wrapped the QB after
scheme or if you use slide in lieu of bucket steps. We use slide. faking the FB dive, then he would turn immediately up field off
-- In order for the outside zone to work the defense must run with tackle so you can do just about anything as long as the back
or flow with the play. At the youth level some will and some will does not arrive at his monument too early. The ace formation
not. If you run the outside zone enough the defense will begin to was the best with 2 TE’s and 2 slots split wide. The QB action
flow with you. You almost have to train them for what you want was easiest in ace. Anything else will take some extra reps.
them to do sometimes. If they don’t flow then the zone gets Keeping the QB on his midline in the wing t took some time.
clogged and the back will want to bounce. Like a lot of things in -- The boots and waggles off the OZ is very nice. Especially once
youth football, if the defense does not play sound rules then that you get the defense running with you.
alone can blow up your plays. If that happens run traps all day or - You no longer have to rely on the sweep. Most youth defenses
inside zone ( have not taught IZ yet so cant comment ). Traps fortify the perimeter since the sweep is king with the little guys. If
are the perfect option for kids that sit and wait. OZ is the perfect you can effectively run the c gaps all day regardless of the
option for defenses that flow and attack….like most will. defense you are now running a contrarian offense for youths. We
-- Linemen will have a hard time releasing off the double ran sweeps and pitches on rare occasion.
team…or both releasing and leaving the DL untouched. Be -- The kids think its cool because no one else does it. We told
patient and keep drilling them. It takes time but when it starts to them they were running a big boys offense. That peaked interest.
happen it’s a beautiful thing. It is important the kids enjoy what they are learning.
 BONUS -SLIDE PROTECTION FOR THE DROP BACK PASS

Now that your line are the masters of the slide step simply slide protect your pass plays. You can go all left or all right. It is real tough
for the defense to pick up TE’s on the slide protect since they release late. The RB has to banana to the unblocked DE. Take two
steps towards your run monument then stop and wait for the DE then at the last minute scoop him to the sidelines. No play action.
Straight 3 or 5 step drop. Really tough to beat this simple scheme. It builds a great wall as the front side OT picks up the front side
DE. Teams know we will pass and it still works great. Linemen implement their slide steps and then start running in place and
punching at the ugly #s in front of them while always protecting from the football out. It is so similar to OZ you never telegraph pass.
Works against all fronts. Slots go deep and the TE’s shallow to medium. Slots can be minimum type player positions with purpose.
 BONUS -KICK PROTECTION FOR THE PLAY ACTION PASS

Simply do the same for the slide protection except keep the play action side TE in to block and have the backside TE and OT switch
defenders. The TE cracks the DT for one second then literally pushes off him catapulting himself into into a quick arrow route. QB
play actions to the RB and throws quick to a 100% wide open TE ahead of the OLB. Slot receiver runs a slant to clear the zone.
Never had an incompletion all year running this play to either TE both left and right. Backside OT bucket steps and rides the DE out.
Play action side DE is a non issue. Works against all fronts.