I will examine some general misconceptions regarding blocking for youth football in this article. We will look at some of the different tips and techniques taught by coaches throughout the land. Some of the techniques are good while others are useless. This will be a general overview explaining how important it is to teach blocking the correct way, especially for the younger players.

A wise ols coach stated "To succeed in football make sure your block and tackle better than your opponent". This is the key to success at every level starting with pee wee football and all the way through the NFL. It does not matter how sophisticated or slick your offensive system may be, if the offensive linemen do not block well, your team will not have success. There is always that one exception, and in pop warner football, it is the squad that has the God-given greased lightning speed for their ball carriers. If you are coaching young players and have the fastest player in the league, then you do not need great blocking. Get your speed back the ball and watch him out run everyone to the end zone. Most teams are lucky to see this caliber of players once a decade so it is best to prepare the team as if you will not have the fastest player in the league. As the teams get older and more experienced you can coach up game plans to rein in that quickness, but when the players are young, it is almost impossible to stop.

The age old blocking argument comes up each year on whether or not the kids should be coached to block using their hands or use more of an old school techniques where the players put their hands at their own chest and stick their elbows out. It is my feeling to coach it both ways and let each kid determine which style they like more.. If you do your job correctly and teach the proper three-point stance, the style preferred by the players will not matter.and will become a matter of personal preference. The little kids genuinely prefer the old school elbows out style. I believe it is an improvement since it will stop our players from holding an opponent and it makes it harder for an opponent to get around them. I like to show the kids to grab their own jersey when using the elbows out method.

If the players decide to use their hands when blocking it is crucial to coach them not to snatch onto anything. I opt to coach this block as a punch block by making our linemen form a fist. As you begin your block instincts take over and you may hold if the defender is running around you. By making your kids form a fist, it will stop the reflex, which is to grasp the defender's jersey.