A-11 Offense in Football - 2009 and Beyond

Wow!

What an exciting and innovative year the 2008 football season has been, truly amazing.

Never in our wildest dreams did we envision that so many quality football programs, coaches, players and fans would openly embrace the A-11 Offense.

During the past two years using the A-11 Offense by Piedmont High and other teams (see some of my earlier blogs on this site for some teams listed) we have learned some extremely valuable facts:

1. It makes the game of tackle football even safer for the kids, for example: Piedmont has now played 22 games in the A-11 Offense, with no major injuries to its players while in the A-11

2. It gives smaller and/or undermanned teams a little bit better chance of competing vs. larger foes and the chance of lasting longer throughout the season - Yes, as evidenced by some of the teams listed in my earlier blogs

3. The A-11 CAN be properly Officiated by the Refs - YES, as evidenced by Officials who actually worked A-11 games in many states during the 2008 season. And, as quoted by the Chairman of the NFHS Executive Rules Committee, Mr. Brad Cashman, who made it clear the A-11 Can be properly Officiated by the Refs.

4. A lot of the players like playing in the A-11 - Yes. Although, no matter what offense your teams runs, a certain number of players won't like it anyway - it is impossible to please everybody.

5. It helps the game of football evolve - Yes. Scientific American did an amazing article about the wide-open innovative aspects of the A-11, and the A-11 increases the number of players who can potentially touch the football from 36 to over 16,000!

6. The game of football - is it becoming faster and more spread out, or will it revert back to a more powerful, trench warfare type of game? The game MUST evolve with the Athletes - therefore the game will become increasingly more spread out and even faster - which points it in the direction of the A-11 and not away from it.

7. Is there room in America (and worldwide) for more than one type of football? Yes, in just two years, the A-11 has drawn the attention of rabid football fans and casual observers alike. There is PLENTY of room in America for more than one brand of football, the 2007 and 2008 seasons have been proof of that.

8. Football's future (at all levels) has and will continue to evolve rapidly. The players, fans and coaches demand it, need it and desire it - and that is a good thing.

Sincerely,

KB