Kurt Bryan's: A-11 Football & The Future of Football

A-11 Professional Football League - 2nd Update...& How Would Tim Tebow, Denard Robinson, Russell Wilson, Case Keenum, Dan LeFevour, Robert Griffin III, & Great NCAA football players Do in the A-11 Offense at the Professional Level?

2012-01-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

As we progress through our capital raising effort to inform & educate Investors to ramp up and launch our patent-pending, spring-summer A-11 Pro Football League, as mentioned in my previous Two Blog Posts about the type of Investors circling the new A-11FL and Why the A-11FL is poised to play a pivotal role in the future of Spring pro football, Investors and football Fans have often asked us to describe the type of football players that would be dynamic & INTERCHANGEABLE playmakers in the A-11 Football League, and Why the A-11 Offense fits their particular skill sets better than a “pro style” offense at the Professional Level?

*As an example of some thrilling football players that would be Game Breakers in the A-11 Offense at the Pro Level, we developed a sample A-11FL Marquee Player document for investors & broadcast media outlets to review, and that document is posted in our Chat Room at www.A11Offense.com for review.

1. The GAME Must Adapt to its Athletes in order to Evolve! Numerous Pro scouts and coaches have publicly noted & complained that most NCAA football teams DO NOT run a ‘pro style’ offensive system. Instead, most NCAA football teams use a Spread Option Offense or some variation of a Spread Shotgun Offense (and so do thousands of high schools & youth teams). Therefore, it’s incredibly difficult for many basic pro football Scouts & Coaches to accurately “project/predict” how these great NCAA shotgun spread offense players will actually pan out in basic pro football.

2. The majority of NCAA Spread Option offensive systems DO NOT resemble basic Pro systems, but they are MUCH CLOSER & SIMILAR in design & functionality to the super-spread A-11 Offense that is the backbone of the A-11 Football League.

3. Tim Tebow, Denard Robinson, Case Keenum, Russell Wilson, Dan LeFevour, Robert Griffin III, Tyrod Taylor, Armanti Edwards, Colt Brennan, Darron Thomas, Bryant Moniz, and MANY other great NCAA football players have produced Heisman Trophy winning years, incredible record-breaking statistics & numerous breathtaking victories in their NCAA football careers while operating in spread option & spread offensive systems. Just a recent example of an AMAZING NCAA quarterback at one of the Greatest NCAA football schools of all time, Michigan, their breathtaking QB - Denard Robinson is currently Projected as a Wide Receiver in basic pro football, but he's an incredibly versatile and thrilling Quarterback!

THESE great college football players & Many More have versatile skill sets tailor-made for the ultra-spread variants of A-11 Football, and there are THOUSANDS of great college players rising up through the ranks whose excellent skills fit perfectly into the A-11 game. It should be duly noted that these Tremendous NCAA football players are the Life Blood of a Multi-Billion Dollar collegiate football Mega Enterprise precisely because they are so dynamic and talented. ALSO, these great players and many more will be Showcased & Highlighted EVEN BETTER with FULL-TIME Pro Football Coaches & Players developing, fine-tuning & unleashing exciting New Concepts and unforeseen wild versions of the A-11 Offense!

** Entertainment & Action: Using (11) Fast & INTERCHANGEABLE Game Breakers in the A-11 Football League is the future of Spring Pro Football.

Step back for a moment and compare USING Eleven INTERCHANGEABLE great athletes in the A-11 Offense (A-11FL) to other pro sports leagues, and wonder how restricted and limited it would be if those other Pro Sports could not use EVERY athlete on the field or court to help their team Score and Win, and WHAT IF in these other examples of sports, IF in...

Basketball: only 3 out of 5 players could handle the ball & score?

Soccer: only 6 out of 11 players could touch the ball & score?

Baseball: only 5 out of 9 players could step up to the plate & swing the bat?

Hockey: only 3 out of 6 players could shoot the puck & score?

Lacrosse: only 6 out of 10 players could handle the ball & score?

These pro sports leagues are examples that would be very limited and hampered, if the above similar type of % restrictions were applied to the rules of their own sport that greatly LIMITED how many POTENTIAL players on Offense could Possibly score. And, these examples demonstrate by comparison how much more the A-11 Offense OPENS up the game of football like never before, so the Offensive Teams in A-11 Spring Pro Football can use 11 great Interchangeable players on the field at once, giving football fans, players and coaches Thousands of more thrilling options!

Stationary Target vs. Moving Target: As a defensive player, it is much easier to track, locate and tackle a Stationary target, as opposed to a MOVING target. EVERY Defensive Coordinator I've talked to over the years would MUCH rather game plan and prepare for an Immobile QB or Not Very Athletic QB, instead of having to deal with a Dual-Threat Nightmare at the Quarterback position.

4. MANY current & future NCAA head football coaches and their coaching staffs will LOVE having the A-11FL as the ultimate alternative Spring pro football league for their players to ascend into. IMAGINE for a moment that YOU are the Head Football Coach at ANY College in the nation, and MOST of your football players have been very comfortable operating in a spread option offensive system. Maybe your college Quarterback is a bit short by basic pro football standards, but he moves very well and throws a nice ball on the run? No problem…A-11FL. How about those “different or unique scat backs and receivers?” No problem…A-11FL. You have a couple of OL that are quicker than most OL but they don't fit all of the traits for basic pro football? No Problem...A-11FL. Then there’s the handful of “Hybrid” players that are a bit too small to play Tight End in basic pro football, and not quite fast enough to play WR? No Problem…A-11FL. Of course, there are the Thousands of great players each year that for one reason or another simply "Don't make the cut" in basic pro football or they DON'T even get looked at! And, that's not counting the half-dozen excellent players on each basic pro football team that are stashed away on practice squads too. An Abundance of TOP TIER TALENT is available that fits very well into the A-11 game at the Pro level.

5. The SAME exact reasoning is true for the DEFENSIVE players in the A-11FL. They will need to be mostly interchangeable, versatile & very in-shape athletes that are able to function at a high-level, and excel in the ultra-fast Tempo of the A-11 game, while competing against the complex and Mandatory No-Huddle A-11 Offensive systems in the A-11FL.

6. Recently, I was asked to discuss a “comparison” of an NCAA offensive football team that most closely resembles what the A-11 Offense will look like in the A-11 Football League?

7. My Answer: “Imagine the Oregon Ducks high-paced spread option offensive system, and make it even MORE spread out, and also using TWICE as many great athletes on the field, and having the versatility of the players ALL being Interchangeable, and THEN offer more than 16,500 post-snap variants that are NOT even Possible in Basic Pro Football!”

**The future of spring pro football is very bright and the A-11FL is poised to lead the way!

The A-11FL is simply the Natural Step in the Evolution of the Game...

A-11 Professional Football League...update!

2011-12-20T15:13:00.000-08:00

Respectfully, a few weeks ago after we announced our $100MM Capital Raising effort to ramp up and launch our patent-pending, spring-summer new A-11 Pro Football League, since then we have spent the first few weeks "Educating" Investors.

NOW Investors understand the A-11 Offense is NOT a Theory. It’s already a nationally-proven exciting Reality of Football, and Investors also know the A-11 Offense will be even MORE exciting with Full-Time Pro players and Coaches operating it, and the A-11 Pro Football League will be a revolutionary product for the many reasons discussed in my Nov 2011 Previous Blog Post about the A-11FL.

*Below is an overview regarding some parties expressing a Solid interest in Owning a small, medium or large part of the A-11FL and the various Football Properties that will stem from it:

• Existing Pro Sports Leagues: diversification is a good strategy for most businesses. There are existing pro sports Leagues that have reviewed our information & expressed an interest. Obviously, these existing Leagues would have said “no thanks” if they were not possibly interested in owning some portion of the A-11FL

• Current Pro Football Players & Athletes & Former Pro Athletes: Surprisingly, some VERY High-profile Current Pro football Stars & some Athletes have reached out to us about what it would take for them to OWN a piece of our new League. After checking with their Attorneys, these Pro Players were advised there is ZERO conflict of interest and they are Legally allowed to invest their own money in sports ventures, etc. Apparently, a handful of Current and Former players have a sharp interest in becoming Pro Football Team Owners...NOW!

Question: WILL the A-11FL become a revolutionary wide-open new pro football league that is OWNED by a Group of CURRENT, Future and Former Pro Football Stars?
(We shall see what transpires).

• Former Pro Sports Team Owners: We’ve talked with some former Team Owners and/or their reps. They are considering getting back into the ownership game and have an interest in making Pro Football History by being a part of the A-11 Football League ownership group.

• Private Investors and Investment Banks: More than a Dozen private firms, and one of the Top 20 wealthiest Men in America, and some investment banks are seriously considering underwriting all or part of our capital raise efforts. They understand where the game of 11-man tackle football is headed and the reasons why a wide-open A-11 Football League would score attractive spring-summer ratings with TV broadcast partners & digital media partners, and attract sponsors and advertisers, etc.

* Entertainers: Some professional Entertainers have begun circling our new venture. They are interested in becoming Team Owners and the cost of purchasing a previously established pro team is too much for them. But, they are attracted to the concept of an A-11FL franchise.

• Social Media Companies: TWO social media companies are reviewing the A-11 Professional Football League info. And, there is an argument to be made on their behalf that a bright future exists for broadcasting innovative A-11FL games primarily through digital worldwide streaming networks, that it is a wave of the future and to catch a ride on it now.

• Overseas Investors: A few overseas investment groups based in Switzerland, and London, and other parts of Europe and Asia, have been asking interesting questions. They are interested and curious if the No-Huddle style of A-11 Football and a more ‘constant-motion’ type of 11-man pro football game will catch on in Europe and Asia, in addition to the USA.

These are very exciting times, and we shall see what happens in the near future!

It's worth the Risk of going for it in hopes of success...

A-11 Professional Football League (A-11FL)

2011-11-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

The New Spring-Summer A-11 Football League (U.S. Patent-Pending) coming in the Spring of 2013 is a big part of FOOTBALL’S FUTURE…and here are some of the reasons why:

If you go back in Time and carefully look at the history of football and Pro Football, it quickly becomes VERY clear where our great game of Football is headed. For a moment, Imagine that you and a buddy were able to go back and visit the Year 1912, and the Two of you were attending a Championship Football game 100 years ago, and "sitting in the grandstands" during that contest. Respectfully to those brave football coaches and players using their best strategies and giving a total team effort before your very eyes 100 Years ago, that game would be a dramatic and very stark contrast to the type of Pro Football Game being played today.

Most of the strategic aspects of the GAME itself were incredibly COMPRESSED by design, featuring ultra-tight splits and a smash-mouth style of brutal play, and most of players in the Year 1912 were much smaller and slower. Actions and movements within the game were much slower. The Forward Pass had just been Legalized in the year 1906, and many people believed the Forward Pass was a Gimmick and would quickly fade away. Slowly but surely the advent of the Forward Pass began to open up the strategic aspects of football. If those players, coaches and fans of the year 1912 were transported to the year 2012, they would be Stunned by the incredible size, speed and wide open complexity of today's Pro Football game.

Now to the Present: As the game rapidly evolves, some very salient points rise to the surface about the future of Pro Football:

1. The game IS becoming Faster & More Spread out, and NOT slower & more condensed. In much of the football world, the A-11 has become a measuring stick for innovation and the evolution of the game, due to the efforts of many innovative and courageous football coaches and their players nationwide. As noted by highly respected foootball Historian, John Reed (Harvard & West Point alum), and Reed is also the author of the well regarded strategic book 'Football Clock Management' and many other football books, Reed explained about the A-11, "the game of 11-man tackle football can never become more than the A-11, it's impossible to go beyond it." Reed's many points in favor of the A-11 Offense as the Future of Football have been detailed in his articles, along with many other youth, high school, collegiate and pro football expert's observations about why the game of football is speeding into A-11 Football have been well documented on the A-11 Feedback site and in numerous articles and media features as well: http://a11feedback.blogspot.com

2. As we learn more about player safety – dramatic rule changes have affected the game’s strategies and further upcoming rule changes at the Youth & High School levels will drastically effect the style of game played very soon and Guide the game into the A-11 style of play

3. More and more youth, high school & NCAA Quarterbacks are taking the majority of their snaps from deep within a Shotgun set, than from under the Center. Therefore, every type of A-11 set or Spread or Pistol set automatically calls for the quarterback(s) to be aligned further away from the LOS and deep in the backfield. This translates (normally) into the quarterback taking fewer devastating hits from the defense. Also, the quarterback & running backs benefit from operating in a super-spread set due to the much wider OL splits, which equates to wider running and passing lanes.

4. In the A-11 Offense (normally) the Defense must spread out and account for Every POTENTIALLY eligible receiver or back, even though the Defense will not usually identify which exact receivers are eligible on a given play, until right before the football is snapped. When the Defense is super-spread out, the Quarterback’s reads are usually much easier to discern and identify quicker.

5. OL: in the A-11, the offensive linemen are usually more spread out, thereby further reducing their chances of sustaining brutal knee, ankle or hip injuries from horrific pile-ups and entanglements. If you watch a conventional pro football game or high-level NCAA game, take a look at how many OL are wearing bulky knee braces under their game pants and socks in case they are accidentally rolled-up on or hit from side, etc.

6. As super-spread offensive sets like the A-11 grab a larger piece of the strategic football marketplace, it will push the boundaries of football innovation beyond the norm and alter the conceptual landscape of how/where/when/why football coaches utilize certain schemes & concepts.

7. In super-spread A-11 type sets, the Job Description of the Offensive Tackle position has changed. Respectfully, no longer is an OT used to just pass block or run block. Super-spread offensive sets like the A-11 call for a NEW POSITION being created, which replaces the OT position, with a much more nimble & versatile athletic playmaker, a player able to block, run with the ball and catch it too. This position has been redefined at the Youth & High School levels since 2007 all across the country, and it’s called the ANCHOR. In A-11 football, the ANCHORS are aligned on each side of the field in the A-11 base set, Left & Right respectively, but they can align within any A-11 formation all over the field as needed.

8. No-Huddle Offense & New Complex Concepts: Many Youth, High School and NCAA football teams operate using a hurry-up No Huddle Offense. In the A-11 Offense, every player is a versatile and in-shape athletic player, and they are all interchangeable. This type of ultra-fast high tempo and wide open A-11 Football is exciting for the players and the fans really enjoy it. The youth, High School and NCAA teams have already proven they can quickly grasp A-11 football concepts and run with them full speed ahead. IMAGINE what is going to happen when FULL TIME professional A-11 football coaches and players go full tilt on A-11 concepts, it will be a Thing of Beauty to watch for everybody involved!

9. A-11 Experiment: In 2007 when we launched the A-11 Offense, we had little idea it was going to go bananas nationwide like it did in 2008 after only one-year of success. We were thrilled at Piedmont that the A-11 gave us a better chance of being successful, and then when we started doing public and private coaching clinics around the country, and we kept hearing the same things from coaches and players, “you guys need to take the A-11 to the pros.” Finally, the football OFFICIALS were the key, they proved it nationwide and WITHOUT the use of Instant Replay, that they were fully capable of properly officiating A-11 games.

THE FANS love watching A-11 Football! As the game evolves to become more spread out and wide open, the FAN'S appetite and their EXPECTATIONS change too. FANS want to Watch and enjoy UNPREDICTABLE football, and the inherent aspects and design of the A-11 are the game's most random version of 11-man tackle football played at its Mathematical Limits.

** Entertainment & Action: Using (11) Fast & INTERCHANGEABLE Game Breakers in the A-11 Football League is the future of Spring Pro football.

Step back for a moment and compare USING Eleven INTERCHANGEABLE great athletes in the A-11 Offense (A-11FL) to other pro sports leagues, and wonder how restricted and limited it would be if those other Pro Sports could not use EVERY athlete on the field or court to help their team Score and Win, and WHAT IF in these other sports examples, IF in...

Basketball: only 3 out of 5 players could handle the ball & score?

Soccer: only 6 out of 11 players could touch the ball & score?

Baseball: only 5 out of 9 players could step up to the plate & swing the bat?

Hockey: only 3 out of 6 players could shoot the puck & score?

Lacrosse: only 6 out of 10 players could handle the ball & score?

These pro sports leagues are examples that would be badly limited and hampered, if the above similar type of restrictions were applied to the rules of their own sport that greatly LIMITED how many POTENTIAL players per Offense could possibly score. And, these examples demonstrate by comparison how much more the A-11 Offense OPENS up the game of football like never before, so the Offensive Teams in A-11 Spring Pro Football can use 11 great Interchangeable players on the field at once, giving football fans, players and coaches Thousands of more thrilling options!

10. The ATHLETES are much better now than even 25-years ago, and there are a LOT more of them ready to showcase their amazing talents in A-11 Pro Football. These Athletes are able to learn, process, implement and successfully use Much More Football information than previous generations, respectfully, and that's true in most every industry and it holds true for football. Plus, the A-11 allows for EVERY player on the Offensive team to be a scoring threat and really highlights their true broader range of skills as an incredible athlete, able to function at numerous positions without substitution. Now moving ahead into the very near future, and since it’s been proven nationwide at the amateur levels by the coaches, athletes and referees, that A-11 is even more exciting and very workable by the Refs, the game has changed forever and it’s never going backwards.

The game's players, coaches, officials and fans should do what most of the Founding Fathers of Football did before us...we should honor them, respect them, love them and learn from football's glorious past, while embracing the future of football with open arms. The possibilities are amazing.

Fast Forward to the Year 2112...One-Hundred Years from now, what will the game of Pro Football look like? One thing is certain, the game will NOT be slower and more methodical, that's impossible. In the year 2112, there will be unforseen innovations and dramatic rule changes that impact the Futuristic style of Pro Football being played.

If you have any doubts about the rapid changes taking place in the game of Pro Football, and how much different the game will be in the near future and 100 years from now...just take a moment and remember that Visit you and your buddy took back to the year 1912, and the truth becomes self-evident.

*The A-11 Offense in the new Spring-Summer A-11 Professional Football League (A-11FL) is a very exciting future indeed, and I will provide key updates on the A-11FL "launch" process every few weeks

Chapter 6

2011-06-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

Chapter 6

“Sweating It…Without Our #1 Quarterback vs. John Swett in Crockett”

NOVEMBER 2nd, 2007: Many things had been going well for six consecutive weeks. Incredibly, our determined Piedmont football team had notched three gutty wins vs. Trinity, St. Mary’s, and Oakland High (Homecoming), and then managed to rattle off three more victories vs. Albany, Kennedy and Moreau.

After starting the season with an 0 – 2 record, and weathering a hurricane of nasty and humiliating emails, phone calls and letters, and the surprise visits and urgent meetings with parents and some community icons wanting to ‘save’ the football program, and after our OL coach had quit…through it all and much more, the unselfish behavior amongst our coaches and players had paid massive dividends…sweet returns like nothing I’d ever witnessed in more than two decades of coaching football up to that point in time.

After our victory vs. St. Mary’s had brought our record to 3 – 2, the irate phone calls and harsh emails began giving way to an increasing stream of well-wishers, happy to voice their ardent support during phone calls and via email. A growing number of curious visitors and some media personnel began to materialize or float around our practices and games, and a throng of eager supporters were suddenly shouting words of praise on behalf of the Piedmont football program.

“A-11” was no longer considered a swearword around town; it had somewhat become a beacon of hope for the Little Guy, like Piedmont.

Our Piedmont team had built up a record of 6 – 2 and we’d already clinched a winning season! Imagine that? Even if we proceeded to lose the final two games of the season, we would finish no worse than a record of 6-4. Not bad at all.
But, entering our 9th game of the year at John Swett, we were undefeated in league play, and about to play a Swett team that came into the contest with a deceiving record of 3-4, their earlier stinging 24-21 loss to powerhouse Salesian, a (10-2) team that had cost them dearly.

On that crisp November night in Crockett amidst the charming old brick buildings and rustic homes along the shores of the Carquinez Straits, and behind the vaunted C&H Sugar Mill Factory, the awful gopher-holed and lumpy grass football field overshadowed by the looming Carquinez Bridge nearby was the least of my worries.

Each week our Piedmont team overcame a bevy of unique distractions and obstacles to succeed, and as every coach knows, winning often is never easy. For this battle against a big and physical hard-nosed Swett team, we would not only have to withstand their fierce power I and Double Wing rushing attack, led by their remarkable Running Back, Mark Anderson, but IF we were going to escape with our 7th straight victory of the season, we would have to accomplish that feat without our star primary quarterback, Jeremy George.

In our previous week’s victory vs. Moreau Catholic, Jeremy had suffered a painful pulled hip-flexor muscle, but he had finished the contest. However, during the week of practice leading up to the Swett game, it became evident he would need to sit out and rest for one game. Instead of sulking, Jeremy emerged as a strong leader, smallish in stature but monumental in his resolve and great athletic ability. He became like another coach on the field during that week of practice, tutoring his counterpart Ryan Lipkin, a senior. Lipkin was solid, eager and confident, ready to make full use of his attributes as the newly installed primary QB in the two-quarterback A-11 system, instead of being the usual starter next to Jeremy as the secondary QB.

After warm-ups on the porous football field, our Piedmont team jogged gingerly across the turf towards the visitor’s locker room, each player hoping not to Frog an ankle.

Jeremy George glanced over at me before scuttling ahead and quipped, “Lipkin is ready.” I nodded and prayed to God that Jeremy’s assessment was correct.
Perched on a hilly street behind a chain-link fence about 25-feet above the Northwest corner of the end zone were some of the John Swett Indians faithful “adult” football fans.

They had staked a claim at their usual spot outside the stadium confines. They had their folding chairs out, the BBQ was smoking away, and the hardy group was having a good time drinking booze prior to kick-off. I’ve always admired the Blue Collar ‘hard hat’ football communities in towns that I’ve visited across the nation. And, this rowdy group of about a dozen Swett fans easily put to shame the two old geezers that used to sit up in the balcony and hurl insults down at everybody else during that great classic television show, “The Muppets.”

The verbal downpour from the Swett crew struck without warning, “You suck Piedmont! A-11 is garbage! We...are…gonna…kick your butts all night! You guys are a buncha wimps…don’t even bother coming back out for the game, it’s already over! Piedmont is for p----! That’s right…keep running away, and I’m talking to you too…coach!”

I lagged behind the rest of our team, smirked and kept jogging. But, after another barrage of quality insults rained down upon us, I peeked up at the raucous group as I shuffled by.

Our heckler was a woman!

She was standing up, a tad wobbly and peering down at us through the fence while clutching a beer can and a cigarette in one hand. I winked at her and chuckled on my way toward the locker room. A split-second later I heard that lady cut loose with a hearty booming laugh and for obvious reasons it relaxed my spirit just a bit.
To open the game we kicked off the ball to Swett, and I breathed a sigh of relief when their star, Mark Anderson did not return it for a touchdown. Our excellent defense played stout, we got the ball back and our offense began the game with excellent field position at our own 45-yard line.

We came out in a basic I formation set, with our Tight End to the right, and a receiver to each side. Lipkin got under the Center, took the snap and did a quick three-step drop.

We had the perfect play called, “Pro I 93 Pitch,” but Lipkin’s pass was a tad low. Our Flanker, Kyle Bonecum caught the 5-yard hitch route but his left knee touched the ground during the catch. Therefore, when Bonecum tossed the football back to Elliot, our Tailback sprinting all alone down the right sideline, it was negated because Bonecum had already been ruled down, a game of inches.

Two plays later, I made a yucky call after we had switched into our A-11 Offense, a Flare Pass from our secondary quarterback/running back, the excellent Jamel Freeman, to Lipkin out of our 43 formation. I was hoping to catch Swett off-guard, in retrospect, it was a cruddy move. The throw was ruled a backward pass, Swett recovered the bouncing ball deep in our own backfield and they were in business…my bad. Luckily, we caught a break and our great defense held.

Our offense took the field in the A-11 at our own 10-yard line and Jamel Freeman began the drive with a nifty 9-yard draw up the middle. Lipkin completed a short pass and we had some momentum. Good God, the Swett players were big, very big and strong. Another nice run by Jamel, then Lipkin completed a middle screen pass to our TE, Bryce Chu who was aligned at the ‘right guard’ spot in our 43 formation and suddenly we were on the move. Maybe Jeremy George had been right, maybe Lipkin was ready? Well, we suffered a penalty and had to quick kick punt from our A-11 set, luckily one of the great benefits of the A-11.

Swett got the ball at their own 30-yard line, and on their first play of the drive, their QB handed the ball off to #22, Mark Anderson, he dashed to the right and then bolted down the right sideline.

“Damn! He’s a beautiful runner, look at him go!” I uttered, as I watched helplessly, and Anderson ripped off a 45-yard gain before being pushed out of bounds. The Swett team and their fans were going nuts. Several plays later, Swett gave the ball to their fullback, #2 and soon we found ourselves down by seven-points after their extra point was good.

We returned the Swett’s kick off and our offense took the field in the A-11, spreading out the big Swett defense was our only chance of success. As the game moved into the 2nd Quarter, Lipkin grew more comfortable and completed a perfect Wheel route to Rory Bonin up the right sideline on our “18 Attack” play.

Lipkin connected on a few more passes and we had the ball 1st and Goal inside the Swett 10-yard line. We switched into our basic I formation set, Lipkin aligned under the Center but the snap exchange did not go well, and Swett recovered our fumble inside their own 8-yard line. Even though it was nearing halftime, the Swett coach made the same call I would have made in that situation, he told his quarterback to take the snap, turn around and give it to # 22. The incredible running back took the handoff and dashed down the right side again, before being ushered out of bounds at the 50-yard line. Swett ran off a few more plays and they found themselves on 4th down and with the ball on our 25-yard line.

As they had done all year long, our defense stood the test and tackled their quarterback shy of the first down.

Our A-11 offense took the field at our own 21-yard line, with no timeouts and 48-seconds remaining in the first half. Lipkin needed to come up Aces and that’s exactly what he did. He sprinted out to his right and scanned the field for an open receiver on “18 Scramble.” Lipkin fired a dart to our outstanding sophomore wide out, Joey Andrada, who entered the game with a badly sprained ankle but Joey refused to sit that night because Jeremy was already scratched from the lineup. Andrada caught the deep comeback route from Lipkin and teetered near our sideline. The Swett defensive backs near Joey thought he was going to step out of bounds to stop the clock, but Andrada showed great moxie by pivoting inside and then cutting back out wide. Andrada took off for the end zone like he’d been shot out of a cannon, and he bolted down the field for a 79-yard touchdown as our team and tiny brigade of visiting fans jumped for the heavens. Andrada crossed into the end zone in the northwestern corner of the field in plain view of the “Blue Collar” Swett fans poised on the hill outside that edge of the stadium. Tie game at the half.

Swett kicked the ball off to us to begin the 2nd half and Lipkin went back to work in the A-11. Short passes and quick runs, a little toss to Devin Brown, and again we are deep inside Swett territory. Interception, Swett’s football 1st and Ten. Swett drove but then our defense returned the favor and intercepted a pass. We got the football back and Lipkin started firing again.

A couple of quick passes and a scamper, and then Lipkin found two-way starter, and Team Captain, Alexander Menke on a sizzling slant route from the Swett 25-yard line, on the play, “331 Stagger 193 Slant Corner.” Menke caught the hard pass in stride, cut inside and scored, 14 – 7 Piedmont, deep into the 3rd.

We kicked off to Swett after we scored, but somehow the football found its way into the hands of #22, Mark Anderson. About 11-seconds later, the score was tied 14 – 14, after Anderson took it to the house en route to a 90-yard return for a touchdown. Their Place-Kicker’s extra point had clunked on top of the Crossbar and tumbled through during a great, hard fought football game.

There’s a saying I learned from Tim Landis when I was working on his staff as the Wide Receivers Coach at St. Mary’s College (Moraga, CA). Tim is a close friend of mine and an outstanding person and excellent college head football coach. His saying was, “Tough times don’t last but tough people do.”

Lipkin proved that motto to the bone on our ensuing drive, and at a crucial time when our team needed it most. Lipkin proceeded to lead our A-11 Offense on a long drive full of runs, hits, passes and moves unlike anything he’d shown all year. Twice during that drive Lipkin got absolutely steamrolled by a much bigger Swett defender, but Lipkin resurrected each time without fail. As the 3rd quarter wound down, and from the Swett 30-yard line, Lipkin snaked a quick pass into the left flat to Alexander Menke. Menke caught the pass behind a sturdy wall of four blockers from our 43 set and he galloped down the left sideline heading for a score.

As a longtime football coach, prior to each game I always say a prayer and ask God to please keep our players and the other team’s players safe from harm during the game. However, what I witnessed next was easily one of the most revolting and deliberate things I’ve ever seen on the football field. At Swett’s 15-yard line, the Swett Free Safety reached out with both of his hands and grabbed Menke’s facemask. Both feet of Swett’s Free Safety came off the ground as Menke’s head, then his neck, and then his entire body and feet were also ripped into the air and back around to his right. A sickening and terrifying sight to behold. Menke went flying out of bounds and landed near the 11-yard line, with the Swett Free Safety still holding onto his cage!

“Menke’s paralyzed, Oh my God!” was the only thought racing in my mind. Please get up, Alex.

Bullish and miraculously, Menke popped up quickly, ignored the Swett Free Safety and hustled back to his offensive teammates. Yellow flags flew but I wanted an ejection of that Swett player, Menke could have been killed or crippled on purpose for life.
Normally, I pride myself on treating the Officials with great respect and I usually try to kill them with kindness 99% of the time, in hopes of getting a call to help our team when we need it.

Not this time…I went ape, crazy, hopping mad, loud and whacked out, nuts. berserk on every Official and the Referee without mercy, “Throw that player out of the game now! Chuck him out right now! Why wait for another incident? Throw him out now, now, now, now, now, now! Right noooooowwwwwww!”

I worked my way down the sideline near the Heckler’s corner of the field. Bless that woman, because even that woman and the rest of her group understood the gravity of the situation. There was no jeering at all from them regarding what everybody in the stadium had just seen.

The Referee marked off the flagrant infraction, talked with me for a moment and then play resumed. Our offense scored the final go-ahead touchdown on a nice little Dive play by Keith Reid, and we took the lead 21 – 14. Eventually, the Swett head football coach ordered his Free Safety sit out of the game for a few plays to cool off, a noble gesture indeed.

The difficult, entertaining and extremely hard fought game seesawed back and forth, but our defense held tough and we came away from the Swett game with a much deserved 21 – 14 win.

At the far end of the field away from Heckler’s Hill, I huddled our team in a semi-circle after the game and reaped huge amounts of praise on them for a job well done.
“You guys have won seven straight games! We’ve got a record of seven and two, and now you guys have earned the right to play for the League title next week vs. St. Patrick’s! That’s incredible guys, truly amazing after what we’ve all been through together!”

The team and assistant coaches erupted with joy, high fives and bear hugs after a great night.

Several minutes later, after helping to gather gear and greet some of our Piedmont fans, I walked across the field towards the visitor’s locker room, and with the dispersing crew of Heckler’s Hill to my right. I looked up at them and the female heckler appeared from behind a van. She raised her beer can at me and she gave me a slow nod of her head in a silent toast.

I smiled at her and waved goodbye, “Playoffs?” I thought, “Can we make it to the playoffs?”

EVIL Goes Down - So Long BIN LADEN

2011-05-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

May 1st, 2011

(A Great Day for Americans & Lovers of Freedom Worldwide)

ABOUT 9 ½ years after the Horrors of September 11, 2001 orchestrated by the terrible, freedom-hating and woman-hating, crazy Terrorist Osama Bin Laden, tonight we learned that due to the relentless, fearless efforts against every conceivable obstacle overcome by our Men & Women in the USA Military, and the ceaseless retaliatory reply by former U.S. President George W. Bush, and current U.S. President Barack H. Obama, the overpowering WILL and Goodness of the Freedom-loving USA and its people finally triumphed over the absolute Evil led by Osama Bin Laden.

Great job Obama, Bush and the USA Military.

The now deceased Terrorist Osama Bin Laden hated Western values and its symbolism: he despised the inherent and imperfect aspects of all things USA related: truth, freedom, liberty, democracy, civil rights and women’s rights. Imagine the unbridled hatred carried by Osama Bin Laden and his followers, and the pure vitriol of all things western-related that Osama Bin Laden could not stand. He despised many things of the west, if not all of it, and the fact that all Americans (and especially the women of the western civilized world) because of the rights all of us have to achieve the highest levels of academic education, to drive a car, to Vote, and that women can dress as they please in western cultures.

Throughout recorded world history, horrific despots such as Bin Laden, Pol Pot, Hitler, Mao, Mussolini and Stalin are just a few names depicting the ruthless hatred of all things related to liberty, freedom and democracy for Men and Women of every skin color and religious belief across the globe.

But now, the brutal and nasty terrorist Osama Bin Laden is no longer walking the earth. The Battle for Freedom never sleeps but it’s also a war against Evil that never ends.

Today is another wonderful moment in the spectrum of World History for EVERY Man, Woman and Child that supports Democracy, Freedom for ALL and pure Liberty for Every Race, Ethnicity and Religious belief all across the Globe, and for Every Person valuing their own Freedom and those same pearls of freedom for their friends and neighbors worldwide.

GOD Bless America and all of its Allies worldwide…

BIG Changes Coming to Football Soon!

2011-03-08T21:33:00.000-08:00

As is the case regarding the study of nearly every subject when looking back at it using the gift of hindsight, in 25, 50, 100 or 200 years from now, many people that we will never meet will look back upon this period in football history and closely examine the Era of Spread Offensive systems from (2000 - 2020).

Over the next nine years (2011 - 2020), what types of changes are coming to the great game of Football?

- Will the game become more or less violent?

- Will the game become faster and more spread out, or slower & more condensed?

- Will the game's style revert back and become like the more compact run-oriented systems, such as the Wing-T or Double Wing?

- Or, will the game move forward and embrace more innovative strategies better suited to the amazing and incredible athletes emerging onto the scene?

As the tremendous athletes and wide-open Spread Concepts continually push the game into fresh realms and new dimensions, what will the Game of football actually "Look Like in the year 2020" or sooner?

a. The game's key rules will be seriously altered to maximize player safety during the practices and games. Just in the past few years alone, startling information has been revealed to the public about the bad effects of head trauma, concussions and brain injuries, and although the players compete at their own volition, it's critical that the rules change to help improve their overall safety as much as possible. These upcoming rule changes will drastically affect the types of athletes & players utilized on Rosters at all levels of play, youth football, high school, college and Pro. These impending and unavoidable rule changes will immediately emphasize the use of lighter, faster and more dynamic multi-skilled athletes that are able to play a variety of (or any) position on the field. Instead of developing a stable of "overly-specialized players" that are ill-suited or totally unable to contribute or compete at more than one position, most respectfully.

As in life things change, circumstances alter and sports adjust as well or they die. Certain positions on the football field will become extinct or their job description and duties required to play that position or new role will be radically altered, leading to a totally different type of athlete needed to play those new positions.

b. The game's tempo will become faster and utilize further spread-out strategies across the field of play. And, the actual dimensions of the field itself will become wider than it is now and able to support the faster athletes of the near future. The field will be expanded to at least 55-yards wide or 58-yards wide to accommodate the upcoming combination of super-spread offensive concepts married with faster players.

c. Officiating: as the game becomes further spread out across the field of play, and with the advent of a wider field being utilized, more Officials will be needed and employed on the gridiron for each game. Currently, there is One Referee and Six other Officials used during a Pro football game (for a total of 7).

However, as the number of potentially Eligible Offensive Players allowed within a formation increases from the current legal number of 6, to 7 (or into a true form of the A-11 game)...a greater number of Officials will be needed to oversee Eligibility issues, penalty enforcement and the like, of course all of this happening on a wider field. It's easy to forecast the use of 9 Officials on the field per game by the year 2020.

How will all of these changes take place and When will they happen?

Big changes in Football are coming SOON...stay tuned.

One of the Best Football Books Ever!

2010-08-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

Blood, Sweat and Chalk…One of the Best Football Books Ever!

Esteemed veteran Sports Illustrated magazine writer, Tim Layden's new football book is a masterpiece!

Blood, Sweat and Chalk is a must-read for any football fan, player or coach!

Layden carefully and expertly takes the reader on a wonderful and insightful journey through football's greatest innovations and how they came to be.

Layden's work in Blood, Sweat and Chalk is stunning in its attention to detail but seamlessly written as an enjoyable and highly entertaining read. I finished each chapter and eagerly turned the page looking to see what was next. This book has set a new and very high standard and is easily one of the best football books ever published!

Layden not only did massive amounts of research, in-depth interviews with many of the game’s most innovative coaches, but he also draws the creators of various offensive and defensive systems out for the reader to fully engulf word after word, and page after page.

Tidbits of keen information are unearthed with every interview and interesting anecdotes tumble out of the book time after time, and gently fall into the reader’s lap enabling anyone that reads this book to invest themselves in all 22 Chapters with zealous appreciation.

Blood, Sweat and Chalk goes the extra yard and scores big with Layden’s coverage of 22 of the best innovations in football, including but not limited to the Single Wing, the Ryan Family (46) Defense and offshoots of it, the No-Huddle Attack, the Air Raid, the bedeviling Zone Blitz and giving us a glimpse into the future of football as well.

If you like or love watching football, get yourself a copy of Blood, Sweat and Chalk!

It is outstanding read totally replete with great stories revealed, while at the same time offering the service of being an educational wonder-book for any football aficionado that wants to learn about the secrets of the game.

Blood, Sweat and Chalk is a championship read from the opening kickoff until the very end.

More Than One Way to Be Successful

2010-06-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

Authored By:

Kurt Bryan & Steve Humphries
Co-creators of the A-11 Offense
Piedmont High School, CA
www.A11Offense.com

*Written for American Football Monthly Magazine, June 2010:

There Are Many Different Ways To Develop A Successful Offensive System

The Wing T, Power I, Run and Shoot, Veer or the West Coast Offense: fortunately, there is no Secret Formula or Magic Bullet offense that guarantees wins. In order to be successful on the offensive side of the ball, a flexible approach is key, and that translates into incredible offensive systems on display each week nationwide at every level.

In February of 2009, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Executive Rules Committee changed their definition of a Scrimmage Kick Formation (SKF), to make it a penalty on the offensive team, if that team had (all eleven players on the field wearing eligible jersey numbers at the same time) on 1st, 2nd and 3rd downs. Prior to that, if an offensive team had at least one-player aligned at least 7-yards deep in the backfield and with nobody under Center, the NFHS definition of a SKF was in effect, and an offensive team could thereby have up to all eleven players on the field wearing eligible jersey numbers 1-49 or 80-99. Hence the name was born for the A-11 Offense (all eleven players potentially eligible) to receive a forward pass.

“Dead, kaput, deceased, expired, perished, buried and departed,” were just a few adjectives some people used to describe the fate of the A-11 Offense - after the NHFS rules committee changed the definition of a Scrimmage Kick Formation in February 2009. It was their attempt to kill the A-11. Some folks were happy about it & some sad about the revision. Change is fluid.

But, after our Piedmont football team defeated a tough opponent during the 2009 season, in which we employed our modified A-11, the opposing Head Coach made this statement to Coach Bryan after the season, about his own team’s best defensive player (a big strong DL), “The hardest part about game planning for the A-11 was figuring out where to put him. The A-11 basically rendered him ineffective the entire game. He wasn’t a factor at all.”

The successful transition of the A-11 into traditional football jersey-numbering rules enables any team, at any level to mix up their looks and use A-11 packages to supplement their current offense. For example, spread option teams can shift into unique A-11 formations, and motion or shift into any of their 2 x 2 or 1 x 3 pass route combinations. Every NCAA & NFL team can also legally get into an A-11 set on 4th downs, and use the "all eleven eligible numbered players on the field at the same time" personnel group to an advantage vs. the defense.

At Piedmont, the A-11 fits the strength of the personnel when matched up against several of our opponent’s assets, and it helps to offset their advantages over us in some areas, especially size. Piedmont’s enrollment is about 800 students, public & coed. The CIF Division III playoff classification we compete in takes eligible playoff teams of (701 – 1,400) enrollment. In the previous three years (2004-2006) before the A-11 was introduced, Piedmont’s overall record was a combined (13-17-1). Comparatively, in the three seasons (2007-09) since using the A-11 at Piedmont, the overall team record is (21-12).

Biggest Changes for the 2009 Season: The full-blown A-11in 2007 & 2008 enabled teams nationwide to experiment with exciting concepts, and opposing defensive coordinators had a chance to stamp new schemes onto the gridiron. Major changes occurred on the field and throughout brainstorming sessions for the teams using A-11 or defending against it.

1. Anchors Have Become a New Position in Football: By design, A-11 replaces both of the Traditional Offensive Tackles with a duo of sleeker and more athletic Game Breaker type athlete, often spreading them wide beyond the hash marks, one to each side. Even though Anchors wear jersey number (# 50-79) they are not lineman type players, respectively. Anchors can do everything a normal receiver can do, except catch a Forward Pass. Anchors can block, take a pitch, handoff, negative bubble screen or quick pass behind the LOS, receive a lateral after a catch by another player, & run with or throw the ball. During 2009, our Anchors executed all of these actions listed and more.

2. Quarterback Can Align Under Center: The only time Piedmont aligned in a SKF in 2009 was for a FG/PAT, therefore, our QB could take the snap from under Center or we could have our QB & RB align at any depth in the backfield. This modification allowed us to use some traditional concepts within the A-11 (like Speed Option), and keep the “threat” of a quick pass or bubble screen to a WR or Anchor hot at various times.

Contrary to what some people think, the A-11 is a solid rushing offense, it creates wide running lanes because the defense is super spread out. Utmost space between the players is an equalizer.

· During the 2009 season our starting Varsity QB threw 18 touchdown passes & 2 int., with an overall QB rating of 145%. Our starting JV Quarterback threw 19 touchdowns & 3 int. Both starting Quarterbacks combined for: 37 Td’s & 5 int.

· We ran the football 48% of the time during the 2009 season, & (49.5% in the 2008)

· We averaged 31.6 points per game for the 2009 season, & (30 points per game in 2008)

· “The Football moves faster than the man,” is true in high school, the NCAA & NFL

· NCAA & NFL Offensive players can Cut-Block the defenders. As the A-11 begins moving up to the highest levels of competition, being able to “cut-block the legs from underneath the defenders” will make the A-11 devastating, and help to neutralize size advantages. It’s often easier for a RB or OL to cut-block an oncoming DE or LB in order to keep the defense honest, than to mandate that the offensive player must always take on a 2nd or 3rd level defender up high. Defenders worry about getting cut-blocked. It will be similar to the effects of the cut-blocking used by Option teams: Army, Navy & Air Force

· Piedmont’s Three years in the A-11: Avg. 7 wins a season & made the playoffs each year

· Our average Home Game attendance before the A-11 was 800 fans per game. Since using the A-11, our average Home Game attendance is more than 2,000 fans per game

· Our annual fundraising average before the A-11 was $29,000

· Since the A-11, our donor contributions average more than $50,000 per year

· Annual Concessions & Merchandise sales have more than doubled since using A-11

There are many different offensive systems available to help your team win more games. For Piedmont, and the other teams willing to try something new, the A-11 and the possibilities it offers are a good fit. As the game of football becomes faster, more dynamic and further spread out across the field of play, there is a respectful contingent of folks believing the game will revert back to a more condensed and Smash Smouth style of play.

With great respect to the Founding Fathers of football and to every player and coach that have come before us, we value the contributions they’ve made to the tremendous game of football. Blocking and tackling will always be the most important elements of the game. Furthermore, creating different formations and exciting ways to advance the football via the run or the pass will always evolve to fit the advanced skills of the modern athlete. That’s excellent news for the players, the coaches, football fans, and for the evolution of the game. Football has always adapted and it will continue to do so. And, the rules will also adjust accordingly to keep up to speed.

From Tom Wallace, Offensive Coordinator: West Valley High School - Hemet, CA

“We decided to add the A-11 to our offensive philosophy because we only had two real lineman and a total of 5 returning varsity players. We did have quite a few athletes that weighed around 170 pounds so we thought the addition of the A-11 would keep us competitive in a league and division where we were the smallest school. We used all of the three lineman sets and added what we call our "nickel" set where we have a trips formation with the addition of our two Anchors all on the same side. This formation was quite successful for us both running and throwing the football. We also added our normal spread and trips formations to keep our opponents from putting just athletes on the field. We ended the season as league champs with a 4-1 League record (6-5 overall) and lost to a school that was twice our size by a score of 35-21 in the playoffs.”

"What the A-11 did, was help our teams compete and win a league championship. We were picked to finish fourth and in some preseason polls fifth out of six teams. It made football a lot of fun for our players and not so much fun for our opposing defensive coordinators. We also have more kids planning on coming out for football in this spring than in the past few years. We will continue to use the A-11 offense and we will only get better using it. It's the future of football!”

Sit & Take It or Create More SPACE to Help Your Team Win!

2010-03-30T16:01:00.000-07:00

FLORIDA Coach - Urban Meyer, former Texas Tech - Coach Mike Leach, Oregon Coach – Chip Kelly, the Spread Triple Option at ARMY, and a host of other Spread Offense football teams at every level of play employ different spread formations and tactics to Create SPACE, in order to help their team win more games.

WHY? The answers all have one common thread: SPACE

· SPACE is the best equalizer that helps to offset your opponent’s superior size advantage because each Defensive player is automatically responsible for policing, defending & protecting more ground. The Defenders are less able to be finite in their responsibilities and actions, instead they must combat ultra-wide formations and players coming at them from broader angles

· SPACE between the Offensive Lineman makes it easier for the OL to quickly identify the defensive front coming at them, and which Linebackers are blitzing or not.

· SPACE makes it easier for the Running Backs to find a Hole to run through. A larger Hole or Bigger Space to gallop through is the preferred route for most Running Backs. SPACE also makes it easier for the Running Backs to make the correct read on Blitz Pickup for Pass Pro and Run Blocking adjustments.

· SPACE between the Quarterback(s) and the Line of Scrimmage usually allows the QB a less obstructed “launching pad area” in which to set up, and identify blitzes, make good reads of the pass coverage, and execute the correct throws to open receivers more often.

· SPACE enables the Wide Receivers to identify the Depth, Eyes and Leverage (DEL) of the Defensive Backfield more readily because the Safeties, Cornerbacks & Linebackers usually must account for all of the Receivers spread out across the field of play. “Don’t get beat deep,” is a mantra that every Defensive Back knows all too well.

· SPACE helps to reduce injuries to the players & it’s one of the main reasons many coaches have switched to Spread Offensive football in the first place. The more spread out each player is from one another, by design then, more open SPACE between the players automatically reduces the frequency that they will collide and/or get their legs twisted and tangled in pile ups or freakish happenings during the play.

· SPACE allows the Offensive Play-Caller (the Coach or a QB) to see “All Twenty-Two Players” competing on the field in a clearer, more defined way. The more precise an Offensive Play-Caller’s ability to identify what the defense is trying to do, then the more productive the Spread Offensive system should be most of the time.

We’d like to extend our sincere gratitude to every football coach in history that has used innovative spread formations, and deployed their team’s offensive players across the field with as much SPACE between them as possible. The A-11 super-spread formations we use, combined with solid football fundamentals and maximum SPACE between our players has helped our football program and others like it succeed.

Thank you very much.

TIME to Eliminate Jersey-Numbering Requirement Rule

2010-03-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

Throughout football history, responsible innovation has always pushed the game further ahead than some people anticipated, notably the legalizing of the Forward Pass in large part to vastly improve player safety.

Today, with the shocking size and speed of the players from the high school level on up to the Pros, the game is about to surpass the Critical Mass threshold in terms of how much punishment the players can handle or absorb throughout the course of a game or a season within the current dimensions of the football field and coupled with the outdated and antiquated jersey-numbering requirement rules that greatly restrict excellent creative freedoms regarding formations, motions and eligibility.

The elimination of the jersey-numbering requirement rule has already proven that it inherently offers numerous benefits for the athletes:

1. It allows every player an option to be super-spread out across the field of play to keep the defense more honest

2. Instantly, the players are now all interchangeable and potentially eligible by Formation Only - which keeps the defense guessing and thereby less able to just tee-off on certain offensive players

3. It's easier for all of the players on O and D to "see things coming" their way because they are often spaced far apart.

4. Most importantly, the head-to-head banging between the players is greatly reduced because the offensive players on the O-Line are usually in a two-point stance most of the game, and so you have drastically reduced the chance of concussions occuring.

5. Inadvertent pile-ups are greatly reduced because of the wide spaces between most players, and you have far less blown out knees and ankles from the entanglements.

As football coaches and fans, we OWE it to the Players to ALWAYS make the Proper and Responsible Innovative adjustments to Maximize their safety on the field of play.

The Elimination of the Jersey Numbering Requirement is not only Long Overdue, it's exactly the right tonic to drastically improve player safety, and nothing is more important than that.

Look Long & See Short for High School Sports Fundraising

2010-01-07T22:42:00.000-08:00

Look Long and See Short – Time to Innovate Every Aspect of High School Sports Funding

January 7, 2010

By Kurt Bryan:

In 24 years of coaching high school and collegiate football, I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing thousands of articles and news stories about the Evolution of sports and Innovative Concepts designed to help a team win more games. Regardless of the activity – football, soccer, badminton, fencing or basketball, etc., many of those features are interesting and enlightening.

However, numerous school districts throughout California and other states are wobbling on the threshold of financial ruin. High School Sports Funding has been cut or eliminated at a frightening rate like never before with no end in sight. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) that governs high school sports in CA, can act quickly and help lead the way.

California is almost $20 BILLION in debt for the 2010-11 year and a bevy of school districts have sounded the alarm as monster debt rips them to smithereens. If the state of California was an Ocean Liner in the middle of the Atlantic, the giant vessel would be listing heavily to Port, nearly capsized, the terrified passengers would be jumping and screaming overboard, and the ship’s deck would be engulfed in flames.

Thousands of female & male student-athletes have or are on the verge of losing everything regarding their high school team sport(s). District leaders and school boards in California and across the country are making cuts or completely killing the funding of their high school athletic programs.

In most cases, school districts go back to the money trough and ask their community to support a Parcel Tax or some type of Bond Measure to sustain their athletic team funding. Team fundraisers also serve to help support the teams and many high school sports programs would die without them. Another item being cut is the coaching stipend; usually a modest fee that helps to offset the cost of gasoline for the coach’s transportation during the season. Without the stipend, it puts a bit more burden on the coach and his or her family, and more importantly, it’s more difficult to find and retain assistant coaches.

BUT, as taxpayers and homeowners carry more of the burden than ever before, it’s becoming far more difficult for school districts to obtain additional money from their proposals to increase taxes or pass bond measures.
In the game of football, a coach teaches his Quarterback to, “Look Long and See Short.” This well-worn mantra instructs the QB to take the Big Play down the field if it’s wide open, otherwise dump the football to a nearby receiver and take what your team can get on that play.

Several school districts now employ a Pay to Play Fee on student-athletes, usually requiring their families to cough up $200 – 500 per kid, per sport in order to participate. If a player’s family cannot afford to pay up, hardship waivers are utilized in most cases but sometimes the kid will simply choose not to play.
If the more fortunate school districts nationwide are able to “make it” during financially brutal times, but the less fortunate ones must endure horrible cuts or eliminate sports funding altogether, what happens next?

Innovation is the answer when it comes to Saving, Sustaining and Building the financial pipeline needed to help high school athletic programs.

How Can a More Innovative Approach Help Save High School Sports Funding?

1. A couple of years ago the CIF recognized a need for high school athletic programs to hopefully increase their fundraising, and the CIF passed a bylaw allowing temporary, removable corporate ad banners to be placed near the playing fields and courts of high school athletic events.

That was a good first step by the CIF and hopefully enough schools can make use of this mechanism. With a demographically flexible model, there are businesses locally and around the nation that would enjoy seeing their company’s name in such a fashion while supporting high school sports. And, it might be quite feasible to sell portable ad banners or those triangular, foam-shaped ad blocks (like FIFA does for soccer and the World Cup), using a minimum required two-year contract for the companies wanting to advertise accordingly. Online video broadcast platforms enable companies to get major repetitive exposure to thousands or millions of viewers for their buck; if they know how to allocate their advertising dollars creatively. High school sports videos dominate the internet, and having your company logo shown repeatedly online is a good investment.

2. Right now, high school sports teams and/or the kids’ families pay the various apparel manufacturers for the uniforms and jerseys they must wear during athletic events.

However, what if those uniforms or certain parts of the uniforms were “sponsored” by companies wanting to advertise? Would Yahoo!, Rivals, MaxPreps, Scout.com, Microsoft, Google, Coca-Cola, Pepsi or Gatorade, etc., want to see their logo on the Nike game pants, Riddell helmets or Rawlings jerseys of a high school football player or the Adidas sweats of a female basketball star? The size, total number of ads and the location of the advertising logos could be easily regulated, and all advertising funds would go 100% to the school’s athletic department. It would also be a valuable tax deductible donation for the corporations wanting to participate. If you ask a student-athlete and their family, if they would rather have their child’s sports team eliminated, or have a Gatorade Logo on the Left Sleeve of their uniform…which one do you think they would choose?

Better yet, if it was your son or daughter’s sports program facing elimination, which one would you choose? When in doubt of an answer, always personalize the question and the truth will rise up through the muck.

Think about it from Nike’s perspective for example - the more athletic programs that get cut or eliminated – the further it depletes and hurts Nike’s total uniform sales and net profit.

Some grocery stores use a Scripps type of system to reward the athletic programs whose families and friends shop at their stores, an innovative example that has paid nice dividends for many schools nationwide.

3. At the Collegiate Level, the chief role of an Athletic Director has become that of a master fundraising juggernaut. If an AD cannot raise money, secure sponsorship deals and get the job done, the AD is replaced by someone more in touch with the financial demands of a collegiate athletic program.

For High Schools, the job description of an Athletic Director needs to be redefined to include a serious investment of time, focus and energy on maximizing fundraising for the entire sports program. Criteria should include exercising profitable existing fundraisers, researching other potential ideas and collaborating with the AD’s in their league or section, and the CIF at least twice a month. Currently, the head coaches of each sport fend for themselves when it comes to finding, developing and implementing fundraising.

But, if an AD takes a much more proactive role in the overall fundraising system of their entire athletic department, the odds of their own job actually being eliminated or cut is drastically reduced. The AD’s daily workload and the structure of their day could be formally redefined by the Department of Education or the powers that be, to reduce some mandatory teaching requirements in some areas, in order to enhance the AD’s time and ability to build successful fundraising systems such as the ones mentioned earlier, and others.

4. The Booster Clubs attached to high school sports programs should be recognized for doing a great job in most cases. And, at least one or two members of the Booster Club should be assigned to only working on Long Term fundraising, whereas the immediate cash influx is not the goal, but the long term contract and the secured funding of it is the mission.

5. Cut Taxes: The more money individuals and companies have, the more jobs they create and the more money they invest and spend on Feel Good projects. Lower taxes equals higher revenue and greater job creation. Always has and always will.

As a lifelong sports fan and longtime football coach, I have never seen such a dire set of circumstances facing high school sports funding than the current situation surrounding our kids right now, and in their immediate future.

As a coach, it’s my responsibility to keep up to speed and research various ways to help my players succeed on the field of play and in the classroom.

Furthermore, in addition to my current fundraising duties, it’s in the best interests of my players to help raise the funds to meet their needs now, but to also help pave the way for the athletes of the future that simply want a chance to play high school sports like the kids before them were able to do.

“Look Long and See Short,” about high school sports funding before it’s too late.

True Story of the A-11 Chapter 5

2009-12-20T10:20:00.000-08:00

Chapter 5

“Homecoming vs. Oakland High - October 5th, 2007”

AFTER WINNING two games in a row in the A-11, first at Trinity, and then playing crisply in our league opener vs. St. Mary’s 21 – 14 at Witter Field in Piedmont; suddenly we found ourselves at home with a respectable record of 2 – 2, and heading into a non-league game vs. Oakland for our Homecoming.

It’s important to note our defense had continued to play exceptionally well under the guidance of our young, bright and dedicated Defensive Coordinator, Kevin Anderson. Our defense was well taught by Coach Anderson, and our experienced Secondary Coach, Anthony Freeman, and our ‘D’ collectively understood they had to carry the additional burden of needing to play well at all times until our new offense stabilized and matured. The A-11 was not yet ready to rack up big numbers and points, and everybody within our program understood that fact. Coupled with the outstanding strength and speed program implemented by Strength Coach, Robert Darden, and each week we continued to hope our team had enough mental and physical toughness to persevere.

If the great feelings and emotions generated by “Winning Games” could somehow be bottled up and sold to the public, that magical elixir would cure cancer and other nasty ailments wreaking havoc on human beings worldwide. Within our football program at Piedmont, the back-to-back A-11 victories did an amazing job of stemming a rebellious flow from within our ranks, a surging that had been slamming at the door with alarming ferocity.

The hate mail from fans, blistering emails and numerous ‘anonymous’ phone calls from football lovers decrying the A-11 had slowed a bit, and for the first time ever we had more coaches, fans and a few members of the media reach out to us in order to learn about our, “crazy offense,” and “radical offense,” or “innovative offense.”

Things were beginning to change, but to lose our Homecoming game vs. a winless and gritty opponent like Oakland High, would be devastating for the players and the program at such a sensitive moment. A loss would instantly drop us several steps down the ladder of credibility and any type of realistic playoff aspirations would vaporize.

As our home stadium filled up with excited fans on that cool October night prior to the kickoff vs. Oakland, I reviewed the basics during my pre-game chat with the football Officials on the field. Because it was a non-league game, I asked the head Official about the tie-breaking system - if our teams happened to be knotted up at the end of regulation.

The Referee shook his white-capped head at me and flatly replied, “Nope. No overtime. It’s a non-league contest, and if your game ends in a tie, then it’s going to stay that way forever…period.”

“OK.” I replied, and I made a mental note of it. A tie would be nearly as bad as a loss.

The possibility of playing Overtime had been eliminated and I continued my business with the Officials and pre-game routine with the team. I wasn’t too concerned with the remote possibility of the game ending in a tie, the only time that had happened in my head coaching tenure, had been in 1995, when my Piedmont team travelled down to the central coast of California and battled Pacific Grove. That night in the balmy seaside hamlet near Carmel, inexplicably, our very good Place-Kicker clearly drilled the game-winning PAT to clinch the win for us on the road in the final seconds of a tough game. But somehow the ‘home-cooking’ Referees standing beneath the uprights signaled that the Extra Point had been missed, and the game ended in a tie! Even though on the game video any observer can easily see our entire JV team standing on the track directly behind the Goal Posts, and they go crazy with delight as our Kicker’s PAT sails through yellow poles for the win! I hate tie games…

After our Homecoming game vs. Oakland got underway, it was blunt from the start that Oakland wanted to show people they could play good football, even though they were winless. The Oakland defense played with urgency and heart, and their Middle Linebacker (#99) was big, fast and unafraid of our two small Quarterbacks pulling double duty in the A-11. The Oakland defense, in their bright blue helmets, white and blue-trimmed uniforms came to win at all costs.

We took the opening kickoff to near midfield and then our first play of the game, “Base Out Stagger 194 Slant” was executed to perfection, our Primary QB George found Menke on the Slant route inside the right hash for a 15-yard gain. Things looked good.

But, one good play does not make a great game, and on our 2nd play, we called a sprint pass right, and QB George was buried for a 10-yard loss – one of the few times he was actually sacked all season. Oakland had quickly captured the game’s momentum and their players on the field and sideline came to life, full of vigor and pride.

I turned to my left and mumbled gruffly to Coach Humphries, “Sheez. This is gonna be a dog fight all night long!”

“Yep.” He smacked.

From that moment on, every person in our football program it was going to be like a Heavyweight Championship fight. Blow after blow would be traded, only to have the outcome decided by the team able to withstand the most amount of punishment; and when all seemed lost, somehow find the willpower to deliver one devastating punch to knock out the opponent.

We were forced to punt the ball after stalling on the opening drive. Oakland got the football inside their own 10-yard line, and proceeded to make their game plan abundantly clear. Run, run, run the ball and then throw it a couple of times to keep our defense honest. Their ground game started to work, coupled with short passes and they methodically drove inside our 20-yard line. But, a crucial scramble and fumble by their shifty QB proved costly, and we recovered the football inside our 15-yard line. Luck makes every coaching staff look good once in awhile.

Our team battled Oakland fiercely but with a few penalties, a dropped pass and an interception by Oakland, we never found our rhythm on offense. Fitful play, bumps and bounces along the way but not the smooth pace we had developed during our last two games in victory. Again, our defense played well, led by some bone-crushing tackles from Linebacker, Keith Reid and Defensive End, Bryce Chu.

We were in the game midway through the 2nd quarter, even though our offense was sputtering. It was the hardest hitting game of that year to date, Oakland was laying thunderous hits on our players, and they were big, quick and fearless. Our team, especially our offense was facing another new test halfway through the season.

Tied at Zero, our offense got the ball near the 50-yard line. We called, “43 Two Right Y Dink Screen.” Secondary QB, Lipkin quickly went in motion to the right and as we had hoped, two Oakland defenders adjusted accordingly. QB George took a quick drop after catching the shotgun snap, and found our rangy Tight End, Bryce Chu for a 16-yard gain down the middle. We had picked up a sliver of momentum and needed to score a touchdown.

On the next play we called for, “Base Out Stagger 18 Rattle.” QB George sprinted out to his right and launched a beautiful 40-yard bomb. WR Joey Andrada sped to the Post, caught the ball and stepped into the end zone for the touchdown.

As they had done throughout the game, Oakland High responded with hard hitting, great athletic moves and some electric plays resulting in scores.

Our hometown crowd had swelled to beyond the stadium capacity of 2,500 after the King and Queen were announced during halftime, while our staff and players made adjustments upstairs above the stadium in the locker room.

We took to the field for the 2nd half, and true to the nature of that night’s game, Piedmont and Oakland continued to trade “Haymakers”, in a wicked, hard-hitting match. Seemingly, time elapsed in the blink of an eye, and with under two-minutes remaining in the game, it was tied 14-14, and Oakland had the football on our side of the 50-yard line. Our defense was tired but determined to win, Oakland’s offense could smell the upset big time, and the snappy retort from the Referee before the game was ringing in my brain, “Nope. No overtime…if your game ends in a tie, then it’s going to stay that way forever. Period.”

During times of stress, great players make amazing plays, sometimes more than once in a short amount of time. Devin Brown, a junior CB and Slot Back was a great player for us; and he came up huge that night for Piedmont.

Oakland High continued to advance the football, and with less than a minute to go, their quarterback fired a bullet to his left. The pass ricocheted into the air and sailed inside our 20-yard line. Devin Brown made a diving interception near our sideline, and gave our team a ray of hope.

With 38-seconds remaining in the game (overtime was not an option), we had the ball on our own 18-yard line, with the score tied at 14, and we had two timeouts left. Our crazed and delirious crowd was going nuts, and for a split-second it was hard for me to catch my breath and think clearly.

As a play-caller, sometimes you get into the ‘zone’, similar to that of the players on the field, when virtually every play you call during crunch time comes up like sweet smelling roses. Being a successful play-caller has to more to do with preparation, experience, working with quality assistant coaches, and having good players more than anything else. But, once in a while it’s beneficial to reach into the Grab Bag and pull out a new or unique play from your offensive cookie jar. I was determined to do just that.

Our sturdy left-footed Place Kicker, Jordan Remer began warming up his leg by kicking some footballs into the practice net on our sideline.

I called the play, “43 Off 151 Rub A-Q” to begin our last drive of the game from our own 18-yard line. The 43 Off formation looks similar to our regular 43 set, but our Slot receivers on the left remain off the line of scrimmage, enabling our team to get into a Quad set to the left. Primary caught the snap and QB George did a quarter-role to his left. He went through his progression of reads: Quick slant (not open), Deeper Slant (not open), Rub Route up the left sideline (not open), and finally to the Delay Flat underneath (not open).

The crowd roared and shrieked with insane anticipation as George scrambled to his left searching desperately for an answer. He pulled up quickly and heaved the football deep and high down the center of the field. Devin Brown made another great play by leaping into the air to make the catch at midfield! Incredibly, we had picked up 32-yards on a single play. I called one of our two timeouts, gathered the offense near our sideline and called, “Base Out 18 Comeback.”

Our offense executed well and Devin Brown made a gigantic play, this time from the Anchor position. He peeled back on a devastating Hunt Block as QB George rolled to the right. Devin timed it perfectly and unleashed the best Hunt Block I’ve seen in my three years of coaching the A-11. The speeding DE for Oakland had our QB directly in his crosshairs and was zeroing in for the kill. But, out of nowhere Devin unloaded a crunching crack back hit that sent the stunned Oakland defender flying and cart wheeling into the air - totally blindsided from the expertly delivered block. Calmly, George moved outside to the right and tossed a dart to Andrada for a beautiful 15-yard gain down to the Oakland 34-yard line.

Andrada displayed poise by stepping out of bounds on our sideline, enabling us to save our final timeout.

Civilized insanity had taken over the crowd and overcome most of the people on our sideline. I did my best to stay calm and called a certain play in hopes of catching Oakland off-guard, “133 Stagger QB Draw Left.” The Oakland defense was spread wide expecting a pass. George fielded the shotgun snap, decoyed the pass action perfectly and our OL opened up a massive hole down the left-center of the field. George took off like a bolt of lightning near the left hash and sprinted to the Oakland 15-yard line before diving forward! Our players had executed the play to perfection and put us into field goal position.

I raced down the sideline and frantically called for our last timeout with 6 seconds to go.

During the time out, Defensive Coordinator, Kevin Anderson spent his time isolated with our Place Kicker, Remer, quietly helping the young man to stay focused and confident.

Regardless of the outcome our kids had fought hard, never given up and had put our team in a position to win the game. I was proud of their effort, resolve and desire to compete.

As both teams returned back to the field, our hometown crowd reached a deafening level of ear-splitting noise. The incredible roar emanating from our fans that moment is the type of wonderful memory I will recall long after my coaching days are over. It’s etched into my psyche.
Our Field Goal unit took their place on each side of our long snapper and our place-kick Holder, Lipkin settled in as well. Oakland High’s defensive front all got down in their three-point stances, ready to spring into action at the snap - hoping to block the kick to preserve the tie.
Remer aligned and steadied himself. He gave a quick nod of his head at Lipkin, signaling that he was ready to go for it.

Our long snapper, Leif Simonson had been outstanding to date, but a touch of the nerves got him a bit rattled and the snap was low, skipping right before Lipkin’s hands in front of the Field Goal Platform. Cool as ice, Lipkin scooped up the football, placed it on the Block and rotated the laces away from the oncoming Remer.

I tensed up like petrified wood, unable to breath, blink or think…nothing to do but watch, hope and pray.

Oakland’s defensive unit gave a mighty push, but our Field Goal platoon held the Fort and did their jobs without error.

With time running out, Remer stepped into his left-footed attempt and kicked the football as if he were trying to launch it into outer space. He absolutely crushed the ball and it blazed through the air, lower than usual but high enough to rise above the outstretched arms of the Oakland High team.

The football screamed through the dark October air, whisked through the Goal Posts and the Officials beneath the Crossbar gave the only signal that everybody rooting for Piedmont was hoping to see – It’s Good!

Piedmont 17 and Oakland 14.

Our players and fans stormed the field like never before.

As the bedlam ensued, the players, coaches and fans celebrated in the beauty of a thrilling victory. Suddenly, we found ourselves at a record of 3 – 2, on a three-game winning streak and feeling good.

Based on the first two weeks of the season, losing the opening games, having our OL coach quit, holding steady to avoid a team mutiny and the searing ire of angry parents, the kids and assistant coaches had managed to triumph on the field three times in a row.

Bounding up the stadium steps through the happy crowd on my way into the locker room to celebrate with the team, a single thought looped through my mind.

“Can we do it again and win next week?”

The A-11 Works Well Within Traditional Rules

2009-12-13T17:54:00.000-08:00

BACK in February of 2009, when the NFHS executive rules board governing high school football in most of the 48 states they represent changed the definition of a Scrimmage Kick Formation in their effort to thwart the A-11 Offense, some people thought that would be the death knell of the A-11.

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH...

Fortunately, Piedmont in 2007 & 2008, (and many other teams running the A-11 in 2008) had more than enough time to experiment, tweak, fine tune and adjust certain aspects of the A-11 which allowed the system to grow and prosper into a new system of offense for teams like ours.

So, heading into the 2009 season (after the NFHS rules change) our coaching staff at Piedmont, and elsewhere were confident the A-11 would not skip a beat. Fortunately, due to the hard work of our outstanding football players and assistant coaches, the 2009 season was an excellent success for our team and the A-11 too.

Some Highlights About the A-11 Upon Completion of the 2009 Season and Notes:

1. During the 2009 season our Varsity QB threw 18 Touchdown passes & 2 interceptions, with an overall QB rating of 145%. Similarly, our JV quarterback threw 19 Touchdown passes and 3 interceptions.

2. Both Quarterbacks combined for a total of 37 TD passes & 5 interceptions on the year.

3. We ran the football 48% of the time during the 2009 season, & (49% in the 2008).

4. We averaged 31.6 points per game for the 2009 season, & (30 points per game in 2008).

5. Three years of using the A-11: We have averaged 7 wins per season & our team has made the playoffs each year.

6. Our average Home Game attendance before the A-11 was 800 fans per game. Since using the A-11, our average Home Game attendance is 2,000 fans per game.

7. Our fundraising before the A-11 was $29,000 annually.

8. Since the A-11, our donor contributions average more than $50,000 per year.

9. Annual Concessions & Merchandise sales have more than doubled since using A-11.

10. In the 3 years using the A-11, we have had a Massive reduction of major injuries because the players are super spread out across the field of play more often.

* For the football teams and coaches searching for an innovative way to help their team be more competitive, win more games, generate enthusiasm, increase student-athlete participation, increase attendance at their home games, increase concession and merchandise sales, and make the Playoffs........

The A-11 could well be the answer for your team, regardless of your program's level of play: Youth, High School, College or Pro.

The A-11 works very well using Traditional Football Jersey-Numbering Rules, and that's great for the Players & Coaches, and it's simply another evolution in the game of football.

Everybody benefits as the players and coaches keep pushing the game forward.

On the A-11 by Football Expert Historian John T. Reed

2009-09-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

The Football Offense So Difficult to Defend - They Tried to Outlaw It After Only Two Seasons…and They Failed!

By John T. Reed

Author: “Football Clock Management” and many other books on Coaching Football.

http://www.johntreed.com/coaching

Copyright 2009 by John T. Reed

In 2007, Piedmont High School introduced the A-11 offense to the world. A-11 stands for the fact that all 11 players were wearing eligible jersey numbers and therefore eligible to receive a forward pass if they aligned on the end of the line or other than on the line.

After their 2007 an 2008 seasons, with the A-11 having gotten a ton of national publicity, one aspect of it having eleven guys with eligible jersey numbers was outlawed by the National Federation of High School Associations starting with the 2009 season.

NFHSA sets the rules for high schools in 48 states. Massachusetts and Texas high schools use NCAA rules,which were not changed to restrict the NCAA version of the A-11.

Indeed, Boise State used an A-11 play in their first game of the 2009 season.When they first hear about it, most people assume the A-11 is just a gimmick, a sort of trick play series.

Wrong. It’s a lot more than that.

There are many unexpected benefits to the A-11 including the modified version of it nowbeing used by Piedmont and other schools. It’s not a spread.

I initially regarded the A-11 as a form of spread option. It's not a spread. It's an accordion.

Sometimes it's spread. Sometimes it’s collapsed into a tight, inside power-running formation. Sometimes it's both: one side is collapsed tight and the other is spread. Wide receivers who actually know how to block and do. A-11, as I said, stands for all 11 eligible to catch a pass. (All 11 can still catch a backward pass and in the modified Piedmont A-11, they actually do. In a typical Piedmont A-11 game, nine guys touch the ball at 8 differentpositions.) But guess what else all 11 do at Piedmont? Block.

True, all 11 are supposed to block in all offenses, including the wide receivers andquarterbacks, but try catching one do it competently on video. At Piedmont, all 11 do block. And not just some minimal technique like stalk blocking. The split ends and flankers and slot backs at Piedmont zone block.

Zone plays

In the NFL and NCAA zone plays and zone play blocking has become the norm, and it's now being seen at many high schools too. But zillions of men with little football knowledge or experience think they know what zone blocking is. Oh, yeah. Zone blocking. That means you have to block in your assigned area like on a PAT team.

No, I’m sorry that’s incorrect, but thank you for playing.In a zone play, it looks like the entire offensive line is running to one side or the other. Upon closer examination, you will see that they are generally double-team blocking the defender to their outside. If you examine real closely, you will also note that one of the two guys doing the double team block fairly quickly comes off that block and blocks a linebacker. That is sometimes called a tandem block. The remaining guy on the double-team changes position to single block the guy he was previously double-team blocking. It’s not ultra complex, but it is somewhatcomplex. The two offensive linemen must learn to work together and they mustlearn to read the linebackers so they can figure out which one of them is totake the backer.

Most college and pro interior linemen know how to zone block these days. But at Piedmont, the split ends, flankers and slot backs also know how to zone block. Why? Because you cannot have an accordion line that spreads and tightens unless the wide outs who come in tight know how tozone block. At Piedmont, all the non-backs know how to zone block and do in games.Zone play advantagesIn the zone play, the running back with the ball does not run to a designated hole as he did back in the 32 dive, 26 power days. Rather, he heads for a “landmark,” like the outside foot of the tight end, but keeps his eyes open looking for a running lane to open up. In other words, the “hole” will be decided by the running back as the play unfolds. It's actually decided by the defenders and the offensive blockers who are zone blocking them. The backer can choose to go outside or insidethe double-team block. That, in turn, decides which blocker takes him and where the running lane will be.

The zone play is a more sophisticated version of the old Lombardi Green Bay sweep with it's admonitions to take the defender “whichever way he wants to go” and “run to daylight.” Running backs in the zone play are taught to be “slow to the hole but fast throughthe hole.” They also run more east-west as they are waiting for the linebackers to commit then they explode north full speed through the running lane that appears.

In the A-11, the holes are bigger and easier for the running back to see because of the usually spread nature of the formation. Open field blocking is almost a lost art. Not at Piedmont. Their often spread out alignment forces them to do a lot of open-field blocking. the more open field blocking you have to do, by themore different positions, the better you get at it. What you emphasize you achieve. Open field blocking has become a sort of specialty of Piedmont's by necessity.

Fewer injuries

Adopting the A-11 gave small school Piedmont (800 students Coed ) an unexpected important benefit: far fewer injuries. Football was almost outlawed in the U.S. during the Roosevelt administration, the Teddy Roosevelt administration. College players were literally getting killed every year by the flying wedge and other collisions. Teddy, who graduated from one of the top football powers of the era, Harvard, held a meeting and said reduce the injuries or I will outlawthe sport. They complied by allowing forward passes in rules changes adopted from 1906 to 1913.

That was purported to reduce injuries by spreading the game out. It worked! But the game was never as spread out as it could be until Piedmont¹s A-11. And as in the early 20th century, the injury rate dropped even further.

Piedmont has not had a major injury in the A-11 offense in 23 games (2007, 2008 and to date in 2009) of running the A-11, in spite of being admittedly undersized vs. most of the teams they play.

Not just pawns

Many have said football is like chess. True, but almost all coaches have made the chess mistake of concluding that offensive linemen are like the pawns in a chess match. All they can do is block. No, I'm sorry that's incorrect, but thank you for playing.

When you play Piedmont's A-11, you assume their ineligible interior offensive linemen are pawns at your peril. In the first game of the 2009 season, one such ineligible jersey numbered player # 77 - ran the statue-of-liberty play for a nice gain, and another such player, # 52, shifted from a wing set and took a handoff in the backfield 78-yards for a touchdown!

At a non-A-11 game, the offensive linemen probably will be mere pawns. But A-11 teams use their offensive linemen as the rules book allows, not as the chess-pawn mentality dictates. By rule, ineligible interior linemen: - can receive backward passes and pitches including being the pitch back on any option - can throw forward or backward passes - can receive backward handoffs - can receive a forward or inside handoff provided they step back at least one yard from the line of scrimmage, turn so they face away from the line of scrimmage and move bothfeet in the process - can run pass patterns down field on forward pass plays where the pass does not cross the line of scrimmage or on fake pass running plays like quarterback draw, See my book The Contrarian Edge for Football Offense for the chapter on ineligible receivers.

Paranoia

You may think the defenders will know they do not have to cover the “receivers” inquestion because of their ineligible jersey numbers.

Technically, that’s true, but you try ignoring a guy who’s running a post pattern right past you during the chaos of a game night play. In a Piedmont or any other A-11 game, you have to be ready to stop interior linemen from doing any or all of the things the rules book actually allows them to do.

The A-11 is a paranoia-inducing offense. Remember the NFL blooper film where one coach says, “Watch the screen!” Another yells, “Watch the draw!” then the headcoach yells, “Watch everything!”

Paranoia is defined as thinking everyone is out to get you. When you are playing Piedmont, “All 11 players” on the offense ARE out to get you. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid of the slightly plump but surprisingly athletic linemen on an A-11 team. They may be carrying the ball, or throwing a pass or catching a backward pass way out wide.

Protecting the QB

A-11 quarterbacks hardly ever get sacked. How can that be when the line is all spread out?

Did you think sumo wrestler type linemen were the only way to protect a passer? No. Space also protects the passer, as in the space between the line of scrimmage and the shotgun snap receiving quarterback. Sideways space also protects the pass when he feels pressure and sprint out to either side to get away from it. He also has help out there in the form of those ineligible but versatile interior linemen who align out wide‹covered up, but wide.

When the defender chases the QB out of the “pocket” against an A-11, he’d better look out of a near blind side collision with a wide tackle. Call it paranoid pass rushing.

Space has some advantages in pass pro. It never gets tired. It never uses incorrecttechnique. It never gets injured. It never fails to protect, just like the famous defense friend, Sideline Sammy, who never misses a tackle if the ball carrier steps in his territory (out of bounds).

Short quarterbacks

You say you have a short quarterback‹and you’re concerned about his seeing over theline?

Is that what's bothering you? So get rid of the line and do your pass pro with space instead. Piedmont¹s starting, never-injured quarterback in 2007 and 2008 was a relatively short guy. A relatively short, slight of build, all-league quarterback guy as it turned out. Could he see over the line? No. But he could see over space. Indeed, he could even see through space. Not even 6'5" quarterbacks can see through the line.

Space pass pro means your quarterback almost never gets hit and he can see everything,
which is great for finding open receivers and avoiding throwing the ball to the wrong team.

Not every snap is out of the shotgun. About 5% of the time, Piedmont puts the quarterback under center. They have a separate guy to do long snapping for field goals.

Scat backs up the middle

In all three of their seasons, Piedmont’s A-11 has had scat backs who ran up the middle forbig gains. In 2007 and 2008, the scat back was also their quarterback. In 2009, the scat back is their tailback type guy. How can a skinny little guy like that run up the middle? By spreading the defense out. Try running a scat back type runner up the middle, other than inside trap, in a traditional offense and you will to have your stretcher ready, not to mention your punter.

Game attendance

Game attendance at Piedmont went from an average of about 800 to an average of about 2,000 after they adopted the A-11. Who were the additional spectators? Students from the school, local fans curious to see the A-11, media from all over the U.S. (because the A-11 is more interesting than most offenses), and distant relatives who would not normally travel by air to see a nephew play in a high school football game, but will to see the A-11.

Piedmont High School, whose previous claim to international fame was their annual bird calling contest, became even more famous for the A-11 offense.

More than doubling attendance more than doubles sales of home game tickets, snack bar food, and Piedmont apparel and symbols. They probably increased those sales at away games, too. Maybe they should have bargained for a cut of the incremental sales in non-leaguegames.

A-11 is like a box of chocolates...

In their 23 A-11 games thus far, Piedmont has seen 19 different defenses - although only two types of pass rush gimmicks: middle blitzes and corner-type blitzes.

This has forced A-11personnel to be able to adjust their approach to blocking more than most teams. They also adjust on the run via the above-described zone blocking scheme.

Not knowing what defensive alignment you will face is the only logical objection I have ever heard to contrarian offensive approaches. But logic is not enough. I don’t buy that objection. NO offensive coordinator or offensive lineman can be sure in advance what defensive alignments he will see in the game. I have been forced to run conventional fashionable offenses when I was a high school coach and not the varsity head coach.

Very frequently, we found that the defense was not in the same alignment as in our scout film.So all offenses must know how to adjust to unexpected defensive alignments on game day. Only, at an A-11 team, unexpected defensive alignments are expected. So they must learn how to figure out the blocking during the game, and they do.

But fewer defenses and games/stunts per game

When I first coached at the high school level, I was defensive coordinator of the JV at Miramonte High School in Orinda, CA. The JV head coach told me whenever we saw a double-tight-end formation, we were to automatically shift into our Oklahoma defense. We did. Our kids wouldaudible to it on their own when they saw double tight. We had a dozen or more defenses for other offensive formations. One of my main jobs during the game was signaling in “nose gap” or “Okie lightning” or some other defense or stunt. But if you showed us double tight, you got nothing but Oklahoma all night. It was our only trick against double tight.

So how many different defenses and games-stunts do you think Piedmont sees per game?

About one or two.

Same deal as Miramonte presented to opponents if they had double tight. Defenses have lots of defense variations for the traditional opponents. But they cannot justify the time it would take to teach a whole bunch of defenses they might only use once a season. So although Piedmont has to adjust at each game when they see how the opponent is going to defendthem, they typically do not have to do that repeatedly throughout the game.

Piedmont A-11 co-creator Steve Humphries said, “It’s hard for them to blitz us when our offense is blitzing them. It helps balance things out for the offense.”

Play calling

Everyone knows the age-old offensive admonition to “take what they give you.”

But like a lot of age-old advice, it’s easier said than done.

With the A-11 however, it is easier, if not easy, to “take what they give you” than with conventional offenses. That’s because you can see what the defense is giving you more easily when they are all spread out and the A-11 lets you attack more parts of the short and intermediate depth parts of the field.

Four reasons you can attack more parts of the field are that the A-11 has more formations than the vast majority of teams and because of their zone blocking schemes, open field blocking, and the programmed versatility of their wide outs and interior linemenAll competent offensive coordinators eventually see what the defense is giving them as the game progresses.

But A-11 coaches can identify what the defense is giving them sooner in the game than offensive coordinators of traditional offenses.

Unpleasant surprises

I asked Piedmont head coach and A-11 co-creator, Kurt Bryan what unpleasant surprise he encountered with the A-11.

He recited Murphy’s first two laws:

1. Everything is harder than you think.

2. Everything takes longer than you think.

Murphy’s Third Law is the most famous: If anything can go wrong, it will and at the worst possible time.

“Fan base unhappiness.”

Another unpleasant surprise, which dissipated over time, wassome vocal unhappiness with the A-11 on the part of:

- some players and their supporters who did not like the new role they A-11 gave them
- fans who believed the A-11 was a dumb offense that was doomed to failure

Basically, time and victories took care of both problems.

During the first year, Piedmont deliberately ran traditional offense some of the time so that traditional big linemen who had been working toward their varsity participation for years were not abandoned.

Piedmont still has a “Big Nasty” package, but the school has made the transition to the athletic lineman type and the student athletes moving up to the varsity understand the relative lack of playing time for traditional large offensive linemen. Piedmont also moved many of them to defensive line thereby upgrading the talent level at those positions.

Run-pass balance

You would think a spread type offense would pass most of the time. You'd be wrong. Piedmont has run the ball 51% of the time since they adopted the A-11.

I would add that their runningplays look more like draw plays a lot of the time than traditional running plays. There is no line to run through so everything seems to be in open space. Ideal for the broken-field runner.

Option

Initially, Piedmont was going to use the option. In the event, they used it much less than theyoriginally planned. I will simply comment that my son and I were unable to figure out how to defend the A-11 combined with the option. We were unable to figure out how to defend it on paper. Anyone can stop the other guy on paper. We were unable to do so. So our inability to do so was saying something.

More

In one word, the A-11, both original and modified, are more.

More kids at your school coming out for football. (Piedmont varsity was 28 in 2006 before A-11, 30 and 31 in 2007 and 2008, the first two A-11 years, and 37 in 2009) even though the school’s actual student-body enrollment dropped from 2006 – 2008!

More fans in your stands

More press & college recruiting recognition for your players.

More ways for more players to contribute in each game.

More versatility by your players as a result of the necessity generated by the nature of the offense.

More players touching the ball in each game.More formations that give you more ways to attack the opponent.

More knowledge of what each defense will do against you because they cannot afford the time to put in much just for the A-11.

More ways to make use of less-than-BCS-Division athletes.The key to success in everything, including football coaching, is to match your strengths andweaknesses to the competition. I wrote about that extensively in my book, Succeeding.

What the A-11 gives teams is more ways to take advantage of your team’s strengths and minimize the importance of your team¹s weaknesses.

The A-11 has given football players, coaches, and fans a whole lot more.

ANCHORS are the NEW Position in Football

2009-08-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

The ANCHORS have Become a NEW Position in Football

AT the Dawn of Football history more than 130-years ago, today’s zany plays, super-spread formations and hyper-fast athletes were unimaginable to most of our pigskin-loving ancestors respectable mode of thinking.

Heading into the Kickoff for 2009, after Two complete football seasons operating in the new dimensions of the A-11 Offense at Piedmont, as other teams have done nationwide and in Germany and Japan – a Brand New Position in Football has been Created, and it’s called the ANCHOR.

* Even though these new Anchors are wearing a Jersey number (# 50 – 79) traditionally only worn by Lineman on the offensive side of the ball, that is where the familiarity ends, and an exciting new era of football playing dynamics is blossoming.

In our own experience for two years, and in receiving communication from many A-11 coaches & players around the world, the one constant message is how the A-11 teams have permanently CHANGED THE JOB DESCRIPTION of the Traditional Offensive Tackle position, they never or seldom use, now that they have replaced them with Anchors.

By design in the bedrock of its offensive principles, the A-11 replaces both of the Traditional Offensive Tackles with much faster and more athletic ‘Game Breaker’ type players and spreads them out wide beyond the hash marks quite often – those new players are called the ANCHORS.

At Piedmont, and with many other football teams heading into the 2009 season, our Coaching Staff now has a permanent new Coach assigned to teaching, watching & instructing this new position – and he is called the “Anchors Coach.”

An overview of the Anchors job description is below. Please remember even though the Anchors are wearing a traditional Offensive Lineman jersey number (#50-79), it’s only a matter of time before the antiquated jersey-numbering requirement rule is abolished, now that many A-11 teams, players, coaches and Referees have proven beyond a doubt that A-11 football games can be properly officiated, etc.

ANCHORS:

1. For now, Anchors wear jersey number (#50-79) and they are not eligible to catch a Forward Pass

2. Anchors are NOT traditional Offensive Lineman. Anchors are a caliber of a much faster, more nimble and athletic ‘Game Breaker’ type of football player. Anchors must be able to block well, but they the have the ability to score a touchdown from anywhere on the field, once the football is in their hands. Anchors are a threat to advance the ball and score, and therefore the defense must respect the Anchors as an offensive weapon

3. Anchors Can do the Following with the Football:

a) Receive a backward pass or pitch behind the LOS – the pass (like a Bubble Screen or Negative Hitch) or the pitch (Option or Reverse) only has to be less than one-inch backwards to be legal, etc.

b) Take a handoff behind the LOS

c) Throw a forward pass from behind the LOS once the football is in their hands legally

d) Receive a Pitch down field beyond the LOS once the football has crossed the Neutral Zone, as a pitch back during an Option play or the Hook and Ladder, for example

4. Often by formation, the Anchors are spread out wide beyond the Hash Marks, and they have excellent pre-snap Leverage outside of the Defensive Ends or Outside Linebackers. This enables the Anchors to execute the HUNT Block in a variety of ways working from the outside – in. The Hunt block can be a bone-crushing “Blind Side” type of block when the Defender does not see the Anchor coming – such as during a Sprint Out pass play or sweep action. Or, the Hunt block can be a slower more methodical block, where the Anchor will simply be patient and execute his assignment, looking for work and picking out a defender to screen off from the ball carrier.

5. Anchors can legally go down field beyond the LOS during all running plays and Screen passes completed to other backs behind the LOS

These are some of the job descriptions of the new Anchor position.

In 2009, it will be very exciting to watch Anchors handle the football, block, throw, run and catch…all the while wearing jersey number (#50 – 79).

Changes Coming in 2009 at ALL Levels of Football - Get Ready!

2009-08-18T00:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Innovative Football Coach, Player or Fan,

For many of us its the start of the 2009 football season training camp, and it's also an exciting time to be a football coach at this point in the history of our great game! Rapidly, football is becoming incredibly dynamic and new concepts are being implemented at all levels of play.

Over the last two years and thanks to the football players, coaches and referees operating in A-11 games, they've showed the world that a super spread offensive system utilizing wild maximum formations and concepts are sound, safer and effective. A-11 teams have sprung open a geyser of football play-making options going from a good 36 possibilities at the snap in the valuable traditional football system we know, to an incredible 16,636 possibilities when the respectable but outdated jersey-numbering requirement rule is no longer relevant, as per the great article by Scientific American Magazine in 2008.

The transition of the A-11 Offense for 2009 will contribute to this momentum changing football. Already during this NFL preseason, the Tennessee Titans executed a Fake Statue of Liberty Punt using an orbit motion by the left wing back.

To date, 18 NFL teams and many teams throughout the NCAA, high school and youth levels secured A-11 Offense DVD training materials, manuals & video play packages this off-season. That's good news for their teams and exciting for the kids, players, coaches and fans watching their games in 2009.

The hottest NFL trend is for every team to have a Wildcat package. The Dolphins wanted to make their Wildcat more dynamic, so they drafted multiple skill set QB Pat White. The Vikings believe they have a devastating Wildcat combo with Adrian Peterson and new draft pick from Florida, Percy Harvin. The addition of Michael Vick gives the Eagles a Wildcat capability but also positions the Eagles to have a left-handed & right-handed duo of mobile QB's in the backfield during the game at the same time in various A-11 sets.

*When was the last time an NFL team built their game plan to have two quarterbacks in the game at the same time in the backfield operating out of a dual shotgun or staggered set?

Also of note, at the NFL and NCAA levels, offensive players CAN CUT BLOCK defenders outside of the Tackle Box and/or down field, this makes that job much easier for more athletic but smaller QB's or RB types who must take on LB's or DE's at the LOS.

A-11 teams have already proven for two years nationwide that A-11 teams can win WITHOUT being able to Cut Block down field, but when you add Cut Blocking into the mix, the odds for super-spread offensive success take a quantum leap forward. Now those solid concepts will cement themselves at the highest levels of the game.

Across football, we are seeing players and teams embrace the concept of players breaking out of traditional position specific molds and taking on a more dynamic role within ultra-spread offenses. This change is pushing football's evolution and it’s going to unfold before our eyes in 2009!

One former NFL head coach now taking a year off, has been studying every aspect of the A-11 in order to prepare himself for the next wave of the evolution in the game. He has made it clear that he totally understands exactly where the game is headed, faster, more spread out and utilizing hybrid athletes who can block, run, catch, throw and score in as many positions on the field as possible.

The ANCHOR position has now officially become a brand new Position in Football.

At Piedmont we now have an Anchors coach. Anchors wear jersey number #50 - 79, but they are Game Breaker athletes, normally spread out wide beyond the hash marks, and they have the ability to score from anywhere on the field once the football is in their hands.

Until the outdated jersey-numbering requirment is abolished, Anchors will operate simply by wearing jersey's numbered #50 - 79. After the antiquated jersey numbering requirement rule is done away with, offensive players will simply be eligible by Formation on any given play, as many A-11 teams and referees have proven to be workable and true for two years, etc.

For all of you hardworking and innovative coaches, keep pushing yourselves to come up with new ideas to move the game into its next phase. It is incredible how many coaches across the country are enthusiastically sharing their excellent ideas and innovative concepts with our network of A-11 coaches.

One such example comes from an A-11 2nd year coach in the state of Washington. His new A-11 playbook for 2009 is a super-spread system with a brutal downhill running attack. It was an honor to receive his playbook and have a chance to study his marvelous system. Remember, the A-11 is a Great rushing offense because everybody is super-spread out, so don't let the "so-called experts" brainwash you that your team can't run the ball in the A-11. They're fools.

These wide-open evolutionary points of light are coming together to make our great game's super-spread out changes unstoppable.

Best of luck to everyone this season as many of us get ready for the 2009 battles ahead.

Principles & Benefits of the A-11 Offense

2009-08-02T23:36:00.001-07:00

Dear Football Coach, Player or Fan:

Some of the core principles of the A-11 have been developed, fine tuned and cemented into the foundation of A-11 teams, and some great benefits have become self evident too.

Below are a few key things to keep in mind when watching the A-11 and/or installing the system with your staff and team.

1. The Football moves faster than the man

2. A-11 is designed to create 11 different "Islands" on the field of play. Eleven vs. Eleven = the maximum number of one on one match ups possible, enabling your A-11 team its best chance to find the weakest links in the defense, and then attack those soft spots or weak points, etc.

3. Due to its super spread out design, A-11 naturally creates massive running lanes, which makes it easier for your RB's to see the field, and allows your 'normally smaller' offensive lineman to use leverage and unique angles to open holes and sustain blocks - even though they might not be bigger type players. A-11 is a great running offense. For example, Piedmont ran the football 51% of the time in 2008 in the A-11. So, people who claim to be experts and say the A-11 is not a good rushing offense - well, they have clearly never coached or played in the A-11, and they are spouting their opinion, instead of looking at and properly understanding reality.

4. The super spread out design allows your QB or Two QB's to identify the defensive coverage quicker and easier, which should translate into better decision making by the QB's, more touchdowns and less interceptions. It also helps them determine the correct audibles to call because they can see Every defender on the field. Your QB's should have an above average Passer Rating in the A-11.

5. Because the players are very spread out, the A-11 HELPS REDUCE MAJOR INJURIES - a HUGE benefit. There are less inadvertent pile ups and knee or ankle blow outs. For example, in 22 games of using the A-11, Piedmont has Not Had One Major Injury in two years on offense, and many other A-11 teams reported similar results in 2008.

6. A-11 uses Every player's maximum potential: Running, Catching, Blocking and Throwing. ALL players have the expectation and the ability to score - No Matter how the football gets into their hands and Regardless of their Jersey number! A-11 coaches, players and Referees have already proven that, and in the near future, the jersey numbering requirement rule will be done away with. When that happens, Eligible Receivers on any given play will be Eligible by Formation - just like A-11 teams and referees proved over the last two seasons of use. The respectable jersey numbering requirement rule is outdated and the game has outgrown it.

7. A-11 changes the Football Geometry by creating super spread out players who by design automatically Out Flank or Out Leverage some DE's and/or LB's - so...use those New Angles to your A-11 team's advantage, and think differently as a Coaching Staff. In short, Look at the game differently and game plan accordingly.

8. Since there are over 16,000 play possibilities in the A-11, as per the awesome article by Scientific American Magazine, make sure you listen to your assistant coaches and players - who will often craft outstanding new Play concepts.

9. Keep learning together as the A-11 evolves.

10. Develop new play ideas and schematic concepts at least once per week, alone, with your staff and/or with your players. It's fun, and good for the football mind.

We hope you watch A-11 teams play this year online Live or On Demand for Free, and also watch the 2nd year of the A-11 Top Ten Plays of the Week!

Watch A-11 Football at www.A11NETWORK.COM

A-11 Story....Chapter 4

2009-07-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

Chapter 4

Winning Streak Begins in the Trinity Alps – September 22, 2007

IF SOMEBODY had told me that Piedmont would begin a seven-game winning streak in Week Three, on a wet field during a drizzly night in the mountains vs. Trinity High, and it would serve as a launching pad to desperately boost our team’s morale whilst becoming the first victorious step towards Piedmont making the playoffs – well…it would have been difficult to believe them prior to that wonderful night in the hinterlands of northern California.

The game before Trinity, we held our home opener after the Campo debacle, and battled against Truckee High School – a powerhouse Wing-T team, that had won the Nevada state championship twice of the previous three seasons. Due to the incredibly hard work by our players and assistant coaches leading into that Truckee contest, radical X & O adjustments were made by the staff, tons of game video was reviewed, and mutinous actions were thwarted by the outstanding senior leadership of our team captains.

We only lost to Truckee by a final score of a very close 15 – 7. Our defense again played valiant, and we had a chance to tie the game with a few minutes left. Importantly, our Piedmont offense managed to score its first touchdown ever in the A-11, in the 3rd quarter vs. Truckee. Piedmont QB, Jeremy George connected on a nice throw along the right sideline to WR, Joey Andrada. Our fleet WR hauled in the TD pass, and we all felt a massive sense of relief at finally scoring in the A-11.

Before our second game that year, I had the unfortunate experience of losing my offensive line coach – he quit after the Campo game. I respected his decision, and to this day we remain friends, and we root for all things Piedmont related. He is a good man but could not handle his frustration anymore. A-11 co-creator, Steve Humphries had been working with him closely, and Coach Humphries assumed the role of O-Line coach that day.

Several of the players were distraught at losing their O-Line coach, but we handled it above board as best we could before the team capsized. We then closed ranks while trying to move ahead on very shaky ground. The horrible phone calls, emails, and anticipated open questioning in local media kept steamrolling.

One of the most memorable voice mail messages I received was from a gravelly voiced and very pissed off man, who screamed, “A-11! A-11 my a--! A-11 stands for all eleven coaches potentially fired!” Then he slammed down the phone. There’s a joke around town, and to this day I sometimes wonder if that caller was my dad?

Having great administrative support is one of the key factors for any coach to survive the ire of angry, boiling-over parents and players. Unbeknownst to me at the time, our excellent Principal at Piedmont, Randall Booker had been swamped with a plethora of well-intended but firm parents. Folks who were sure the A-11 was the worst football offense ever invented. Two losses in a row to open the season had been enough, and some individuals took the liberty of sitting down with Mr. Booker to show him their “own” offensive systems, proven X’s & O’s that would serve the kids better than the A-11 ever would.

During Week Three sitting at a record of 0 – 2, and prepping for a long road trip game at Trinity, I received a letter from one of the concerned parents. “The Data Letter” from a top notch Scientist in the community, was extremely well written documenting valuable points, and coming to the professional conclusion that more than enough A-11 Data had been collected after only two games – to immediately justify the torching of the A-11 Offense for good, and switching back to a “normal” offense. I disagreed with the Data provided, but respected his right to present his case in a factual and civil manner.

The night before our game vs. Trinity in the stunningly beautiful mountainous retreat of Weaverville, CA, some of my staff and I met the Trinity Coach, Mike Flint for a cold one at the local saloon. Coach Flint is a sturdy, humble man, good humored and had already won a state championship as a coach. He represents everything good in the game of football. He considered planning for his team to play against the A-11 a great challenge, nothing more or less.

In addition to the incredible beauty, the Trinity Alps are known for fantastic Steelhead Trout fishing in the currents of the Trinity River, a robust Logging industry, and terrific Black Bear hunting. In fact, some of the Trinity High football players were set to go Bear Hunting the next morning before our game that night – if my memory serves correct.

Saturday night, standing on the soft, wet, thick grass field at Trinity High, I watched our players warm up in the drizzly cool night air, and I felt unsure about our chances of victory. Trinity was a big, physical Wing-T team, designed to power the football down the field at will. The moist field and wet air had me nervous, we had not yet won a football game in dry conditions, and so winning this game so far from home and in the bad elements had me uptight.

Over the past couple of days leading up to the game, I had sensed a tangible, fierce bite of urgency emanating from the players. They were determined to make the five-hour drive worthwhile, in overall team experience, and especially by winning the game on the field.Even with the slick field and moistened footballs during warm ups, our Two starting quarterbacks were zinging the pigskin around as if they were playing on dry blacktop.

In the swirl of uneasiness leading up to kickoff, the QB’s pre-game efficiency notched confidence into my heart. “Maybe, we are going to get our first win tonight,” I remember thinking at the kickoff.

We returned the opening kickoff with an electric jolt up the middle by shifty Devin Brown all the way to the Trinity 35-yard line. Trinity’s red and gray clad defense came out jumpy and strong, playing a 3-2 front against our A-11, and often blitzing the Weak or Strong outside Linebackers - sometimes both.

But, from our first play on offense, it was clear to each member of our staff, the Piedmont players had taken big steps in mastering the A-11, and had grown exponentially after only two weeks removed from the Campo fizzle. The offensive line looked confident, both of our starting QB’s were crisp, and the WR’s were really busting to get open on pass routes. We were becoming a different team; and appeared to be capable and ready to win against a very physical opponent.

On the opening drive, Primary QB Jeremy George fired a few short passes out wide on quick screens, while our tandem QB, Ryan Lipkin helped secure the pass protection with the OL. For the first time, the offense was beginning to dictate the tempo and pressure of the game, and for the first time that season, our opponent was somewhat not quite sure of themselves on defense. The number one axiom of the A-11 was beginning to cement itself permanently, “The ball moves faster than the man,” was proving to be the keystone principle of the system.On 4th down, secondary QB Lipkin connected on a searing Slant Route to our Left Anchor, Rory Bonnin on, “133 Stagger 293 Slant Corner.” Bonnin hauled in the bullet and rumbled to the Trinity 10-yard line. We misfired on the next two plays and Trinity held tough, but we kicked the chip shot field goal, and had achieved another milestone in the A-11, we had scored some points on the opening drive of a game and were up 3 – 0.

Trinity pounded the ball on offense in their stout Wing-T, and kept our defense off balance a bit. We got the ball back eventually, and proceeded to move it again. Our wise Wide Receivers Coach, Mario Thornton was beginning to notice that we could probably take advantage of a deep Fade or Go route down the right sideline to our then sophomore fleet Receiver, Joey Andrada. We took a few shots down the wet field, and on 3rd down called, “331 Creep 18 Two Screen Left.” Primary QB George sprinted right, decoyed the defense his way, while our other QB Lipkin engaged in a dummy block, then slipped left unfettered and caught the lofty screen pass from George. Lipkin scampered down the left sideline for 15-yards and we tacked on another field goal.Trinity continued to pound and slam the ball on offense and we missed a few golden opportunities to put additional points on the board with the A-11.

After halftime, we found ourselves down 6 – 14, but our defense stiffened and forced Trinity to punt the football. Their Punter skied a beauty in the drizzly air and Rory Bonnin fielded the kick at our own 33-yard line.

If a person coaches football long enough and takes part in many games, there comes a time at a few points during their careers when they are fortunate enough to witness a “Turning Point” in a season – not only a ‘Game Changing’ play, but a sparkling and magnificent event that transforms an entire season. Bonnin’s incredible, gutty punt return saved the game for us that night, and instantly became the pivot point that turned our season from - a losing struggle into a hot winning streak.

Bonnin (a star Rugby player) secured the football in his right arm and dashed up field. On soggy turf – he turned into a Mudder and never looked back. He weaved to his right, sprinted down the right sideline in front of our entire team jumping up and down for joy, and then somehow cut back left and bolted down the center of the field for a 67-yard touchdown! QB George added a nice toss to Captain Alexander Menke in the left corner of the end zone for a two-point play, and suddenly the game was tied 14 – 14…we had hope!

The next 12-minutes of football were classic gridiron moments. Trinity would drive a portion of the field but our defense stood the test, and vice-versa. But as we arrived at the midway point of the 4th Quarter, our quarterbacks coach Pete Schneider concurred with Coach Thornton’s insistence on throwing the Bomb one more time.With six minutes to go in the game and the score tied at 14, we called, “Base Out Stagger 194 Slant.”

Trinity’s defense had been rolling the dice and blitzing 6 or 7 players every so often, and this time we caught them in it. Our two inside slot receivers ran Slant Routes, and the Strong Safety to our QB’s right side had to step down and cover the Slant. George read the Cover Zero perfectly and found the speedy Andrada in single coverage way down the right sideline. Due to the slickness of the ball and the heavy defensive pressure, the deep pass was slightly underthrown, Andrada’s panicked defender overran the play. Joey adjusted and came back under the pass, caught it and sprinted into the end zone alone for the winning score, 20 – 14!

God Almighty could not have ripped that first victory from the determined hands of our Piedmont players from that moment onward. Our very stingy defense played the last few minutes of the game like a bunch of crazed maniacs and nailed down the first win of the season for our team, and the first win ever for the A-11 Offense.

As the last few seconds of the clock wound down, I turned to my right and peered at the brigade of gleeful parents sitting in the tiny bleachers. I listened to our small band of parents that had made the five-hour trek into the mountains. They were jumping for joy while giving the homegrown signal of our offense that the staff used to communicate on the sidelines with the players. The parents were touching the points of their fingers and forming the letter ‘A.’ All of them were shouting, “A-11, A-11!”

When the game ended, the players leaped with delirious pride and relief, and they doused me in a shower of Gatorade on that frigid night in the Trinity Alps. But, I never felt more warmth and happiness envelope me after a football game, as that icy fluid soaked me from head to toe. With watery eyes triggered by elation for our Piedmont players and everybody attached to our program, I gave Steve Humphries a bear hug and congratulated him, and did the same thing to the assistant coaches and players.

Inside the visitor’s locker room at Trinity, the boyish joyfulness spilling out from the players and coaches was remarkable to behold. Soon thereafter, we were all on the team bus and headed back the hotel for a post-game pizza party, and to watch the DVD replay of the great game we had just experienced.

With a hoarse voice, raspy from delight, I auto-dialed the number of Piedmont Principal Randall Booker, and hoped that he would answer the phone that late on a Saturday night.

It rang, and then I heard his voice ask, “What happened?”

“Listen to this,” I replied, and then I held up my cell phone towards the back of the bus.

Without missing a beat, the entire team shouted with all of their might, and clearly sent Mr. Booker the only answer he really wanted to hear, “We won! We won!”

The teams’ synchronized cheer echoed throughout the bus.

I closed my eyes and tried to soak up every moment of the excellent night.

A-11 Offense Story

2009-07-15T17:12:00.000-07:00

Chapter 3

“A-11 Makes its Debut on September 7, 2007 - The Nightmare in Moraga vs. Campolindo!”

IMAGINE the worst outcome that could overwhelm your greatest effort to try and ensure a reasonable or respectable modicum of success for a radical new venture…and then quadruple it.

On the team bus early that evening weaving through the beautiful rolling hills and trees of the Moraga Canyon towards Campolindo High School, every player and coach onboard was understandably excited, but brutally nervous, more than all of us anticipated. Truthfully, we were collectively worried about running the A-11 for the first time, but more importantly, we fully realized Campolindo was a big, fast and powerful football team, and very well coached. It was a daunting task at hand.

Looking back in review of our 2007 football training camp prior to Campolindo, we’d made a good decision to bring in the key football Referees from our region to educate them about the A-11, and to get their vital feedback regarding shifting, motions and a few nuances. It was important for us to get the Referees on the same page, in terms of prepping their crews to properly officiate the A-11 come game time.

However, in retrospect I made a significant mistake asking our players, coaches and parents to try and keep the A-11 a ‘secret’ until the Campo game. It was my hope the element of surprise would offer some advantage for our team…I was dead wrong. In fact, it made things a bit worse by putting additional pressure on our players and assistant coaches, and accidentally ratcheting up the drama within our Piedmont community. Campolindo and Piedmont are lovely towns, only separated by a casual 20-minute drive through the Tunnel, and they share affinities.
I should have officially let the word out that Piedmont would be trying a new offense like the A-11; it would have reduced the pain of the stinging loss to Campo for the kids, assistant coaches and parents. Instead, it was a humiliating blow that I should have seen coming, regardless of my hopes. Campo knew what we were doing well enough – word had traveled.

In the locker room after our pre-game warm up, the tension in the air was making things almost unbearable. It was muggy enough, and I had already asked the players to do an incredible amount giving on behalf of the program by switching to the A-11. Seeds of doubt from certain players and an assistant coach had become emerging stalks of serious misgivings.

At sunset, soon after the opening kickoff our Piedmont A-11 Offense took the field, and that’s when the surreal terror on offense began. (Our defense played well that night and Campolindo called off the dogs midway through the 3rd quarter or it could have been worse).

Respectfully to the players and assistant coaches, we had done a lot of work creating, tweaking and practicing the virgin A-11 system throughout the spring and summer, that most of us believed we were ready to unveil the A-11 and have some success.

Disaster! And, all of it was my fault – 100%.

Our offensive players were so spread out across the field of play, naked-like in their ultra wide A-11 formations – it was a major shock to see them actually competing live vs. an opponent under the lights. Just the simple act of looking at them on the field like that was difficult to soak in, especially after having spent the past twenty-one years being a traditional football coach.

Campo was going full-speed ahead, comfortable and confident in their system, and kicking our butts on the artificial turf. Their navy blue, red and white uniforms seemed like a tidal wave of colors overwhelming our white and purple uniformed players. Again, our Piedmont players were giving it their all to succeed, and their shortcomings were zero fault of their own. The errant timing and poor relationship of the plays (too east and west), the offbeat spacing and shoddy performance was totally my fault. I had miscalculated the scope of the project. I had not adjusted our methods of practicing differently quite enough, to fully compensate for the awkward foreign football geometry in the blood and guts operating system of the A-11 in a game situation.

Assistant coach (A-11 Co-creator) Steve Humphries, and the other coaches on our sideline were fully engaged in the game, while doing their best to plug the internal team wounds of dissention, and halt the ebbing of our total chemistry.

But, the debacle unfolded without respite. At halftime, I had one of the JV assistant coaches lead the team into the locker room so they could rest and begin regrouping, while I held a quick meeting with the Varsity coaches at the southern end of the field.

I looked around the tree-lined stadium venue and saw hordes of people having a great time over by the snack shack. I watched with chills crawling up my spine, as our football program’s greatest benefactor actually marched through the crowd and stormed out of the stadium shaking his head with disgust – obviously he had seen enough for now.

“F---!” Steve Humphries said, “We’ve gotta lot of work to do.”

All of the coaches agreed, except for one, our Offensive Line Coach. He was not a supporter of the A-11. However, regardless of his opinion about our offense, he was a great guy then, and is a great guy now. Sometimes, terrible situations simply get the best of people.

Our OL coach was cursing up a tornado in our gathering and was beyond reach at that moment. He made it clear that he did not know if he could make it through the entire game without losing it.

“Damage control, we must help the kids get through the game with some pride.” I said.

Back inside the locker room the players were scattered about, listless, sad, a few crying, and at least two pods of players shooting looks of anger at anybody looking their way. Who could blame them? Not me, it wasn’t their ill doing. They had done what I had asked, and I had failed them.

We only had a couple of minutes remaining before we had to return to the field for the 2nd half.

The staff and I focused our attention on helping the players stay tuned on “getting better” and “not giving up.”

Regardless, it was self-evident; tonight was not going to be a fun event.

Several of the players pounded their fists against the visiting team’s lockers and screamed at the top of their lungs, trying to release their frustration and anger without hurting anyone else.

Before going back to the field, I took a quick walk outside and around the corner from the locker room. Hoping not to be seen, I proceeded to spew vomit into a barrel trashcan nearby. I was sweating profusely and deserved every ounce of ill feelings and mocking sent my way.

Jogging back to the stadium through the Campolindo campus, our players and coaches came out fighting for our collective pride that had been shredded but was hanging by a thread. Watching our players continually battle throughout the 2nd half and never giving up was a testimony to their maturity, camaraderie and dedicated work.

We had begun the game hoping to achieve a stunning upset of powerful Campolindo. We ended the game scrapping, clawing and using every ounce of strength and vigor – simply to just get a few meager 1st downs in the A-11.

Our dreams of success had been reduced to desperate prayers of football salvation.

Final Score: Campolindo - 31 and Piedmont - 2.

After the game in the darkened parking lot. I leaned against the team bus, sick to my stomach, with a splitting migraine and wanting to wake up from the nightmare in Moraga. I was grateful to have such a great group of players, and equally thankful for the wonderful army of assistant coaches helping our team get through this catastrophe.

I waited quietly by our bus, as each player filed onto the idling diesel that would take us home.

One of my longtime friends and her husband had flown in from Hawaii to visit her family and also see our game. “It will get better, it’s just the first game.” She said, before they had to go.

I nodded and thanked them both for coming. “It must,” I replied, and I got on the bus.

A-11 Story....Chapter 2

2009-06-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

Chapter 2

“Football players like to be comfortable in their team's system. The A-11 shattered that.”

EVERY coach on the staff knew it was going to be very rough sledding, in terms of helping the football players (V & JV) somehow understand that switching to this “crazy”, “radical” and new offensive system was good for them and the program.

Helping to manage the players’ passionate commitment to the familiar football ways they had been playing under, but also to tear them away from the grip of traditional gridiron methods, plays and terminologies, ones that all of them had grown up watching on television was brutal. It was far more difficult and emotionally searing, and gut wrenching than any of the staff members had anticipated, and we had projected a significant amount of angst and apprehension from the players – once they had soaked in the news of our impending change.

In the Varsity locker room one week before the official start of the 2007 spring football practice at Piedmont, nervously and with a sweaty brow I stood before the V & JV squads. Behind me on the white board were a dozen categorized and neatly divided A-11 formations, and a bullet-point list of key rules and points.

The assistant coaches were scattered around the locker room, intermixed with the players and providing unspoken measures of support with their presence. I would soon learn that all of the assistant coaches were 100% committed to the A-11, but one coach was not. The one dissenting coach had made his voice and mature opinion known in our staff meetings. But, it would not be until during our first real game, three-and-a-half months later vs. Campolindo, that the true level of his displeasure would be revealed.

Unrehearsed, I spoke, “Gentlemen, we’re making a very big change to the offense.”It was now official. I had made the commitment to the A-11. There would be no going back, no running, no hiding and no changing of the path before us, regardless of the A-11’s initial success on the field. The coaches, administration and now even the players had made the pact complete. However, for the players - the wonderful and hardworking Oarsmen responsible for rowing the ship of our football program –respectfully they had been “shown” the futuristic way of our program, but not asked to participate in the choice affecting them.

It’s always one of the toughest decisions a head coach must make, and major decisions like these need to be well thought out, swift, consistent and sincere. Any type of public wavering by yours truly would be disastrous, ruinous for the players, the program, for me, and the staff. No bones about it.

“To that?” One of the players uttered, pointing at the white board behind me in disbelief.

I nodded slowly, acknowledging the player and scanning the youthful, quizzical and surprised faces of the others. “It’s called the A-11, and it stands for, all eleven players potentially eligible.”I waited for more questions, but silence ensued, and so I took the players through the basics of the A-11.

Steve Humphries chimed in a few times and explained various aspects of the offense, including some new ideas he was excited about, as the assistant offensive line coach. Some of the other assistants offered words of wisdom and encouragement.

After a few more rounds of normal Q & A, finally, thee question I had been waiting for arose from the concerned heart, mind and mouth from one of our very well respected team captains.

“What about the linemen?” He asked warily.

Tremendous and fiery debate had transpired in our coaching staff meetings over this very issue. But, with the truthful understanding that the Piedmont football program normally does not have enough ‘traditional linemen’ in its ranks – implementing the A-11 made sense, and doubled with the fact that most of the time Piedmont has an abundance of skill players, it really made sense.

More speed and less bulk = the A-11 Offense.

I answered the question. “Our linemen will play in the A-11, but not as many of them will play in the A-11, because we’re going to put more speed on the field at the same time. We are going to spread the field wide and force the defense to spread out with us. We’ll still keep our traditional “Highlander” offense, and all of the linemen will of course play in that too. Plus, whatever linemen that don’t start in the A-11 or in Highlander; we’re going to switch those players to the defensive line, so everybody gets to play.”

Some of the players were visibly unhappy, and that’s understandable. It was a shock to their football psyche and to their system. Other players were fired up and excited about the change. And to be sure, a segment of the players were cautious, cool and non-committal.As a coaching staff, we had more than four months to chew on and get used to the brazen idea of the A-11.

It would have been unfair of me and/or the staff to expect the players to welcome the A-11 with gleeful shouts of joy and open arms. Most of the players were scared, they knew it, and we knew it. The senior players did not want to waste their final season.

Heck, the coaching staff was terrified of failing. We wanted to succeed for the players – especially the seniors, and for the program, and for us. As a staff, we had already made the decision - failure was not allowed to enter into the equation, or it would surely consume everything in its path with its insatiable appetite for destruction.

Spring football would happen, a new offense would be installed & very uncomfortable change was now upon all of us.

Making football history? That was not even in our minds…

History of A-11: Behind the Scenes, Game Planning and Play Calling

2009-06-28T17:26:00.001-07:00

About once a week or less, I will post some behind the scenes happenings of the A-11, how it transpired, how it developed, specific game planning and play calling from games, and other interesting tid bits - all true.

I hope you enjoy the story...

Chapter 1

“Take a break from what you already know and learn some new concepts.”

HAVE you ever wished you had taken the time to learn a second language? Some people speak multiple languages, but most folks converse using one dialect, and for their own reasons, it suits their needs just fine. But, as a football coach, what if mastering another “language” offered the possibility of improving your team’s success? Would you do it? Should you do it? And, can you do it, even though a segment of the population judging your every move will quickly side against you?

During the first twenty-one years of my coaching career, I stood against having my Quarterback set in the backfield to have him operate in the Shotgun formation. I was ignorant because I had not taken the time to learn the nuances of the Gun. I assumed bad things would happen, incorrectly, and made the egregious mistake of telling myself that having my quarterback not under the Center “was too risky” and that a Shotgun offense was, “not my cup of tea.”

So, imagine my surprise in December of 2006, when I walked into the living room at the home of Piedmont Football Offensive Coordinator, Steve Humphries, and saw the X’s and O’s diagram in full-color on the white board, perched upon an easel and depicting what is now known as the A-11 Offense ‘BASE’ formation. The ultra-spread offensive design featuring Trips receivers flanked wide to each side of the field, and only three offensive linemen in the middle, had not just one quarterback deep in the Shotgun…but also Two quarterbacks in the Shotgun!

For months during the 2006 football season, Steve had wanted us to set aside some time to meet, so he could “show” me a new football idea. However, having just assumed the role of head coach again at Piedmont prior to the 2006 season, there were too many distractions to review anything until after the season. Fortunately throughout my coaching career, I’ve taken pride in creating successful offensive schemes, and Steve and I finally found the time to do some brainstorming. I had been looking forward to our chalk-talk session but was stunned at least.

Immediately upon review of the Base formation featuring a duo of quarterbacks in the Shotgun, I found myself uttering why it was not a good idea or reasons why it would not work.

“Open your mind and close your mouth, please.” Steve replied after a few of my blips.

I smirked and sat down in a fat comfy chair. Steve handed me a cold bottle of beer, we toasted and for the next hour I kept my mouth shut and my mind agape. Steve proceeded to draw up wild formations and plays, and walk me through an array of radical offensive ideas.

“What if every player on the field was a potential receiving threat?” I asked him.

Curious, Steve raised his eyebrows with interest and kept his mind unfiltered as always, cool with exploring new possibilities. From that moment on, and for several days thereafter, we devoured the NFHS 2006 football rulebook, searching for a legal way to enable our offensive team to have “all eleven players potentially eligible.”

Overall, the hardworking players on our Piedmont football team are usually smaller in size than most of the teams we play, so spreading the defense might help serve our needs. Plus, finding good ways to help prevent injuries would also prove to be important.

Once we found and clarified the numbering exception allowed by the Scrimmage Kick Formation (SKF) rule, it served as the key to unlocking an innovative new style of offense. An offense that could have multiple players instantly become interchangeable by simply stepping onto the Line of Scrimmage (LOS), remaining off of it, or shifting into a new location. We submitted all of our ideas, many rule interpretations, X and O diagrams, and other items to the NFHS, and eventually the CIF governing body. After a pensive two months of review by the powers-that-be, and detailed phone conversations with the CIF state rules interpreter, who carefully reviewed all items with us – our new style of football offense was declared Legal to use by the state rules interpreter of the CIF in February of 2007.

Great! The proverbial Mustang was now running free on the open range. We had the backing of our excellent Piedmont Principal, Randall Booker, and also that of our top-notch Athletic Director, Mike Humphries, both men urged us to go for it.

But now what?

Steve wanted to tag our new system, the “Planet Pluto” offense. We tossed that name onto the scrap heap and soon settled upon the A-11 (all eleven players potentially eligible). It was the simplest name we devised and it sounded respectable.With help from the outstanding assistant coaches on the staff, we spent the next few months developing the terminology of our new system - how to call formations, play numbering & branding of position groups, breaking down the field into Red/White/Blue teaching grids, various motions and the bedrock of our system’s rules.

The wild ideas emblazoned on the white board that day in Steve’s living room had gone through multiple drafts, revisions and edits. Reams of paper and hordes of dry erase ink pens ran dry; and on more than occasion, rapid-fire exchanges of harsh words and stubborn positioning by each member of the coaching staff took shape.
We worked and battled on the commitment together. Many sleepless nights were required to craft and steer the A-11 concept into a beginner’s package worthy of implementing during our upcoming 2007 Spring Football practice, set to commence in late May.

All of these steps and many more were completed - before we ever met with the players...

Lots of Good Coaches Pushing the Game Forward

2009-04-29T13:00:00.001-07:00

The A-11 will be seen on the Gridiron again for the 2009 season and beyond, with some modifications.

Even though a small faction of disgruntled football traditionalists at the NFHS spearheaded a change in the rules in their attempt to ban the A-11 Offense, the numerous proponents of the A-11 across the nation will always be pushing the game forward with A-11 concepts and strategies. A growing fraternity of innovative coaches has sprung up across the country, those who believe in super spread out offensive football as one of the best ways to help their football team win more games.

Exciting A-11 concepts have proven successful for many teams. Hardworking players and bright coaches nationwide have and will be implementing various applications of the A-11.“What bothers old-school football people, and I know because I used to be one of them,” explains Piedmont head coach, Kurt Bryan, “is that some football programs around the country have developed their new A-11 system, and the A-11 has established itself as a successful style of offensive football – without using traditional Offensive Tackles in the game. Instead of having a traditional Tackle next to each of the Guards, the A-11 puts a sleeker/faster and more athletic ‘Game Breaker’ type at those Anchor positions and spreads them out wide, past the hash marks. For two years now, A-11 coaches & players have demonstrated that having more players on the field that can score from anywhere is better for their team. The game of football has changed forever, and it will never go back. Today’s amazing athletes and the wild skills they bring onto the field of play demand it. The A-11 is simply another way to play offensive football.”

For now, teams using the A-11 will have to put those 'Anchor' players in jerseys numbered (# 50-79). The Anchors will not be eligible to catch a Forward Pass beyond the line of scrimmage. However, the Anchors will be allowed to catch a backward pass behind the line of scrimmage, take a handoff or reverse, or option pitch behind the line of scrimmage, and fully engage in the play to advance the football on a hook-n-ladder, or option pitch beyond the line of scrimmage once the football has crossed the neutral zone.

Explains Steve Humphries, "The Genie was let out of the bottle two years ago. Now, even college and pro coaches are looking at A-11 strategies to help their teams win, and it has been an excellent off-season because we have had the chance to meet with collegiate coaching staffs in various parts of the country to share what we have learned, and also listen to their ideas. A few Pro coaches have inquired about some A-11 concepts, and now coaches at all levels are helping the game advance. The (NFHS) had a great chance to be true to the history of football and help the game push forward by embracing a study of teams using A-11 at the high school level. At the same time, the (NFHS) could have helped smaller schools across the country. But, a few key people at the (NFHS), most of whom had never seen or participated in an A-11 game live, were the 'chicken-little-sky-is-falling' ring leaders behind the (NFHS) panicked move. They blew it. However, more teams will be using super-spread out A-11 systems, not only at the high school level and the Youth levels, but also at the collegiate and pro levels too. The game of football is becoming more spread out each year. Soon, A-11 style football will become the norm and not the exception. Imagine a few years from now, having a bunch of superstar, world-class athletes operating in the A-11 Offense? It will be one of the most amazing and breathtaking offenses to watch in full-speed live action. It's already happening...and it's inevitable.”

ESPN.com Worldwide Poll on the A-11

2009-03-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Supporter of the A-11 Offense:

Thank you very much for your continued support of the A-11 Offense on behalf of the schools nationwide wanting to use it.

ESPN.com recently conducted a worldwide Poll about the A-11 Offense, asking football fans, players, coaches and officials to cast their Vote as to whether the A-11 is “unsportsmanlike” or “innovative,” and other related topics were polled as well.

In three days, ESPN.com received more than 11,000 votes worldwide and the results have now been tallied. Fortunately, your supportive voice on behalf of the mostly small to mid-size schools in favor of the A-11 Offense is finally being heard.

All 50 States in the Union voted in favor of the A-11, as did the International vote too.

The national & worldwide totals came back at 75% of the voters in favor of the A-11.

For example:

West Virginia: 81%
California: 78%
Texas: 76%
North Carolina: 72%
Oregon: 82%
Florida: 74%
Louisiana: 81%
Massachusetts: 77%
*International: 75%

The overwhelming numbers in favor of the A-11 from the ESPN Poll are amazing!

As more testimonials from football coaches, players & officials who have actually been involved in A-11 football games comes to light, it’s now incredibly clear – there is a massive disconnect between most of the NFHS rules committee members, and the solid majority of the feedback from the people representing the “boots on the ground.”

To see the final ESPN.com Poll results State-by-State and worldwide, please visit http://www.a11offense.com/ in the next day or two when the state-by-state results will be listed.

Thank you in advance for sharing this information with your own State Association, and also for sending it to everybody you know that supports the A-11 Offense.

A-11 Offense in Football - 2009 and Beyond

2008-11-28T17:16:00.000-08:00

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

2008 Season End and Playoffs

2008-11-19T08:39:00.000-08:00

The old saying is true, "Time flies when you're having fun" and this 2008 football season has absolutely flown by!

Thank God for the Internet! The net has enabled our coaching staff to share all of the football knowledge we developed regarding the A-11 since its inception with thousands of coaches worldwide, and we have also learned so many great things from our peers in the coaching fraternity too. Thank you.

We have seen great video clips, articles and snippets about teams using their own version of the A-11 Offense, and below are some Playoff teams that had success using the A-11 this season, with more excellent stories to come in 2009 and beyond.

Piedmont, CA

Saddleback Valley Christian, CA

Trimble County, KY

Arvada West, CO

Madison County, AL

Mission SF, CA

Riverside Brookfield, IL

Gar-Pal, WA

Tullahoma, TN

* Keep up the innovative work coaches, it will pay off!

A-11 Offense: Halfway Through the 2008 Football Season

2008-10-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

October 12th, 2008

As this halfway point in the 2008 football season, respectfully it seems like a good time to take a look at some of the arguments put forth by a loud minority in the football world who cannot stand anything having to do with the A-11 Offense. And, it is also a solid time to look at some of the teams using the A-11 Offense, how they are doing with it, what they are doing with it, and what it means for the future of high school football and beyond.

The loud minority in opposition to the A-11 have beliefs steering them towards vehement dislike for this new style of offense because they feel it unduly exploits the numbering exception, or it is not “real” football, and finally that it will ruin the game forever. However, to date: 41 states in America have approved the A-11 Offense, with seven states and the District of Columbia not allowing it for now.

Looking back into last year prior to the 2007 football season, after the A-11 Offense was submitted to the NFHS and CIF for review, and then approved by the CIF; there was concern that this new style of offense with “potentially eligible numbered” receivers spread all over the field would be impossible for Officials to properly manage, etc.

As of now, the overwhelming majority of Officials who have actually worked games involving teams using the A-11 have made it clear the A-11 is indeed very workable by the officials, and it is much easier to manage in person than on a grease board. Again, those are the professional opinions of most crews having worked the games in which the A-11 was utilized.

Also, there is a little known sidebar to this as well…in 9-man tackle football the numbering requirements for eligible players to receive a forward pass do not exist, and so eligible receivers are only identified by the officials according to the actual position on the field each player occupies on that play prior to the snap. In other words, the A-11 merely adds two more players into the mix for the officiating crews to cover.

Unfair advantage: The loud minority believes the A-11 provides the offense with an unfair advantage over the defense because the defense will have less time to I.D. who will be eligible or not on any given play until a few seconds prior to the snap. As will be detailed later in this essay, some teams are winning games with the A-11, and some teams are not winning, just like it is with any other offensive system in football.

Please take a look at some of the schools using the A-11 throughout various parts of the country, and then we’ll examine what they are doing with it, and how they are doing:

Piedmont High - CA, Saddleback Valley Christian - CA, Trimble County - KY, Madison County - AL, Mission SF - CA, Riverside-Brookfield - IL, Horizon Christian - OR
Gar-Pal - WA, Tullahoma - TN, American School – Japan.

Piedmont is 2 – 3 overall and has expanded it’s A-11 scheme beyond its initial season of use in 2007 to employ more motion, shotgun zone fly concepts, leads, counters and waggles. The Highlanders have hung tough with two outstanding football teams loaded with Division 1A talent: Bishop Stallworth and Encinal, powerhouse football teams that defeated Piedmont.

Saddleback Valley Christian, CA (SVCS): The Warriors are 5 – 0, and have incredible team speed but not much size. Their A-11 Offense is thrilling to watch and sometimes their players are moving at such a rapid rate, it appears as if the actual video speed is on fast-forward. In addition to the base system of the A-11, SVCS has incorporated massive amounts of motion, reverses and sweeps, again everything being executed in hyper-drive.

Madison County, AL: Madison is 6 – 0 using various A-11 packages to let their talented players operate in wide-open space scattered about the field. Their precision passing game is worthy to note.

Mission – SF: The Bears are 4 – 2, with remarkably gifted athletes in a few key positions, such as RB and two of the WR spots. For the first time in more than 45 years, the Bears have chance to compete for the San Francisco AAA title, something that would be a tremendous accomplishment for a school that almost tanked its football program five years ago.

Riverside-Brookfield, IL: The Bulldogs are hot, after dropping their first 3 games of the season, they are rolling after four straight wins, and in sole possession of 1st place in their Metro Suburban conference at 2 – 0 in league. The Bulldogs SUPER spread out, “pass until hell freezes over” offense is a thing of beauty to behold when clicking on all cylinders.

Trimble County, KY: The Raiders are struggling after having won their opener. Their QB is a physical workhouse type of athlete who rushed for over 200 yards in one game in their trapping, jet sweep and counter trey A-11 system. However, their team is severely overmatched talent-wise, and a few heartbreaking losses have helped to make this a tough season. Hopefully, Trimble will catch a few breaks in their last 4 games of the season.

Horizon Christian, OR: Horizon is 2-3 overall, not bad considering they are very young across the board talent wise. Horizon utilizes a lot of “run and shoot” principles in their system, and with each game their youthful team gains valuable experience.

Gar-Pal, WA: Gar-Pal used their own version of Bubble Screen and Fake Bubble Screen in the A-11 to get a come from behind win recently when pretty much everything else in their traditional offense was struggling. Utilizing some aspects of the A-11 helped them earn the victory, and now they are planning on implementing much more A-11.

Tullahoma, TN: The Wildcats are 5-2 overall and use a punishing running game in their own version of the A-11. Their ferocious attack featuring leads, counters and draws is a force to be reckoned with.
American School in Japan (ASIJ): They are 3-2, having lost some tough games, and earned a few hard fought victories. Their detailed and precise passing attack is worthy of mention, as is their movement passing game.

As can be witnessed by a sampling of a few teams using the A-11, and as is the case with teams using any type of offensive system, some A-11 teams are winning games, and some of those teams are not. Winning enough games depends upon: strength of schedule, talent, coaching, injuries, weather and the amount of bad breaks a team must overcome during each game and the season. Sometimes things go your way…and sometimes they don’t.

Does the A-11 Offense have a place in the future of high school football & beyond?

Yes, the sheer amount of small to mid-size high schools nationwide that can benefit by having the option of using the A-11 is undeniable. Since our coaching staff decided to share everything we developed and learned about the A-11 after the 2007 season, we have been inundated with phone calls and emails from thousands of coaches worldwide who have been searching for a better way to help make their smaller squads more competitive vs. larger foes, and the A-11 does just that.

The A-11 simply gives the smaller schools more of a fighting chance to compete. And, the A-11 greatly reduces injuries to the players, because they are more spread out across the field of play – resulting in less gang tackling and horrific pile-ups, where most of the severe injuries occur in football.

With testimonies of officials nationwide well documented that the A-11 is indeed workable, and with smaller schools now given an opportunity to be even more competitive and safer when utilizing the A-11, it has become incredibly clear in rapid sense that the A-11 is here to stay.

What does that mean for the future of high school football for NFHS schools?

The A-11 meets and/or exceeds all of the criteria listed in the NFHS rules book and the NFHS mission statement. In reality, there is no need for the powers-that-be to try and outlaw the A-11 Offense for all of the reasons listed in this essay and others.

In fact, an even stronger case could be made for the NFHS to either:

1. Change nothing, because the A-11 has proven to be beneficial for the kids

2. Create a new Federation or Exception within NFHS for teams utilizing the A-11 Offense

Will the A-11 be abolished by the NFHS? Highly doubtful…but if the NFHS rules committee tries to ban the A-11 nationwide, there are plenty of small to mid-size schools that will ‘cry foul’ and then gladly take part in a brand new A-11 Federation of wide-open high school football, that is not only safer but proven to be beneficial for the kids.

A Glimpse at Football History & Why the A-11 Offense is Good for the Game

2008-03-06T14:02:00.000-08:00

A Glimpse at Football History and Why the A-11 Offense is Good for the Game

In the year of 1861, The Oneida Football Club of Boston, Mass., became the first organized football team in America, consisting of a roster of players and regular practices, and they played against opponents comprised of blended teams in pickup games throughout the Boston area. Later, Rutgers University battled Princeton University in November of 1869, as the first official collegiate football game took place. Throwing the football or carrying the football was not allowed, and Rutgers defeated Princeton by a final score of 6 – 4.

As the game of football became more popular, standardized rules took shape in the late 1800’s. Yale University team Captain, Walter Camp is duly recognized as the Father of American Football. Among some of his numerous contributions to the game: emphasizing speed over strength by reducing the number of players on the field for each side from 15 to 11, the snap from the center to quarterback, and of course the Line of Scrimmage (L.O.S.). Camp also introduced Down & Distance rules that have since been modified, and he was a tireless advocate of keeping football fast paced and high scoring. Camp apparently realized plodding and low-scoring contests were usually boring, and too much of that would thwart the creative ingenuity of the game’s natural design.

However, even with all of Walter Camp’s innovation, football remained an incredibly violent, mob rule type of sport into the 1900’s. And not until 1905, when the President of the United States – Theodore Roosevelt intervened and forced the rules of the game to be modernized mostly for safety reasons, did football undergo its greatest renaissance of all time: The introduction of the Forward Pass, in large part to allow smaller teams a more reasonable chance to compete vs. their larger foes.

Over the next few decades, several rule modifications to encourage the use and effectiveness of the forward pass came to light, and coaches like John Heisman, Pop Warner, Knute Rockne and Amos Alonzo Stagg “pushed the envelope” by using creative passing attacks, a lot of pre-snap shifting and huddling.

For more than 100 years, rule modifications or unintended results from rule changes have allowed football coaches to design innovative schemes that have made football the most thrilling sport on the planet. For more than a century, football has been at the pinnacle of the dynamic sports because of its relentless innovation and adaptability. Football’s Founding Fathers and Coaching Icons understood the beautiful necessity of innovation, and the need for football to always blend size, strength and speed on the field of play. It is a game of heroic physical achievement married with brilliant strategic concepts and design.

Looking back, it’s clear football’s unique history points us in the direction of the game’s future. The ghosts of football’s tough and glorious past demand that its current caretakers constantly push the game forward with groundbreaking strategies and provocative concepts to keep it fresh and invigorating for the players, fans and coaches, and to honor all of football’s historic fraternity.

Question: 100 years from now, will football be the same game it is today?

Answer: The game cannot remain stagnant because it will die. It cannot live unchanged because it will become stale and then it will perish. Therefore the game must adapt. It has no choice but to change because of its inherent personality combining speed, strength and guile. The game has always embraced pressing innovation that draws upon football’s history, while driving it towards breathtaking tactics enabling its great athletes to thrive on the field of play. Halting the use of innovative stratagems in football is equivalent to cutting off its supply of oxygen. It will suffocate if not allowed to breathe.

For just one moment – imagine the game of football without the use of the Forward Pass? Truly it is unimaginable for today’s football fraternity, but 110 years ago the forward pass itself was beyond the scope of its participants’ respectable imagination.

However, as has been the case in football for more than a century, when cutting-edge ideas flourish, it not only benefits the players, coaches and fans of that particular era, but those new methods of attack serve as a genesis for yet-to-be thought of fresh concepts developed by the coaches and players of the future.

Looking forward, is the A-11 Offense good for the game, as various spread offenses in football become more flanked-out across the field of play?

· The A-11 allows smaller teams a better chance to compete vs. larger opponents by spreading out the defense. And it emphasizes speed and precision combined with effective physical movement

· The A-11 makes the game safer for the players, as smaller athletes are not forced to bash heads against physically superior opponents every play

· The A-11 breathes new life into offensive coaches by offering a nearly unlimited amount of creativity in designing plays and strategies

· The A-11 allows defensive coaches to design entirely new tactics

· The A-11 is fun for the players and coaches, and exciting for the fans

If we had the honor of sitting down with the Founding Fathers of football and the pleasure of visiting with the coaches and players of football’s future 100 years from now, what do you think they would they say about an offense like the A-11?

Respectfully, it seems like history will be the judge…

By

Kurt Bryan
Head Football Coach
Piedmont High School (Piedmont, CA)

www.A11Offense.com or www.PiedmontFootball.com
kurt@piedmontfootball.com
(510) 410-4717