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Youth Football Development Model

YOUTH FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT MODEL

From flag to traditional tackle, the Football Development Model from USA Football focuses on sound principles of long-term athlete development and provides a road map for how we coach, play and learn the game at every level.

FLAG

Our Flag Football (grades K-2) program introduces athletes to football by teaching basic skills in a fun energetic environment.  Using drills during practice our players will learn to run, pass, catch in an age appropriate manner.  Practices and games are a non-contact and are perfect for beginners.  Our players learn to experience football and the learn the basics of football and a passion for the sport.

ROOKIE TACKLE®

3rd/4th Grade: A modified version of the traditional full-contact tackle game, Rookie Tackle is played on a smaller field with fewer players. With specific rule modifications,  it allows the contact game to be introduced in a fun and developmentally appropriate way.

Rookie Tackle was new to TVYFL for the 2017 season. It serves as a bridge-game between flag football and 11 player tackle football and is a part of USA Football’s adoption of the United States Olympic Committee’s American Development Model.  TVYFL and USA Football believe that an age-appropriate and developmental approach to the game driven by high-quality coaching will improve athlete enjoyment and skill development. By modifying the game at younger age groups and educating coaches, commissioners, officials and parents on the game adjustments, mechanics and skills, we can create an age-appropriate, athlete-centered understanding that leads to a better experience. 

The goals of the Rookie Tackle game are: 

  1. All participants learn to play all positions and learn all football skills that are required by the game. 
  2. Maximizing player enjoyment and skill development. 
  3. Ensuring all players have meaningful playing time and the opportunity for improvement and success. 
  4. Providing a bridge between flag football and the 11-player, full-field tackle version. 
  5. Encouraging leagues to play on a smaller field size that is appropriately scaled to the age and skill level of the youth football player. 
  6. Encouraging a fast-paced game with more plays, greater activity and the promotion of fun.

MODIFIED 11 PLAYER TACKLE

5th/6th Grade: 11 player football with modified rules.  The Goal of our 5th/6th grade tackle program is to continue age appropriate development and exposure to more advanced fundamentals. 

Goals for 5th, 6th Modified 11 Player Tackle are: 

  1. Maximizing player enjoyment and skill development. 
  2. Providing all players meaningful playing time and the opportunity for success. 
  3. Introducing players to new positions and strategies that come with the full-field, 11-player version of tackle football. 
  4. Introducing the three-point stance to lineman as a natural progression from the two-point stance they learned in Rookie Tackle. 
  5. Encouraging a fast-paced game with more plays, greater activity and the promotion of fundamental skill development. 
  6. Limiting roster sizes to provide as much focused and individualized coaching attention as possible during practices and games. 

SENIOR TACKLE

7th/8th Grade: Continued development and more competitive environment with the introduction of special teams.  The goal is to have the final stages of skills and terminology implemented to make a smooth transition to 9th grade and high school football.

Goals for Senior Tackle are:. 

  1. Maximizing player enjoyment and skill development. 
  2. Providing all players meaningful playing time and the opportunity for success. 
  3. Introducing players to new positions and strategies that come with the full-field, 11-player version of tackle football. 
  4. Introducing the three-point stance to lineman as a natural progression from the two-point stance they learned in Rookie Tackle. 
  5. Introduction of special teams’ positions, fundamentals and strategies. 
  6. Preparing athletes for the demands of scholastic sports by providing increased challenges to skill development and tactical aspects of the game in an age-appropriate manner. 
  7. Encouraging a fast-paced game with more plays, greater activity and the promotion of fundamental skill development. 
  8. Limiting roster sizes to provide as much focused and individualized coaching attention as possible during practices and games.