National Footbal League Coaches Association

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American Football Monthly and the National Football League Coaches Association have formed a partnership that will include periodic information on NFLCA projects as well as clinic articles by both former and current NFL coaches. Included below is Executive Director Larry Kennan’s letter to AFM readers on the NFLCA’s new Affiliate Membership Club.

My son, Ryan, is a defensive backs coach at North Stafford High School, a mid-sized program in Stafford, Virginia. He has been there for the past three years and every so often I stop by the school to meet with their offensive staff. I pass along drills and techniques, work with their quarterbacks and receivers, and review game film; essentially, I serve as a pseudo consultant.

North Stafford does a good job of mixing run and pass. Utilizing a pro-style offense, they attack defenses with multiple formations. Occasionally I recommend a play to supplement their offense. One play that appears to be one of their favorites is Turn 24 Hot Spot 870 Flat. It is a play action look out of I-Formation that is extremely effective against the blitz and in short yardage situations. The offensive line is, in turn, protection. From a normal split, the end runs a fly pattern with the flanker executing a shallow spot route (crossing pattern) from a tightened split. The tailback carries out his fake and sets up to block while the fullback is breaking to the flat. The quarterback’s progression is short to deep, fullback spot to the tight end’s corner route.

While serving as offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, we ran this play 126 times in one year. We were only sacked once and the pass was completed 75 percent of the time.

North Stafford uses this play about 8 to 10 times a game with a similar success rate.

Why am I telling you this story?

Not to be boastful of my play design ability, but to prove a point. After spending 30-plus years as a professional, college, and high school coach, I have found one thing to be true – football is football regardless of the level of your athletes.

You see, when I first hooked up with the North Stafford staff, they were somewhat apprehensive. They were worried that the plays and techniques I taught them would be way beyond their players’ understanding of the game, or ability. Interestingly enough, I have talked to a number of youth league and high school coaches who share this sentiment. In all actuality, it is my time as a NFL coach that allows me to coach the coaches.

It is my belief that there is no better person than a NFL coach to instruct on the fundamentals of throwing a football (to aid the Pop Warner coach who promotes the basics to young kids) or break down effective methods of attacking an eight man front with the run.

Currently I serve as the Executive Director of the National Football League Coaches Association (NFLCA). Our member NFL coaches have coached at all levels and are a tremendous resource for football knowledge. Part of our mission is to perpetuate and promote the game of football by supporting its development. In doing so we intend to educate, inform, encourage and support athletes at all levels of competition.

In Fall 2004, we will launch the NFLCA Affiliate Membership Club. This great program will provide youth and high school coaches with access to NFL coaches via an online community and various special events.

I have been retired for a few years now and I love to help up-and-coming coaches. There are over 700 active and retired NFLCA members who feel the same way.

Furthermore, the NFLCA is partnering with organizations who share in this vision, such as American Football Monthly. So be sure to look for articles written by NFL coaches in upcoming issues of American Football Monthly. If you are looking for more information on the NFLCA please feel free to visit the website www.NFLCoaches.com or call the offices at (202) 463-2237.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a NFL coach as your pseudo consultant?

Still Coaching,
Larry Kennan
Executive Director
National Football League Coaches Association

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