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Football Fundamentals
Football Fundamentals is a page dedicated to the basics of football. All the needed skills that have to be developed to be a solid football player no matter the position you play.
There are a lot of misconceptions about what fundamentals are necessary for youth football players that move up. This page will list what I think are essential fundamentals for youth football players and examples of how to develop them.
Important fundamentals:

Sportsmanship
Teamwork
Self Discipline
Concentration
Intensity
Stance
Linear Movement
Multilateral Movement
Explosive Get off
Blocking
Tackling
Ball Handling Skills (running, passing, receiving, snapping)
Pursuit Skills

No matter what offense, defense, or special teams you run all of these elements remain the same. Some of the techniques might differ slightly but the fundamentals are the same.
Key Terms that I and a lot of other great coaches use to teach players:

1) T.I.E = Technique, Instenisty, Execution
2) A.B.C = Attitude, Behavior, Character
3) S.A.T = Stance, Alignment, Technique
4) L.E.G = :Load, Explode, Go Blocking Progression
5) Simplicity + Reptition = Confidence
Stance
"All football players must have a great base to be a great player".

There are a variety of stances that are used in football and all of them have their purpose and use. The key to a good stance is that the player can relax in it. If the player can not relax his muscles then his neuromuscler pathways and muscles will not respond properly to neuromuslcer commands.which lends to a slower movement., Relaxing allows the body to maximize those neuromuslcer pathways and muscler contraction and explode out of the stance.
3 Point Offensive Line Stance/Blocking Back Stance
2 Point  Modified Offensive Line Stance
2 Point Running Back Stance (wing backs)
2 Point Quarter Back Stance
2 Point Receiver Stance
2 Point Linebacker Stance
2 Point Corner Back Stance
2 Point Safety Stance
2 Point Pass Rush Defensive End Stance
3 Point Defensive Line Stance
3 Point Defensive Line Pass Rush Stance
Tackling Fundamentals

I believe in using the chest plate method of tackling (often called the Gun Slinger method) as it is a safe, sound, and effective method of tackiling that ensures that the defender is going to keep is head up and not drop his head and allow his head to impact the defender. Any impact on the head (by dropping the head as you tackle) will cause a tremondous amount of force (Force = Mass * Acceleration (a simply speed * weight) and if the ball carrier is meet head on the force is additive. Meaning that if the Defender is applying 100lbs of force and the ball carrier is applying 100lbs of force and they meet head on and the defender drops his head on impact he will have 200lbs of force travel down his head through his neck and towards the ground.   Doesn't sound very safe does it. We must ensure that our tacklers keep their heads up and their eyes on the target.

Chest Plate Tackling minimizes these common problems:

  • Taking eyes off target
  • Arm tackling
  • Leaving feet
  • No lock up
  • No foot movement or drive
  • Not staying between ball and goal line

Youth Coaches main job while teaching tackling:

  • Coaches main job is to remove fear
  • Teach tackling half speed over and over until they’re really good
  • Rarely take ball carrier to ground
  • Do full contact only when they’re really good and confident
Form Tackling Technique

1.Hit (breakdown position; knees bent, tail back, arch in back, neck against helmet, eyes up)
2.Fit (numbers on numbers, helmet to side the ball is on, eyes to sky, upper body between ball carrier and goal line)
3.Lock (At instant of contact, wrap arms around ball carrier’s arms, lift his shoulder pads off)
4.Lift (forward thrust of hips drive your hips into his body this will create lift)
5.Drive (use legs, upper body holds tight, move ball carrier back or to sideline)

(The end result is to have tacklers that engage, wrap up, lift the ball carrier, drive him back, and into the ground.)

(Tacklers must get good at mirroring a ball carrier so that his body is in between the goal line and the runner.)

Perfect World

In a perfect world we would be able to form tackle any ball carrier but the truth of the matter is that very few tackles are perfect form tackles.  Instead we drill to perfect our ability to tackle pefectly but very rarely is every play an oppurtunity to execute a perfect form tackle.

Once the defenders get good at form tackling start having them tackle from various positions and movements so that they become used to tackling out of perfect form.  Some good examples:

1.  From a prone position (on back/ on stomach/ facing away/ facing to).
2.  Moving Laterally then making a tackle.
3.  Moving around a single obstacle or multiple obstacle course and then making a tackle.
4.  Fighting off a block or several blocks then making a tackle.
5.  Adding a football and having making a tackle then recover a fumble.
6.  Having the defender react to misdirection or pass then move in to make a tackle.
Ball Handling Skills

Every football player should have the ability to properly handle and protect a football.  Although only six players on the offensei are designated to handle the ball all twenty players on the field can and often will have a chance to carry the ball due to fumbles, turnovers, and mistakes.

Holding the ball -

Single Arm Carry -

1) The ball will have three points of contact on it from the body; the cup of the elbow, the cup of the hand (fingers), and the body.
2) The ball is locked into the arm by haveing the point of the ball either in the cup of the hand or between the ring and index fingers and pressing into the cup of the elbow. 
3) The ball is locked into the body by maintaining pressure through the elbow into the ribs which in turn forces the ball  to stay near the body.
4) Important to remember that you still must use your arm while running so that you can maintain speed.  If you don't swing your ball carrying arm it will reduce your acceleration and speed.

Double Arm Carry -

The ball is locked into the ball carrying arm as above (steps 1 and 2).

1) The ball is locked into the body by placing in parallel to the ground and just below the sternum.  Pressuer is applied through the forearm into the ball locking the ball  into the body.
2) The ball is further protected by placing the offhand over the top of the ball so that the offhand fingers lay over the the ball carrying elbow.  Pressure is applied over the top and inward through the forearm.

These techniques should be taught to every player and especially to your ball handlers.  Drills that simulate ball strupping and movement will help to reinforce the importance of the above skills.
Pursuit

The ability to get to the ball carrier and reduce his ability to gain additional yards and score.

The abilities to pursue and tackle well are two of the most important traits you can have as a defensive player.  These skills are fundamental to football.  The ability to pursue your target is about taking a good angle that will take you into the "PATH" of the ball carrier.  Taking a good angle and undestanding how to take that angle is key to being a good defender.

No matter if your a defensive tackle taking a angle on a runner in the backfield or a free safety taking aa angle on a breakaway run the technique is the same.

1) Stay in a good hitting position with the hips square to the target; belly button pointed at the ball carrier. 
2) Focus on the path of the runner not the runner.  If he is going left take a path to the left so that you inntercept him.
3) Keep your eyes on the ball carrier and let your eyes direct you down the path.  The body can and will adjust the body down the path if you learn how to focus on the target and take a good angle.
4) If you are in front of the ball carrier (between him and the goal line) then close the distance and  sink into a good athletic hitting position as you near him so that you can easily move laterally (you must keep your hips and knees bent in order to move in various directions.  Keep your eyes on his hips and step with the near foot to the path.  The faster he is the more distance the step should be away from the ball carrier.  Make sure you keep square to the target so that if he attempts to cut back you can move.  Get your body in front of him is the BIG KEY!!!
5) If you are to the side of him or (across the field) you must take a deep path down the field in front of him. Again aim for a point up field in front of him and get there as fast as possible.  Once you establish that angle get your eyes on him and let your body adjust to him.  Often you see defenders take a great angle on a ball carrier only to have the ball carrier take a studder step and change their angle to the goal line and the defender zips by.  This is because he was focused on the angle and not the ball carrier.
6)  If you are behind him this will come down to your athletic ability verses his and how much desire you have to get to him.  You must close the distance fast and when you get near him you must do anything you can to get him down or out of bounds.