How to stop the double wing
The double wing is a tight, fullback-heavy running game that youth teams still use to mash light boxes. You stop it by fitting gaps and not running past the fullback.
By Flavia Diaz
Know what you are seeing
Both wings are tight, the fullback is the star, and the first story is usually a downhill run — wedge, power, or counter — not a five-wide passing show. Don Markham’s teams made the package famous in the 1980s. The modern youth version is the same idea with smaller players.
Fit, don’t fly
Each defender owns a gap and a shoulder. The end contains. The linebackers fill inside-out and do not race past the fullback into the backfield, which is how the counter gets a free alley. Sound tackling at the fullback’s thighs beats a highlight dive at his feet.
Take away the edge and the kick-out
If your end crashes inside, the wing’s kick-out block has an easy target and the ball goes off tackle. Squeeze, stay square, and make the fullback bounce into help. Practice this fit against your own scout team until it is boring.
Don’t get cute on early downs
A blitz that leaves a gap is a touchdown in this offense. Earn the right to pressure by being sound first. Film will show whether they can throw when you finally make them; many youth teams cannot, and you should still cover the one boot they do have.
Watch for this
- Schemes do not replace safe tackling technique. Head-down hits are how kids get hurt.
- Steal tendencies from film of the opponent, not from a generic article.
When to get help
A coach who has defended it in your age group is worth one practice-plan conversation. Rules and roster sizes differ.