What do you mean by feel?

I'm not one to script plays.  Yet I do run series.  That being said, I'm running what was successful during the game.  After scoring on the the first series. I am more apt to dial up the "Appendix" Counters, Reverse,  Draws, Screens.  See if I can catch them anticipating plays.   

It's the second overtime of a tense game. Both teams scored on their first possessions. Do you run the same script you just scored on, or go by feel as it is deep into the game?

Joe

Great question Joe. I've never coached in an OT game, but I should probably figure this out for when it happens. If I had the ball 1st in the 2nd OT, i'd probably be a little more conservative & stick to the same script.

I was on the sideline when one of the teams in our ORG went to OT. I suggested they go FREEZE on the 1st play, and that worked. Freeze is a great play in OT cuz using a timeout doesn't hurt you.

Jake

We ran a lot of freeze the last few years. Since we are a tempo team, it's a great way to get us a look at the defense & steal some yards. In OT we always huddle so I have never thought of freeze.

We have played 5 OT games in the last 4 years. 2 have gone to the second OT.

Joe

That's crazy. That's the bummer in the youth game, you might have 1 close game all season, so not a lot of opportunites for OT. At least not for me.

But ya, in that game when I suggested freeze, my thought was: either they jump, or you call a timeout you don't need, & have a little additonal time to organize your thoughts. Was also thinking that the opponent might be a little jumpy, consdering the stakes of OT, & their coach likely wasn't talking to them about watching the ball in 1st down.

Have been in several OT games in the last 5-6 years.  First 5 years, we won every one of them (4-0).  Last year, we lost both.

With that said, I go by the feel of the game.  For our OT, each "inning" is one series from the 10 (not the 25).  So, we want to use our best plays from the 10 in, but it is heavily dictated by what has happened in the game.  If there are plays that they have not been able to stop later in the game, then it doesn't really matter what we practiced situationally, we are going to keep working on those.  I always find that I am trying to take what the defense is going to give me and, at that point in the game, I am no longer setting up any other plays. 

The end of the game also affects whether we decide to go on offense first or 2nd (if we win the toss).  If I have come back from a deficit to tie and have the other team on the ropes, then I may decide to go first on offense instead of deferring.  I want to play the momentum.

Joe - interesting topic.  As you know, I do like to script my openers, but it never occurred to me to script out the OT scenario, despite having been in a number of OT games over the years (although none in my 7 years here in San Diego, where there is no OT, except for playoffs, in any level below HS Varsity).  I think I will add this to my pre-game preparation going forward.  Although, I imagine that I'll just script out one OT period, then play it by feel if we go to a second OT.  In HS Varsity, we use the NCAA procedure, starting from the 25, so I'll probably script 8-10 plays, so that could be enough for two periods if we score quickly enough.  Thanks for bringing this up.

In youth I don't know how much sense worrying about who has the ball last matters. How many guys are realistically going to try and kick? We had maybe one or two years where it might of been an option. Meaning the kid made at least 70% of his ep kicks. I do agree with the momentum thing though. Score the td and the other teams is under huge pressure and maybe somewhat deflated.

We were kicking for 3 seasons and we won by kicking in OT twice because it counted for 2. That is where it can be a factor, not with FG's