Gap On Man Blocking Scheme – Coaching Youth Football

I will start by explaining one of the more popular blocking schemes used in youth football. Every play you decide to run will only be as successful as the blocking assignments. You need to make sure players know whom they need to block. This will change based on many different factors including

Offensive formation
Offense scheme running
Running or passing play
Defensive alignment
Scouting report
Your talent
Opponents talent

These are a few of the major considerations when developing the proper blocking schemes to use. You will also need a simple way of teaching the blocking assignments, especially if you are coaching a very young team.

The Gap On Man blocking assignment attempts to be a set of rules a lineman can follow for all plays. This is not possible, but it can be used for a general run-blocking scheme.

The rule states that every lineman will base his decision of the rules on where the center is. The rules tell the lineman to block the first opponent that fulfills a rule. Below is the more specific description if you are a guard:

GAP – if there is a defender lined up in the GAP (area between the center and the guard), that is who you block
ON - if there is no defender in the GAP, but a defender is lined up right on you, that is who you block.
MAN – If there is no defender in the GAP or lined up ON you then you block the 1st MAN (defender) in front of you. This is usually a linebacker.

It is a simple scheme and teaches the players responsibility as well as trust. They need to work as a team and trust their teammates will be blocking the right defenders.

Gap On Man Blocking Scheme – Coaching Youth Football

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