All coaching

Coaching library

High School coaching

Technique breakdowns, teaching progressions, and film-room fixes for high school coaches — written by position specialists on the Your Last Scout staff.

Coaching whiteboard showing punt formation snap path, protector zones, and punter timing cues
Special TeamsNov 7, 2026

Special Teams Coaching: Fix Your Punt Snap Before It Costs You a Game

My grandmother ran a bakery on Rodman Street. Every morning she had one rule before you touched anything fancy: get the dough right first. Croissants don't…

Portrait of Tony FerreiraCoach FerreiraHigh School ST Coordinator
High school running back planting his foot in the hole, coach watching from behind, unbranded uniform
TechniqueNov 6, 2026

Running Back Technique: Teaching the One-Cut and Go

Every spring I watch the same film clip in my head. A talented back — good feet, good burst — takes a handoff, drifts two steps left, one step right, dances…

Portrait of Darius GainesCoach GainesHigh School RB Coach
High school offensive linemen in three-point stance drilling first-step technique on a practice field
TechniqueNov 5, 2026

OL Coaching: Why Your Linemen Keep Getting Driven Back

Every offensive line coach has seen it. Friday night, first series, your center fires out on a down block — and six seconds later he's three yards in the…

Portrait of Stan NovakCoach NovakHigh School OL Coach
High school wide receiver in a low stalk block stance squaring up a cornerback on the perimeter
TechniqueNov 5, 2026

WR Technique: Teaching the Stalk Block Before It Costs You a TD

Every fall I watch the same play die the same death.

Portrait of Ruben PeñaCoach PenaHigh School WR Coach
Coaching whiteboard showing defensive alignment rules vs. multiple offensive formations with arrows and labels
SchemeNov 4, 2026

Defensive Alignment: Teach the Rule, Not the Play

There's a diner on Erie Boulevard that stays open until two in the morning, and every Friday night after a game, half our staff ends up in a corner booth…

Portrait of Pat RourkeCoach RourkeHigh School DC
Coaching whiteboard showing play-action mesh point, QB fake path, and receiver routes with X's and O's
SchemeNov 4, 2026

Play-Action Passing: Teach the Fake Before the Throw

Here's something I see on film almost every week, and I saw it in my own offense the first year I called plays: the quarterback takes a snap, makes a vague…

Portrait of Ken MatsudaCoach MatsudaHigh School OC
High school cornerback in press alignment facing a wide receiver at the line of scrimmage, side view
TechniqueNov 3, 2026

DB Coaching: How to Fix Press Coverage Before It Breaks You

There's a moment every defensive backs coach knows. Friday night, third-and-six, your corner is in press, the receiver takes one step inside and your guy…

Portrait of Andre MorelandCoach MorelandHigh School DB Coach
Coaching whiteboard diagram of punt coverage lanes, gunner splits, and contain assignments with labeled arrows
Special TeamsNov 3, 2026

Special Teams Coaching: Stop Treating Punt Coverage Like an Afterthought

It's the Tuesday before our homecoming game, and I've got maybe 40 minutes of practice time budgeted for special teams across the whole week. Sound familiar?

Portrait of Jim SullivanCoach SullivanHigh School Coach
Defensive lineman in a three-point stance exploding off the ball at the snap, low pad level, generic uniform
TechniqueNov 2, 2026

D-Line Technique: Teaching Get-Off Before Pass-Rush Moves

Every August, I watch the same thing happen on practice fields from here to the Mississippi. A coach gets excited about pass rush. He's been watching film all…

Portrait of Reggie AkinsCoach AkinsHigh School DL Coach
High school quarterback at the line of scrimmage reading a defender, coaching whiteboard behind him
TechniqueNov 2, 2026

QB Coaching: Teach the Read, Not the Route

There's a moment on film I've seen a hundred times. Your quarterback drops back, the coverage is exactly what you drew up, the window is open — and he stares…

Portrait of Greg LindellCoach LindellHigh School QB Coach
Coaching whiteboard with play-action pass diagram, run fake arrow, and defender labels
SchemeNov 1, 2026

Play-Action Passing: Why Most High School Teams Waste It

Here is a truth I have to write on the board every fall, the same way I write a learning objective at the start of first period:

Portrait of Ken MatsudaCoach MatsudaHigh School OC
High school wide receiver exploding off the line of scrimmage against a press cornerback, low angle
TechniqueOct 31, 2026

WR Technique: Teaching the Release Before the Route

Every fall I watch film of our opponents' corners and I see the same thing: a high school receiver who runs a textbook curl at twelve yards, plants clean,…

Portrait of Ruben PeñaCoach PenaHigh School WR Coach
Coaching whiteboard diagram showing punt gunner release lanes, blocker positions, and coverage lanes with arrows
Special TeamsOct 30, 2026

Punt Coverage: Why Your Gunners Are Getting Blocked Every Week

Every week at some point in this game, a coach somewhere watches his punt returner get housed on the sideline after a 40-yard return and immediately blames the…

Portrait of Jim SullivanCoach SullivanHigh School Coach
High school gunner releasing past a double team on punt coverage
Special TeamsOct 29, 2026

High School Football Coaching: Gunner Technique on Punt Coverage

Every Friday night, somebody loses field position because their punt coverage broke down. Not because the punter shanked it. Not because the return man is a…

Portrait of Jim SullivanCoach SullivanHigh School Coach

Put the film work on autopilot

Your Last Scout turns your film notes into Key Intel cards and a game plan your whole staff works from.

build 33f3ec8 · 2026-11-08 06:24Z