running plays for youth team

I know you guys discourage running set plays for youth. We run mostly motion for our 4th grade cyo team. Before our last game we gave them a couple plays to try to see how it would work. They actually worked really well and the kids had fun calling the plays. I was suprised that they remembered them so well. They were very simple, basic screens and basic cuts and we ran them off our normal offensive set ups. We have been having trouble getting them to know when, where and how to set screens, and this seemed to help a lot. I still plan on keeping them in the motion but am thinking having some set plays won't hurt.

As long as running plays isn't the only thing you do, a play here and there shouldn't hurt them.

I think if you start with teaching them the basic fundamentals of a motion offense, such as passing and cutting, proper spacing, then it becomes easier later in the year to put in special plays because they'll have a better understanding of WHY you're running this play and that's a huge developmental thing for young players. Sometimes coaches get so caught up in teaching the WHAT, that we forget to explain the WHY.

Also, if you're play gets shut down, the team already has its motion offense to revert to and set back up in. Too many times I see teams running a high ball screens/pick and roll type stuff for their best player early in the season and when it doesn't work, the whole offense is shut down because they have no concept of an actual offense yet.

I don't have a problem with running a few plays, what I didn't like seeing is kids dribble up the court each time looking to the coach to call out a play every time. I think that makes the kids too dependent on the coach and doesn't allow them to develop their own court sense. Sounds like you let the kids call out their own plays which is pretty cool.

I ran a few patterned offenses which had options based on what happened during the process. I felt that made our offensive "plays" a bit harder to figure out. A lot of times teams will call out a play and it doesn't take long to figure out player X sets a screen every time for player Z.

I say have some fun with it. Throw in some Peyton Manning audibles.

Thanks for the replies. I was a bit hesitant at first. We do struggle a bit with the offense ,mostly on screening. Biggest issue is only one team out of nine in our league plays man defense and you can appreciate the struggle we have vs the zones. Its hard to screen against zones and with the plays at least they have a set spot to go and screen. Hopefully this will teach them the value of screening, and we can build on it next year.

Maybe you would be better off running a pass and cut type of offense.... making sure the kids get in the gaps of the zone. I asked a college coach about attacking zones... he said " it's not rocket science coach, put em where they aint. "

Try to get the ball inside if you can.... attack the short corners and having someone behind the zone can help too. Just a few ideas.