


Any short game needs to have some type of specific game plan. What you need to focus on in a shorter game is primarily dependent on who gets the ball at half time. The vast majority of winners in shorter games are the ones who receive the ball first in the second half. They will tend to have the ball just before the end of the first half and will then again have the ball at the start of the half. This all has to do with the timing of drives and the actual amount of game time. A rule of thumb for ANY game that has three minute quarters or less is to ALWAYS kick, if given the opportunity.
Once we kick the ball off we need to start thinking defense. The way we play defense needs to be different as well. We don’t have the luxury to sit back on our heals, make our reads, and assumptions of how our opponent wants to attack us. In short games each opponent will be lucky if they touch the ball three times. This means we must ATTACK our opponent. Over the years we have preached aggressive defense over coverage defense. Now is the time to implement that strategy. Shorter games favor the aggressor. All we need is that big turnover and we will all but seal our fait.
Now that you have made your turnover/stop you will want to look to put up at least 3 points. That’s right if you have to settle for three then you are going to settle for three. There is no time to play hero in a short game. Take your three points and kick the ball off to your opponent with very little time remaining in the half (your getting the ball in the second half). Once we get the ball in the second half we need to base how we are going to attack our opponent by if we scored a touchdown or a field goal. If we put up a touchdown, look to play ball control and don’t be scared to burn time off the clock. If we scored only a field goal, we still want to play ball control but with a bit more urgency. By the end of this drive the score should at least be 10-0. Now we have our opponent right where we wanted them from the get go. We have a two score lead and our opponent has the ball with very little time remaining in the game. At this point the game is all but over, they need a miracle.
Remember that each game we play needs a game plan. This is simply an overlay of what we need to expect when playing a shorter game. It won’t always go according to plan but if we stick to this formula for shorter style games you will certainly be the victor more times then not!
