Coaching the Single Wing Offense (Second Edition) - Softcover

Jim Ahern

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1606794280 ISBN 13: 9781606794289

Publisher: Coaches Choice, 2018

Synopsis

Many advantages exist when running the single wing. Some of them are unfamiliarity, simplicity, adaptability, deception, power, passing, quick kicking, and unusual formations. Following is a summary of these advantages. One of the biggest advantages is unfamiliarity. Opponents most likely won t see the offense more than once a year. Preparing for it and trying to simulate it in practice is very difficult because the offense is so different from what they normally see. A week isn t much time to get ready for it without neglecting other parts of their game. When we went to the single wing in the 1990s, we were one of the few schools that were running an offense from the shotgun. What was considered old-fashioned then has become the norm today. Although this offense isn t as unfamiliar to teams today as it was in the 1990s, it is still unique in many ways. The ability to be in spread one play and a double tight formation the next, without having to change blocking assignments or backfield action, is a huge advantage. Simplicity is another big advantage of the single wing offense. At any level of football, the team that makes the fewest mistakes is usually the winner. One of the biggest advantages of the single wing offense is that it doesn t ask an average player to do something he can t do. The blocking schemes are very simple, and, for most plays, a double-team at the point of attack is involved. The offense also doesn t put so much pressure on one back to carry the load, as all of the backs are involved in the single wing. At every level of football, especially the high school or lower levels, the coach should select an offense that is suitable to his current personnel. This adaptability is a major strength of the single wing offense. To make the offense work doesn t require highly skilled players. The line doesn t have to be big and powerful, and the backs don t have to have exceptional speed to make the offense work. Obviously, the better the players the better the offense will work. The single wing offense is also very adaptable and allows the coach to highlight different positions from year to year, depending on personnel, without changing the offense. The Coaching the Single Wing Offense is perfect for the coach looking to install, create quick-hitters or prepare their defense.

About this title

About the Author

Jim Ahern is currently the head coach at Lansing Catholic High School in Lansing, Michigan. The Cougars have made the playoffs in each of the years that Ahern has coached at the school, making it to the state finals in 2011 and 2014. From 2004-2008 Ahern coached in Florida at two schools that were just starting football programs, installing his offense at Palmetto Ridge High School and East Lee County High School. The death of the love of his life, his wife Gerri, in 2008 brought Ahern back to Michigan where he began coaching at Lansing Catholic in 2009 until the present. From 1972-2003 Ahern was the head football coach at Ithaca High School in Ithaca, Michigan. He began his coaching career at Hackett High School, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, under Hall of Fame head coach Dick Soisson. Ahern s next stop was at North Branch High School, in North Branch, Michigan, where he worked under another Hall of Fame coach, Don Smeznic. Ahern became the head coach at Gobles High School, in Gobles, Michigan, in 1969. After three years at Gobles, Ahern moved to his position at Ithaca. Prior to his move to Florida in 2004, and upon his return to Michigan, Ahern has been very active in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association. As the Playoff Committee Chairman of the MHSFCA, he was very proactive in getting the state of Michigan to adjust as well as expand the state football playoffs. He was the president 116 of the MHSFCA in 1990. Ahern had the privilege to coach in the state of Michigan s high school all-star game in 1991 and in the Border Classic between Michigan and Ohio in 2014. He has been the recipient of many coaching awards, with the highlights being in 1996 when he was inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, in 2000 when he was inducted into the National Single Wing Coaches Association Hall of Fame, in 2002 when he was chosen as the Michigan High School Coaches Association Football Coach of the Year, and in 2014 when he was selected as the Jim Crowley Coach of the Year, the most prestigious award given by the MHSFCA.

Review

The University of Michigan has a long history with the single wing offense, going back to the days of Fritz Crisler and Bennie Oosterbaan. I have known and respected Jim Ahern for a long time, and if you have an interest in the single wing, you will want to read this book. I enjoyed it very much. --Lloyd Carr, Former Head Football Coach, University of Michigan

I found Jim Ahern s book to be very interesting, especially the chapters dealing with the passing attack. Any coach who is interested in learning about the spread passing game will find some valuable information in the chapters dealing with passing from the single wing. Coaching the Single Wing Offense offers some interesting ideas that can be used at all levels of football. --Mark Bliss, Head Football Coach, Prairie High School (IA)

We have been running the single wing offense for many years in Iowa, with the spin series being our main method of attack. Many of the ideas expressed by Coach Ahern in the chapter dealing with the spin series are the same techniques that we have used to win state championships. This chapter alone makes the book worth reading. --Bob Howard, Head Football Coach, Webster City (IA) High School

Edition details

• Publisher: Coaches Choice
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1606794280
• ISBN 13: 9781606794289
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 113
• Editor: Dr. James Peterson
• Illustrator: Cheery Sugabo