The past two seasons have brought about a noticeable need to the Mt. San Antonio coaching staff for adjusting offensive practice time. Field position, or at times lack a field position, has dedicated these game situations which we were not addressing with practice time.

Through the 1996 football season, we started drives inside our own 10 yard line nine times. Two of these possessions resulted in points for us as an offensive unit. Both these drives had a direct positive result on the outcome of games; both drives were the winning drives.

The remaining seven possessions also had a direct influence on the result of games. However, not all were positive results:

1. 3 possessions resulted in punting before crossing the -20 yd. Line. All of these resulted in opponent's scores and influence the game outcome.
2. 2 possessions resulted in no score but negative field position on the next possession (or staffing inside the -10 yd. Line) again.
3. 2 possessions resulted in punts that allowed our opponents not to have the advantage of a short field or possession beyond their 40 yard line. This resulted in no points.

As a result of our 1996 season, we as an offensive staff became aware of the need to implement practice time for "bad field position drives." We also became aware of the fact that field position or situation practice such as:

1. 2-minute offense
2. goal-line offensive

was already built into our practice schedule. But we did not have situation time for bad field position drives and these possessions had played a larger role in game outcome than any other situational possessions.

1. During goal line time-one possession started from inside the -3 going out. The intensity level was there due to players enjoying that period. Also, it gave us time to place emphasis on personnel changes because we used different formations and personnel.
2. Thursday and Friday during 2-minute offense and 2 point play review. This gave us a chance to discuss clock use and our goal for the time.

In 1997, we had 11 drives start inside the 0 to - 10-yard line. Three drives started inside the --1. The outcome of three games was affected directly by these possessions.

Also in 1997, we were placed in a two-minute offense only twice and we gained possession in the red zone or inside the +20 yard line six times. This reinforce our choice to spend practice time on situated offense for possessions inside the -10 yard line.

We have included on our "things to do offense list" these two points:

1. Move the ball over the 20-yard line before punting.
2. Don't give our opponent the ball outside their 40-yard line. 

Game Situations

1. Kick off return -onside return- last play return
2. Offense include signals and plays with messengers
3. Punt and Punt Play
4. Defense -include signals and subs
5. Punt return
6. Two-minute offense -3 plays (no time out)
7. Field goal -field goal play
8. Kick off -kick of onside
9. Prevent defense -clock prevent
10. Hail Mary Offense
11. Stall offense -take safety
12. Victory offense
13. Goal line going on
14. Two point plays.
15. Coming out offense -bad field position 0 to -10.

You may find some of the ideas we have presented useful. The addition of the bad field position drives to our overall practice schedule paid dividends to us this year.

Preparing a team or leaving nothing undone is the science of coaching. Sometimes we do it very well for an opponent and their schemes and personnel, yet we can't forget the game situations that can make a difference.

First we will look at the overall approach of how much offense is needed in any given year, week, or game. Determine the size of your offensive package is the most fundamental of questions that must be answered before you can begin to formulate an offensive game plan.

Once we have established these parameters, we will look at the actual elements that make up each segment of "situational offense" that you must account for in a game plan. This step will be broken down in the following manner:

• Base Offense
• 3rd down
• Pre Red Zone
• Red Zone

Special Categories

1. You must clearly identify what your responsibilities are as the offensive coordinator (play caller) of your team.
2. You must constantly analyze the methods you are using to implement your game plan and determine the capabilities of the group players you are dealing with each year.
3. Determining the size scope of the offense you wish to run in any given year or game is the single most important aspect of developing your game plan.
4. In creating your game plan, you should keep the four key measures of turnovers, explosive plays, first down efficiency, and Red Zone efficiency in mind.
5. You should establish an opening sequence that can be identified, practiced, and implemented by the entire coaching staff and offensive team.
6. You should identify the parameters of every situational offensive segment and identify the measurable success of each segment and how you are going to achieve those levels of success.
7. You should have a plan for every conceivable contingency your team will face, no matter how unusual the circumstance may seem.
8. You should be as detailed and specific as your time and materials allow.
9. You should make sure you are using all the tools available to you.
10. You should recognize that the most important factor in your game plan is the human element, and that the way you interact with your coaches and players affects any and all preparations you make.

These special category areas include:

• Backed up offense
• Special 1st down plays
• Blitz situation
• 2 minute offense
• 4 minute offense
• Last three plays of the game/half