I used a 5-3 formation. On the field it looks like a 3-4.
The 2 Ends are standing and they're job is containment. Linebackers need to be able to recognize which way a play is going.

I have seen a lot of different defenses in youth football and I am not so sure one is that much better then another, as long as you teach the kids their responsibilities.If you are running a 4-4 have you told each lineman what gap they are responsible for? If they don't have a lot of experience then only give them one gap, if you have a lineman that is good and can take on a blocker and cover 2 gaps great but most can not. Linebackers also have gap responsiblities in the 4-4 and this is where it gets tricky, especially on the outside. In my opinion the Outside Linebackers in a 4-4 defense in youth football will either make you or break you especially if your corners are not good run stoppers. They have got to read both the off-tackle run, and the #1 run scoring play in youth football - the sweep. IF you have two tough kids that can read whether the play is going off-tackle or outside and can come up fast enough if the play is going outside to contain and force the runner back inside then the 4-4 is a good defense.You could also run a 4-4 stack and put your defensive ends on outside shoulder of TE to help with contain. If makes your LBs harder to block because the are covered and it gives you more support outside but less inside.

Depends on age - most youth teams are going to try and run to the corners. The toughest D's I ran into only had a few good LBs. One in particular we are struggling to get past runs what would look like a 4-5 (4 downlinemen A and C gaps) then 5 LBs and the 2 Corners. This gives them a Mike that plays a little deep, they stack Sam and Will just outside the C gap - with first look inside but they already have a step to the outside if necessary. Then the OLBs are out on the flank for containment and the C's are outside as well. This puts 3 players on each corner, 4 in the middle to create a big dog pile and a MLB/FS to cover the middle. Good luck and have fun

4-4 attack send in your LLB ON A BLITZ AND AND YOUR LB COVER THE GABS

Remember he says the team is smaller and less athletic - the hard thing about the 4-4 is it requires 4 good kids to cover some space and open field tackle. If I have 4 good kids that can play LB absolutely - if not I have to out number them, create a pile, and gang tackle. I would much rather have 3 kids (OLB, C, and Mike or Will) on the corner rather than 2 (OLB and C). Unless he has a superstar kid to play FS - there is little value in putting the kid 10 yards deep and expecting him to cover the field and make an open field tackle. Plus if I have a good pile in the middle - I don't really need 2 LB's to cover - 1 will do and I can take the other and move him to the corner. I would rather stack the corners with LBs and create a dog pile between the tackles - in youth ball the only real risk I could see would be a TE coming on on a slant - that could be a killer if the MLB doesn't pick up. Other than that - any pass route on the corner I have a man to cover, and run routes around the corner I have a couple guys to gang up on him and as long as I have a pile between the tackles - anyone trying to run through there will be slow getting through at best.

I would also be careful about sending blitzers - unless they can tackle in the open field. I send a man in and he scares him out of the pocket but doesn't tackle him, it is of little value if I have left the corner open for the back to run around.

Instead teach the kids to swarm, use their hands to penetrate and hold the gaps, great tackling techniques and finally 100% pursuit to the ball - everybody has to come running - gang tackle on every play.

In my opinion, I'd have to agree that every defense has its advantages and disadvantages. However, it might behoove you to consider a 6-4. If you have 4-5 guys you can rely on to acnhor the defense, the interior of the defense should cater to clogging the middle. Your less athletic kids should occupy these spots. This will put them in a position to succeed should the play attempt to go outside of them as well as get them in the middle of the action should the play come there way.

With your better athletes anchoring the end spots and the others playing the LB/DB position, this will allow you speed and athleticism on the outside to prevent big gain plays. With everything coming inside, this will allow your less athletic players a chance to make plays as well as give the ore athletic kids a chance to get involved.

Against the pass, you still have your skilled guys covering on the outsides with support still involved in containment.

I have mostly little guys on the DIV I (5-8) team and we use the 5-4 w/2 corners for passing teams and shift to a gap 8 with both D-ends crashing to contain, that way the swarm in the middle usually crushes them by forcing the run into the swarm in the middle for the 3 linebackers.

To run a 4-4 you got to have smart corners at young age they have got to pick up quickly and react fast. If they get beat you have got to rely on a safety to cover alot of ground. Implement a 4-3 with a high low safety spread your safetys out a little meke them be in between the gap between olb's and cb's but make sure they or back at least 7-9 yards past line of scrimage Lb's should be 36 yards back Olb's should be outside De's 24 yards crash middle with ILB at that age he is not going to make alot of outside play s make safetys pick up Wr if corners dont if not watch run make corners make a little contact on WR what a difference that makes This will help you out alot

It all depends on the level you're coaching at, If you are at a middle school or youth level then run a 44. You'll have 8 in the box and you can make it 9 if you bring down the safety against run based teams. At these levels you can get away with less talented corners if you have a smart and atletic safety. QB's at this level will tell you where the ball is going every time, all you have to do is read their eyes. If you are at the high school level then the answer is more complicated. First what style of offense does your opponents play? Second are your players smart enough to adapt different schemes? Third, at what position are you the deepest at?

A GOOD ONE TO RUN IS A 5-4 OR EVEN 6-3 BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO TEACH THE KIDS GAP CONTROL THE MORE MEN UP FRONT TO STOP THE RUN THE BETTER AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE LB THAT CAN READ AND REACT USUALLY IN YOUTH FB THEY RUN OFF TACKLE AND SWEEPS TO THE OUT SIDE SO IF YOU CAN STOP THEM YOU ARE OK AND EVERY NOW AND THEN THEY TRY TO SLIP THE TE OUT FOR A PASS AND YOU HAVE TO HAV TO HAVE SMART LB SO THEY CAN PICK THAT UP SO WHAT EVER D YOU TRY YOU HAVE TO TEACH THE KIDS.GOOD LUCK ON ALL YOU GUYS SEASONS

I use a 3-5-3 ....3 kids onlthe line to hopefully get some pressure shooting the gaps...the two corners play on the line (giving you 5 on the line tech.) have them either bring pressure from the outside or go man if they have a wideout----with the midle linbackers stacked and controling gaps you can pick and choose on each play what linebackers you want to send and what backers you wan to stay home and read the play or look for the pass...very versitile...not many sacks but you dont get burned in the passing game and if you give up 2 or 3 yards in the run they are still getting a 3 and out...

For the situation you describe the Wide Tackle 6-2 is the best defense for a smaller less talented team. If coached correctly it will contain the sweep and reverse while pushing the runners toward your best defenders. That is assuming you have you best athletes on defense at the Linebacker positions. Check out www.winningyouthfootball.com for more details concerning this defense.
Looking Up,
Coach Keith

I like the 4-4 defense, and what I did with my kids was, that I told my DE's to hit the outside shoulder of the OL and try to beat them on the outside. that way if the RB hit the outside they can cut him off and force him back in. my two OLB would protect the dump offs or screens, and my two ILB would cover the slants, or one blitz and the other gets the zone. My DB's would play man, I had a lot of success with this defense, but the players need to pick up their reads fast, if u have smart players and can tackle you are good, speed is not necessary with this D.good luck to u!

My suggestion would be to run a 5-3 Rover. With this D you will have to put your most aggressive hitter and the the slowest guys in the middle. your aggressive hitter will be a Middle linebacker, the slower guys would be on the line; depending on size I would place them either on the end or in the middle. then you put the guys that have good speed to the out side, the trick is to encourage them to tackle and use the tackling techniques.

I suggest a 5-3 defense. It's the simplist and most easy defense to manage
at that age. group. Besides you can adjust out of it quickly if the offense
shows a different formation at the line of scrimmage.