Keith Grabowski, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Oberlin College, recently wrote an article that originally appeared in AFCA Weekly. After learning about a football program that does not use playbooks to install its offense, Grabowski was inspired to discuss how playbooks that are tied to technology can create a better understanding for players. With 26 years of coaching experience, read more on his insights below:
“I recently read an article about a football program that does not use a playbook to install its offense. The main reason cited was a security breach in which the team’s playbook was posted to the Internet. I certainly agree that much of an offensive or defensive system must be protected from opponents. But as an educator, I cannot justify keeping the details of the system from our players.
Reading about some of the frustration in player learning that occurs when removing resources is enough reason to find a better solution than, “It all happens in the film room or on the field.” In today’s high tech world, digital playbook solutions make security possible while sharing in-depth content with players using multimedia and interactive formats.
As we’ve progressed through spring ball here at Oberlin College, we’ve found that using interactive learning tools and playbooks has impacted our ability to teach student-athletes in a major way.
On our staff, we love the easy-to-use play drawing tool, analytics that create accountability for learning, and video quizzes. And while those are certainly powerful coaching tools, there is yet another feature that we love that provides depth and context beyond what diagrams and film can convey.
Football is a complex game, especially when you think about the detail and technique required for each assignment on any single play, and the accuracy with which those techniques and assignments must be performed. To move quickly beyond the “who” and “what” of a play – to truly play fast – players must understand a play completely. “Understanding” is best created with scaffolded levels of information, and virtually no digital playbooks rise to a level that can create understanding.
At Oberlin College, we use the Just Play platform because its terminology section addresses this specific shortfall. It is easily navigated by student-athletes with just a few taps on his device. The ability to link and allow a player to drill down deeply beyond what the line shows on a diagram is crucial.
Here is an example of exactly how this works for us. On the surface level, and offensive lineman can look a our stretch play and see the diagram as well as read his assignment. He can watch the video of the play as well. Most players need more than that overview to understand the play well enough to play aggressively and fast. With our interactive playbook, the details are a click away.
Within each play, student-athletes can choose from among multiple terminology tags. Linemen can click “Stretch technique,” which is hyperlinked to another set of content that includes more diagrams, annotated still shots, voice-overs, and telestrated videos explaining the details of the play.
As coaches, we add links to any relevant term within each level. Maybe the lineman goes into a video of footwork and hand placement, and within that level of content, he encounters another link which is “eat grass.” Eat grass is a coaching point that gets the lineman on his track in the stretch play. The link takes him to another set of content. This can continue on and on again. The player gets can drill down as deep as he likes, gaining understanding about all the different scenarios he will encounter within the stretch play.
Our linemen gain a depth of knowledge beyond a simple line, drawn on a page, followed by a sentence or two describing the assignment. An interactive playbook maximizes the power of technology and interactive learning to give today’s player everything he needs to play fast, which is the primary objective of the coach.
If you want to learn more about the power of interactive learning and how you can utilize it to enhance on-field performance, please email me at [email protected].”