Coaching defense in youth football is not a walk in the park for most people. Youth football players are usually not interested in tackling nearly as much as they are interested in running with the ball. Defense is kind of like that thing they have to do to get to play offense. The real key to coaching defense in youth football is to get them to love it. That is no small order, but it can be done.

One of the easiest ways to get young players to play defense is to use the offense as bait. Once the kids make the connection that the sooner they get the ball back, the sooner they get to run with the ball, the rest comes easier. Constantly remind them that the object is to get the ball back quickly. This means more chances for them to get to run or throw the ball.

Simplifying the defense is another important aspect to coaching youth football. Many coaches try to put in fancy plays and complicated schemes in youth football, and it is truthfully a joke. The kids are not at the level to understand that yet. Simply give them a place to line up, and a responsibility to fill. The kids will excel if you make it simple for them. Here are some basic youth football responsibilities:

Have your defensive linemen in a four man line. Two defensive tackles and two defensive ends. Explain to your ends that the football should not get around them on their side and that they should try to push the runner or quarterback back towards the inside. The defensive tackles simply go get whomever has the football.

Your linebacker set should be three - middle linebacker, and left and right outside linebackers. Their job should be to respond to the run or the pass, and simply go after the football. Asking them to read the plays is a bit much, but your smartest players should be in these spots. Usually every youth football team will have at least three guys that can play those positions well.

For your defensive backs, you should have a strong safety, free safety and two corners. They should cover each of their four areas of the football field against the pass, and come up when the ball is being run. This is a good place to put youth football players that are less advanced, because there will likely not be very much throwing.

Coaching defense in youth football is not all that hard if you remember that the kids are not pro athletes. Do not make the game about you and your intelligence. Instead, make the game fun and implement easy to follow instructions. The rest will come in time, and you will be giving them a great start on their high school and college football careers.