American football · Team plays & schemes · Blocking

Inside zone run

The line steps together on a zone track, doubles the down linemen up to the linebackers, and the running back reads bang, bend or bounce.

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Start / 5
Time
20 min
Players
12–24
Age
U14+
Area
40 × 30 yd
Equipment
24 helmets and shoulder pads7 hand shields3 footballs4 cones

Setup

  1. Contact level: thud. Full helmet and shoulder pads for everyone, and a coach watches every rep.
  2. Offence: five linemen, a tight end on the right, a shotgun QB and a running back offset to the left.
  3. Scout defence in a 4-3 front holding hand shields: a 1-technique shaded on the centre's left, a 3-technique outside the right guard, two ends and three linebackers.
  4. Short of players? Coaches hold shields for the linebackers.
  5. The play goes right. The QB can call a cadence; anyone who moves early does a false-start reset.

How it runs

  1. Walk the play through twice with shields held still, then run it at thud.
  2. Blocking rule: a covered lineman blocks the defender over them. An uncovered lineman helps the covered lineman next to them, then climbs to a linebacker.
  3. Here: RG and RT double the 3-technique, and one climbs to the Sam. LG and C double the 1-technique, and one climbs to the Mike. LT climbs to the Will. TE drives the end.
  4. The backside end is left unblocked on purpose. The QB carries out a bootleg fake to hold them.
  5. The RB aims at the right guard's outside leg and reads the 3-technique: bang the B gap, bend it back to the A gap, or bounce outside the TE.
  6. Whistle when the first defender fits the RB at thud, or at 5 yards. Run 6–8 reps, then swap the scout group. Count the period toward the team's weekly full-contact limit.

Coaching points

  • First step: short and flat to the play side. Every blocker steps on the same count.
  • Doubles work hip to hip with four hands on the down lineman. Eyes stay on the linebacker; climb only when they come.
  • Hands inside the chest plate, head up and out of the block. No cut blocks and no blocks from behind.
  • RB: patience to the line, press the aiming point, then one cut and go north.
  • QB: sell the boot fake with the eyes and the empty hand.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the double team too early, so the down lineman makes the play.
  • Linemen stepping at different angles and opening a seam between them.
  • RB cutting in the backfield before reaching the line of scrimmage.
  • Ducking the head into the block instead of striking with the hands.

Say it: “Step together, climb late, one cut.”

Make it harder

  • The scout front slants or stunts on a coach's signal, so the doubles must pass defenders on.
  • Linebackers fill fast, so the climbs must be on time.
  • Run the play both ways from either hash.

Make it easier

  • Walk-through only: linemen name their assignment out loud before the snap.
  • Shields held still and no linebackers; the RB runs the track without a read.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.