There’s play-calling from youth football to the NFL. It’s a match to outsmart and beat your opponent.
When I played high school football, much of our play calling was based on numbers. An eight-rounder was running straight and trying to outrun the corner. I’ve found as a coach that you need to make play calling fun because it sustains players’ attention and helps make the game fun to play.
Many NFL teams draw play calls from the world of film and music. A play might be called The Avengers or Joker. It’s complex, too. Former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning not only had to study film, but he also had to learn many play calls.
To learn more, it’s instructive to read the article, The Misunderstood Art of Playcalling, or watch the NFL Films documentary, The Art of Play Calling. The video includes interviews with coaches and players, and one of my favorites comes from the Los Angeles Rams. They have a play called The Fauci, based on Dr. Fauci.
The bottom line is that playcalling is essential at nearly all game levels, and here’s a primer as it applies to college football.
