Practice Plan - Repost for Knowledge Base

The first thing you do is put your kids on a stopwatch or run them in a race and get them written down in order from fastest to slowest. It takes speed to run the ball outside so your outside runners have to be your fastest guys. A straight ahead runner (FB) needs to be aggressive, determined, and big enough not to be brought down by a one handed tackle. Speed isn't quite as important here but it's still a factor. Outside running backs usually player OLBer on defense. The big, inside FB type usually plays MLBer on defense.
In just about anyone's offense the guards are faster than the tackles. Guards are guys that almost made running back. They make good DE's on defense. OT's are guys that can move 1-2 yards and be felt. They usually play DT on defense. They're your slowest guys.
Center qualifications vary according to your offense. If you pull linemen, your center should be your best lineman. If you seldom or never pull, any old Tom, Dick, or Harry can play here. The center often plays NG on defense.
The QB tends to be a fast kid with a good memory and quick learning ability. They're often tall with skinny birdlegs. Sometimes they can throw but the usual physical factor common to most youth QB's is that they don't make very good blockers (Not enough meat on 'em). So you put them at QB where they don't have to block. The QB usually plays centerfield FS on defense. Your ends (TE and SE) and flankers are usually whatever's left over. Always take the leftovers and match them up against each other in one on one blocking drills and see who can drive all the others back. There's a surprising number of little guys that can block bigger guys. Put them at TE. It's usually not a very good idea to put a kid at the receiver position solely because of his hands. If you've got a kid that can catch, the other teams will find him real fast and put coverage on him. Instead, pick your receivers by their being leftovers (Some may actually be able to catch. You have to teach the rest.). Some of these kids can play safety or corner on defense. Kids that play defense must be able to tackle a big running back, especially if they're on the outside. Here's a simple rule of thumb. If you have 10 guys that can tackle on defense, you will win your league title. If you have 9, you'll finish in second place. If you have 8, you'll win half your games. If you have 7 or less, kiss your season goodbye! There are, of course, exceptions to every rule. GAM coaches can sometimes avoid this rule but, most of the time, it works. So avoid loading the defense with second rate players. Put them on the offense.