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The Base 5-3 Defense
- Item #
- WN-08283
- Format
- Buy Now Watch Now + instant streaming
About this video
The base 5-3 defense is a bend-but-don't-break front built to keep an opposing offense from hitting big plays, and that makes it a natural fit for youth football. Larry Canard, Youth Football Coordinator for USA Football, details the philosophy, alignment, responsibilities and roles inside the 5-3 and explains how to drop it into a program where the fundamentals have to be simple enough to teach quickly. He also shows how this version of the 5-3 converts cleanly to a 3-5-3.
What you'll learn
- How and why the 5-3 defense works with young players
- The philosophy behind a defense that keeps opponents from making big plays
- Alignment and individual responsibility for every position in the 5-3
- Why the 5-3 holds up as a base defense and in specific situations
- How this version of the 5-3 adapts to the 3-5-3 defense
- The importance of containing the gaps against the run
- The role of the defensive ends in keeping everything inside and in front
- How to incorporate the 5-3 into the defensive scheme you already teach
Who it's for
Youth football head coaches and defensive coaches, and middle school staffs looking for a front with simple alignments and clear gap rules.
About the coach
Larry Canard served as Youth Football Coordinator for USA Football, teaching schemes and fundamentals built for young athletes.
Part of Coach Canard's seven-part youth football series. Runtime: about 42 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is covered in the 5-3?
Philosophy, alignments, responsibilities and position roles, the gap containment rules, the job of the defensive ends, and how the same personnel converts to a 3-5-3 look.
Is the 5-3 realistic for young players?
That is Canard's argument - the fundamentals and alignments are easy to teach, the front makes both coaches and players think, and it has a track record of taking big plays away. Youth and middle school defenses are the target.
How do I get access?
Buy Now, Watch Now streaming: $19.95 and the video is live in your AFM Videos account instantly, on any device, with unlimited views that stay with your account. The 1-Year All Access membership ($99/year) covers it too.
Can I use the 5-3 as a situational defense instead of a base?
Yes. Canard treats it as a base front that also holds up in specific situations, so a team running something else can carry the 5-3 as a short-yardage or big-play-prevention change-up.