The Development of a Defensive Back Part II

In part two of my development of a defensive back series I am going to take you through the pre-puberty stage of development for your future Deion Champ Revis.  Part I discussed ages 6-9 years old.  In Part two,  we will take a look at the best moves to make when a youngster is at ages 10-12.

Take an Interest in Watching the Game

If young man is already an avid watcher of the game before age 10 then that is a plus but if he hasn’t been up to this point there’s no need to worry.  This generation has a mountain of things to distract them away from live football games that come complete with a ton of game stoppages and commercial breaks.  In this day in age,  highlights and condensed games are readily available on YouTube.  Even if that is what a youngster is more interested in then so be it.  You merely want him to take an interest in watching the game being played at the upper levels.  Through osmosis he will pick up on things and want to imitate them when he plays.

Start Playing Football

Many dads reading this are going to be like what!?!  By age 10 my lil guy is already into year 5 and vested in his youth football pension.  You’re just going to have trust me on this one.  I didn’t play football till age 11 and made it to the highest level.  While my two young ones started at ages 5 and 6,  I personally believe that this was a little too early.  I would have and they would have been just fine if they started at 10.  It is not important that a kid be the best youth football player.  There isn’t a ton missed if they didn’t start hitting and tackling at 6, 7 or 8 years old.  It won’t put them a step behind in high school.  By age 10 though,  they should now be playing the game even if at the flag football level.  I have also found that when a kid is hungry to play the game,  they enjoy it more and excel more once they finally get to put the pads on.

Learn How Offense Works

Many a good defensive back came over from the offensive side of the ball.  If a youngster starts off as a quarterback,  running back or wide receiver it’s a great thing.  However,  I am not telling you to go make some demands on his little league coach.  If that is not where the coach thinks he best helps the team then fine.  What you should do though is stimulate his interest in how offense works.  Encourage him to develop a basic understanding of offensive formations,  route combinations and what the route tree is.  If you truly think a young man will eventually be a defensive back when all is said and done,  get him interested in the basics of the passing game.

Play an Instrument and or Learn Another Language

Chad,  what are you talking about?  How is this going to help my boy lock up the dude wearing the #1 jersey from the other team?  What we are looking at here is development.  It’s not about right now,  it’s about stacking the building blocks with the end goal in mind.  One of the biggest advantages guys have over others as they approach the higher levels is being able to comprehend when being taught.  I have watched many a physically talented play flame out because they couldn’t learn a skill or digest a playbook.  One of the best ways to stimulate a youngster’s ability to learn is by having them learn how to play an instrument or learn another language.  If nothing else,  he becomes a more interesting individual when his adult dating life begins.  I’m just saying.

Run Track

Don’t fight me on this.  He should be running already.  Track was the only sport my wife and I “forced” on our kids as they grew up (aside from the two NFL DBs,  I have an older daughter who was a collegiate athlete).  The idea was,  you may not want to hit or catch a ball or throw it through a hoop but damnit you’re going to learn how to run.  Running is the essence of all sports (unless you golf or bowl) and it has outstanding health benefits throughout your life.  However,  sticking to the football part of it,  defensive backs are chasing all game long.  Chasing is running.  The faster you are,  the more you catch when you chase.  Speed kills at the defensive back position.  When the young DB hits the high school stage there will be a bunch of 40 yard dashes awaiting him for the next eight years of his life.  You want him to walk into that situation with the utmost confidence.  You also want him to be a superiorly conditioned athlete at all times.  Track develops that better than anything else including the trainer you are itching to pay 100’s and 1’000’s of dollars to.

Allow Him to Have a Social Life

Next to not being able to process information,  the 2nd biggest reason that talented athletes fail is because they can’t manage their personal lives.  Over scheduling and sheltering your youngster from a real life will end badly.  Not only will you not get the defensive back you wanted,  you will have an incomplete human being.  He will struggle to maintain relationships with teammates and coaches.  Once that starts,  it’s an uphill battle to be in good standing with a team or a school.  Trying to undo this once they have hit puberty can be a tall mountain to climb.  Let him ride a bike,  let him play video games,  let him be a kid while he is a kid.  There’s no going back later on.  If you want a great athlete who can also be a leader and a guy that coaches want on their team,  allow your young man to develop his social skills.  It will be extremely important later on.

As you can see,  a lot of what I have discussed so far in parts I and II doesn’t have a lot to do with specific defensive back stuff.  Again,  you are building.  Getting into a race to make a youngster the best 10 year old defensive back in the country is not how this is done.  Going all out for that typically means that he will peak at 10 or 11.  Unfortunately,  there is a long way to go past these ages.  So if you were coming to this article to hear how I had my young guys watching tape of Champ Bailey and breaking down match quarters coverage right after their science homework,  I am sorry to disappoint you.  There is a process involved that take patience and prudence.  Things do get a little more specific in my next series when we discuss Ages 13-15.

If you missed Part I of Development of a DB,  you can find it here.

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alleyesdbcamp

Owner at All Eyes DB Camp

Chad Wilson is the founder of All Eyes DB Camp and a former standout defensive back for the Miami Hurricanes. After an elite collegiate career, Wilson spent a season with the Seattle Seahawks before transitioning into coaching. A 3-time Florida state champion defensive coordinator, he has spent over 20 years developing the "All Eyes" blueprint that has produced NFL All-Pros and stars like Xavien Howard, Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell, Minkah Fitzpatrick and more. His coaching system is proven at the highest levels—his own sons, Quincy and Marco Wilson, both excelled as starters in the SEC before being drafted into the NFL.

Chad is the author of "101 DB Tips"—The Ultimate DB Reference Guide. You can find more information on the manual and how to order your copy in the sidebar and footer of this page.

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