The offseason is about player development; before Dodge popularized QB School, very few people were spending the spring making quarterbacks better quarterbacks. I started having QB school in 2000, and while terminology may have changed, the effort in refining my teaching has not.
- We were going to develop ALL the QBs in our system
- We were going to isolate every aspect of the QB role, from Leadership Competencies to Reading Pass Defenses
- We would challenge the QBs; they need to understand the demands of the job
- We would empower the QBs. They would be allowed to test their limits on the practice field, so long as it was within the framework of their coaching.
In preparation, some key things must be in place:
- A complete system. When I speak of a system, I imply a method of teaching and communicating fundamentals and coordination of run and pass games. While different skill sets lead lead to highlighting different play calls, fundamentals should not change.
- A glossary of terms. Communication is essential; if all coaches and and QBs are to be on the same page, they must be using the same words, not general ideas. Leave no room for interpretation.
- An overall plan. We recently broke QB school into 40 sessions to be held throughout the spring. This allows for fundamentals, scheme definition, and installation before team installation for 7 on 7 or spring practice.
Like practice, ever session should be organized. Here is an actual lesson plan from 2001: