The Trojan Fast Break
No-Huddle Offense
I would first like to thank the American
Football Coaches Association for the
opportunity to contribute to the 2001 AFCA
Summer Manual. As a coach who is enter-
ing his 24th year of coaching football, with
20 years as a head high school football
coach, I have found that once you have
found something that you can hang your
hat on, you should keep your hat on the
rack!
In 1993, when I took over the program
at Ortonville High School, I wanted our pro-
gram to develop an identity. If you look at
programs at all levels across the country,
teams with any level of success have an
identity. Nebraska has the “Black Shirt
Defense.” Texas A&M has the “12th Man.”
Virginia Tech has their “Pride and Joy” spe-
cial teams.
Over the years, I have also had a ten-
dency to simplify our offense. Particularly
since my last two positions have landed
me at smaller high schools, where the
level of talent and depth can vary tremen-
dously from year to year. However, within
the framework of simplicity I felt the need
to develop an identity and a more effective
way to improve our offense without over-
Kyle Inforzato complicating it. Hence, the birth of the
“Trojan Fast Break No-Huddle Offense.”
Head Coach The no-huddle is nothing new. However,
after playing against several teams in
Ortonville High School Kansas where I had previously coached,
who incorporated the no-huddle to their
Ortonville, Minn. advantage, I felt we could do the same at
Ortonville. This allowed us to be relatively
simple on offense, but provided us a dis-
tinct advantage.
Prior to 1993, Ortonville had never had
a 1,000 yard rusher in the history of the
school. Since 1993, we have had 1,000
yard rushers six out of the eight years,
including one player who rushed for more
than 3,000 yards over two seasons. Our
quarterbacks have also had success in this
offense, throwing for more than 1,000
yards six out of eight years and more than
50 percent completion rate seven of eight
years. Over this same eight year period, we
have scored 30 or more points in more
than 30 percent of our games. While our
numbers may not be impressive in com-
parison to some of the real high powered
offenses around the country, it should be
said that this was done with less than aver-
age talent, and generally over a nine to ten
game season.
Our offense is based on the execution
of the Twin “I” formation. It should be said
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •
at this point that the no-huddle offense
can be adapted to your existing offense
and terminology.
The Twin I No-Huddle Offense is a great
equalizer between two unevenly matched
teams.
1. Our offense causes the defenses to
cover the entire field, not just a portion of it.
2. It lends itself very well to the passing
game, particularly the three step game.
3. It can be a big play offense as well as
an offense that can control the ball. It has
not been uncommon at all for our team to
have games with 80 offensive snaps.
4. We will do things that you are both
physically and mentally capable of execut-
ing. This allows us to improve as a football
team. Because we run so few plays, we will
develop better execution due to repetition.
5. The defense will be required to be
very disciplined against the no-huddle
offense.
a. We will be able to control the tempo
of the game.
b. The defense will not be able to hud-
dle up. Therefore, is limited to substitutions
and adjustments.
c. Our offense will appear to be more
complex to our opponents than it really is,
since the defense is more concerned about
getting lined up and ready to go than the
formations they are facing.
d. Weaknesses in the defense can be
more easily exploited, since we are able to
see fewer fronts.
e. Our opponents are not accustomed
to playing at this pace of football.
Therefore, conditioning becomes a factor.
The no-huddle offense is a system of
football. The purpose is to put pressure on
the defense, control the tempo of the
game, and give us an advantage against
teams who have to prepare against it. It
creates excitement and confidence that we
can score at any time.
Play Calling
The formation will always be called to
the side that our split end “X” lines up on.
To avoid wordiness, we try to condense our
formation terminology as much as possi-
ble. For example an I twins right formation
is simply called “Right” (Diagram 1). With
“Left” being the opposite. A Pro I right for-
mation is called “Ram.” With “Lion” being
Pro left. Our third basic formation is an
“Unbalanced Twin I Right” formation called
“Rip.” The opposite is called “Long.”
Any numbering system and terminology
 Diagram 1: Right
can be applied when play calling. Here is
an example of what is used. Holes are
numbered 1-9 from left to right. Backs are
numbered quarterback No. 1, fullback No.
2, tailback No. 3. Plays are called with the
number of the running back the first num-
ber and the hole being run the second
number. Example of a sweep left, would be
21 sweep.
To call a play, the quarterback will initial-
ly call out “Set Alert.” Meaning, “Get SET
on the line and be ALERT for the play to be
called. It is important for all offensive play-
ers to get down and in proper position right
away. The sooner we are set, the sooner
we can call the play and get it run. Plays
are signaled in from the sideline, which will
be discussed later. The colors blue and
black are used as live and dead colors.
One color will be designated as the live
color, which will have the play to be called
following it. The other color will have a
dead number. The live and dead colors can
be changed from first to second half of the
game or from game to game.
The snap count is based upon the play
called. If the play called ends on an odd
number, the ball is snapped on one. If the
play called ends on an even number, the
ball is snapped on two. After the quarter-
back receives the play to be run, he will call
the live and dead call twice along with the
cadence.
Example: If we are running a 21 sweep
and the live color is blue, the quarterback
will call “Blue 21, Black 80, Blue 21, Black
80, Ready, Set, Hut One!”
Within the framework and design of the
offense, running plays are called to the tight
and side approximately two-thirds of the
time and the ball thrown to the split end
side two-thirds of the time. This aids in our
ability to call plays with as little confusion
as possible. Our play calling changes very
little regardless of our formation. Running
plays generally run to the tight end side
include: Dive, Freeze Option, Blast (Iso),
Power, Outside Belly, Belly Keep, and
Sweep. Running plays generally run to the
split end side include: Trap, Draw, and
Lead Option (Diagram 2).
Diagram 2
When executing the running game, the
quarterback knows what call to make
based upon the tight end/split end spread
sheet.
As previously indicated, the three-step
passing game is our primary method of
throwing the football. It fits very well within
the concept of the no-huddle offense,
because of the ability to get the offense set,
the play called, and the ball thrown quickly.
When installing the passing game as
part of the no-huddle offense, it is important
to keep the quarterback decision making
down to a minimum. In doing so, the pass-
ing game has a designated receiver for
each pass. All three step passes are indi-
cated as our “60 Series.” Our four main
passes include: 65 (split end hitch, slot
fade, tight end fade), 66 (split end fade, slot
five yard out, tight end five yard out), 67
(split end slant, slot wheel, tight end post),
and 68 (split end slip screen). Unless des-
ignated, each pass has a specific receiver
to be thrown to. Example: 65 (split end
hitch), 66 (slot out), 67 ( split end slant), 68
(split end slip screen). When we want to
throw to a different receiver, add a descrip-
tive term to the receiver being thrown to.
Split End = Sam, Slot = Steve, Tight End =
Ted.
In our 66 pass, which is designated to
be thrown as an out route to the slot, if we
want to throw the ball to the tight end, the
quarterback makes the 66 call. But, adds
the word “Ted” to indicate the ball being
thrown to the tight end. An example of this
call might be Blue 66 Ted, Black 44 Ralph
(second call is the dummy call) Blue 66
Ted, Black 44 Ralph, Ready, Set, Hut One,
Hut Two!
We have allowed our quarterbacks, at
times, to take a pre-snap read before mak-
ing the call and then throw it to the receiver
based upon the coverage he is seeing.
Signaling of Plays
Signaling plays does not have to be
• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •
extremely complex. In fact, we have found
over time, the simpler the signals, the bet-
ter off we are. Most of the time, we will use
only one person to signal in plays. Since, at
the high school level, staffs are limited, and
the opposing players are more concerned
about getting lined up and ready for the
next play.
Some of the plays and hand signals
include: Dive (put both hands together as if
you are jumping into the water), Blast
(pushing both hands down like you are
pushing down a plunger for explosives),
Power (put both arms like you are making
a muscle), Sweep (work your arms and
hands as is you are sweeping the floor),
Belly (rub your hand on your “belly”).
Two examples of pass signals include:
65 (hold up your arm with five fingers wav-
ing). Or, when we designate a receiver,
such as a 66 Ted (extend arm straight out,
followed by putting the same hand on your
head, which rhymes with Ted).
Rather than go through the entire
process, this provides you with examples of
play calling. In addition, we also signal in
our formations. Our right formation is sig-
naled in by pointing or tapping one hand on
the ring finger (R = ring = right). Our left for-
mation is signaled by tugging on the ear
lobe (L = lobe = left). Our other two basic
formations have simple signals to go along
with them.
Implementing the No-Huddle
Installing the no-huddle, begins on the
third day of our pre-season practice. We
discuss the concept on the practice field
and begin with using the “Right” formation
only. We run the plays which have been
installed in practice, up to that point. We
throw the ball to the primary receiver on the
pass plays. Plays begin at the goal line and
are run for ten yards at a time up and down
the field. Units line up behind each other
and wait for the group ahead to get 10-20
yards in front to avoid running into the pre-
ceding group. A coach from the staff is
assigned a group and signals plays to his
group, with each team executing the play
called. Each group is expected to demon-
strate proper stance, alignment, assign-
ment, take off and execution of the play. All
plays are run at full speed. Plays are run up
and down the game or practice field two to
three times, providing us the opportunity to
run anywhere from 40-60 plays in a matter
of minutes. We rarely need to do extra con-
ditioning as a result. Our players soon learn
the importance of this part of our practice,
particularly when it comes to game time.
This period also serves as a reminder to
our players that we are working on a built in
two minute offense.
What I have attempted to do is try to
provide you ideas on how you can imple-
ment your own no-huddle offense. This has
been 80-90 percent of our basic offense the
past eight years. Like most teams, we put
in some wrinkles from time to time.
However, this is what we hang our hat on
every week. There are times when we are
just like 99 percent of the teams across the
country where we simply huddle up. Our
hand signaling system allows us to call
plays from the sideline without having to
make substitutions if we choose to do so.
This usually comes at a time when we want
to slow the game down, want to settle our
team down, or if a team is starting to pick
up on our play calling at the line.
As coaches, it is not as important to
what we know, but what we can teach and
young men can learn. As football coaches
across America, we are the last bastion on
decency and discipline. It is important to
make ourselves the role model of our com-
munities regardless of wins and losses. As
Lou Holtz has often said, “Do your best, do
what’s right, and treat others the way you
want to be treated.” If we do this in addition
to providing our young men with a “faith
role model” no matter what church or
denomination you belong to, you will be
“World Champions.” Because the young
men we coach today, will be out in the
world tomorrow. And, that’s the place the
real world championships are won.

AFCA Districts
District 1
Division I-A: Sun Belt Conference, Central Florida, South
Florida, Troy State
Division I-AA: Atlantic 10 Conference, Ivy League, Metro
Atlantic Athletic Conference, Hofstra
Division II, Division III: New York, Vermont, New
Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and
Connecticut.
District 2
Division I-A: Big East Conference, Navy, Connecticut
Division I-AA: Patriot League, Northeast Conference
Division II, Division III: Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Delaware and West Virginia
District 3
Division I-A: Atlantic Coast Conference
Division I-AA: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference,
Southern Conference, Charleston Southern, Liberty, Elon
Division II, Division III: Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, and District of Columbia
District 4
Division I-A: Southeastern Conference
Division I-AA: Ohio Valley Conference, Southwestern
Athletic Conference, Samford, Western Kentucky,
Division II, Division III: Kentucky, Tennessee,
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia Louisiana and Florida
District 5
Division I-A: Big Ten Conference, Notre Dame
Division I-AA: Pioneer Football League, Gateway
Conference
Division II, Division III: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and
Michigan
District 6
Division I-A: Big Twelve Conference
Division I-AA: None
Division II, Division III: Minnesota, Wisconsin, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska
District 7
Division I-A: Conference USA, Mid-American
Conference
Division I-AA: Southland Conference
Division II, Division III: Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma,
Kansas and Missouri
District 8
Division I-A: Western Athletic Conference, Mountain
West Conference
Division I-AA: Big Sky Conference, Southern Utah
Division II, Division III: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona,
Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana
District 9
Division I-A: Pacific 10 Conference
Division I-AA: Cal Poly-SLO, St. Mary’s
Division II, Division III: Washington, Oregon, California,
Hawaii, Alaska

A complete list of all schools in each district will appear

in the 2001 AFCA Directory

• AFCA Summer Manual — 2001 •