Decide before you have to decide
Watched the MaxPreps Game of the Week – Duncanville (TX) at Allen (TX) – and two first-half 4th downs were good examples of why I recommend pre-aligning on decisions before the game.
Allen, up by 6 points: On 1st & 10 at the Duncanville 42, the 4th-down forecast said 4th & 8 or less was a GO. Three plays later, Allen faced 4th & 4 and went – converting.
Duncanville, down by 12 points: On 1st & 10 at the Allen 30, the forecast said 4th & 10 or less was a GO. Three plays later, Duncanville faced 4th & 1 and went – but didn’t convert.
Different outcomes. Same process.
The value of pre-alignment isn’t knowing whether the play will work. It’s establishing what you’re willing to do before the pressure of 4th down – based on score, clock, yards to go, field position and matchup
A sound process makes the decision easier when you convert. More importantly, it makes it easier to stand behind when you don’t.
Decide before you have to decide.
If helpful, here’s the Decision Alignment Install we use to help staffs pre-align on these situations before game day.