Practice competition only works when it changes how players think and act. Many scoring systems just make things confusing and do not make practice better. Patrick Daberkow, head coach at Concordia Nebraska and cofounder of the Headset App, shares how his Dog Ball scoring system makes team periods clearer and more intense.
The goal is to create better practice.
Why Dog Ball Scoring Exists
Patrick created Dog Ball scoring to solve a problem every coach knows. Long days at camp tire everyone out. After a while, players end up facing the same teammates every day. As a result, they lose their drive to compete and stop trying their hardest.
For that reason, he needed a way to make practice feel more important.
Dog Ball scoring finds that balance by rewarding the behaviors coaches want and keeping the score close enough to matter until the last play.
How the Scoring Works
Dog Ball scoring gives both teams a sense of ownership over the outcome. Every play matters.
Offense
- Touchdowns score four points.
- First downs score one point.
When testing the system, Patrick tried higher touchdown values but later removed them. Bigger point changes made the game less fair. Four points, however, made the offense focus on keeping drives alive rather than just trying for big plays.
Defense
- Defensive touchdowns score six.
- Turnovers score three
- Three-and-outs score three
- Forcing a fourth down scores one point, regardless of conversion
This setup gives points for good defense, not just for getting the ball back. It also shows how important it is to stop the other team early.
Special Teams Are Part of the Competition
In addition, Patrick built special teams directly into the practice competition system.
- Punts inside the 15 earn points
- Field goals score more when multiple kickers convert.
- Extra points only count when every kicker makes it.
With this approach, special teams players join the competition, and players take charge of making decisions in different situations. Now players decide when to kick and when to go for it. As a result, practice begins to feel like game night.
Build, Test, Learn Is the Real System
Importantly, Dog Ball scoring did not arrive fully formed. Instead, Patrick and his staff built it, tested it, and reshaped it over several seasons. Along the way, they tracked player responses, removed what broke the balance, and kept what created urgency.
In the end, practice competition systems work best when coaches treat them as tools they can keep changing rather than as finished products.
Why This Works in Practice
Dog Ball scoring keeps practice exciting. When the score is tight, urgency goes up, and players make faster game-like decisions.
Because of this, Patrick often sees scrimmages decided in the last series. Players do better under pressure, and coaches get to see how they really act in different situations. Practice energy also goes up without adding more plays.
That is the win.
Communication Makes Competition Better
Still, scoring systems only work when communication stays clear and quick. For that reason, Patrick uses the Headset App to organize team periods, control the pace, and make changes quickly.
Instead of flipping scout cards or yelling across the field, coaches talk instantly through earbuds and phones. Setup takes seconds. Messages stay clear. As a result, practice moves faster.
This leads to more reps, better organization, and less wasted time.
Apply This to Your Program
You do not need to copy Dog Ball scoring exactly. Instead, you need to understand the principles behind it.
- Reward the behaviors you value
- Keep scores competitive
- Give every unit ownership.
- Test your ideas and adjust.
Sideline Communication at a Fraction of the Cost with the Headset App!
If you want faster communication and better management during competitive periods, consider how the Headset App can help your practice and game-day routines. It lowers costs, simplifies setup, and keeps your staff connected when it matters most.
Coach and Coordinator AI – Dog Ball Scoring
This Best of 2025 selection is paired with a Coach and Coordinator AI Companion built from this episode with Patrick Daberkow, designed to help coaches think through and create their own practice scoring systems using the same principles.
Related:
Innovating to Win – Patrick Daberkow, Head Coach, Concordia University, Nebraska
Communicate Better, Play Faster: Headset Technology Reimagined at a Fraction of the Cost