Football Positional Drills

Football drills are an important tool coaches utilize to improve the team as a whole, as well as improve each individual player's overall performance. Designed to target the skills needed for specific positions, these drills teach players methods to increase their body awareness, strength, agility and stamina.

  1. Turn

    • The purpose of the turn drill is to teach receivers how to correctly position themselves to be able to see and catch the ball. Position the receivers in two lines on both sides of the field. Designate one quarterback to throw to each line. The receiver positioned at the beginning of each line will stand with his back to the quarterback. When the quarterback yells "Go," he will pass the ball to the receiver, who must quickly turn around, find, catch and tuck in the ball before turning up field. After each pass, rotate the receivers into another line.

    Punch

    • The punch drill demonstrates the correct way to deliver a blow when pass blocking. To practice, position pairs of offensive linemen on a scrimmage line, with the blocker in a three-point stance and the defender in a challenge position. Once the coach gives the command, the blocker must position his body in the pass protecting position. From this position, the blocker will use the butt of his hands and punch, targeting the defender's inside body framework. The drill is complete once all linemen receive an acceptable number of repetitions.

    Good Balance

    • The purpose of this drill is to teach blocking backs and linemen to keep their feet apart to avoid being tipped from side to side, pushed or pulled. Position the players in two lineups, facing each other and holding the shoulder pads of the player they are facing. The coach will direct the defensive player to try and tip, pull and push the offensive player to make him lose his balance. For this drill, each player must take a turn at being the offensive and defensive player.

    Bull In the Ring

    • This drill teaches a ball carrier how to tackle. Position the runners in a circle, with one tackler standing in the middle. A coach will toss the ball to a runner, who will attempt to cross the middle and get to the other side of the circle. The tackler standing in the middle must use a heads-up tackle to stop the runner. Any runner that is not able to cross the circle will become the tackler in the middle, and the tackler will take the place of the runner.