Drills for Adult Football Tryouts

Football is a difficult sport that requires football skills and athletic skills. A football player might be able to catch the ball every time, but if they are the slowest player on the field, it won't matter much. Any football tryout drills that you undertake should test both athletic ability and football ability.

  1. 40 Yard Dash

    • One important skill to measure when selecting players for a football team is their ability to get down the field as quickly as possible. In football, all other things being equal, the fastest team will win. The 40-yard dash, in which players start from a dead stop and sprint as quickly as possible over a distance of 40 yards, is an effective way to find out who the fast players at the tryouts are.

    Zig-zag Run

    • Another skill important for football players is agility. Most people think of receivers when they think of agility, but linebackers must possess a certain amount of agility to play their position, too. One good drill to measure agility is the zig-zag. The coach sets up a line of cones, each two or three feet apart, and then have the players zig-zag through the cones as quickly as possible.

    Catching Drill

    • Football players must also be able to catch the ball. Even linebackers, who do not normally receive the ball, might become involved in a complex play and end up carrying the ball or might have to catch an interception. Several drills test catching ability, but one good one is to have the player run out 10 yards, turn, and catch a thrown ball. The player puts the ball down, turns, and catches another ball, and repeats for several more repetitions.

    Blocking Sled

    • Finally, an important skill for football players is the ability to block and to push through an opponent who is trying to tackle them. A blocking sled is an excellent way to measure this skill. The speed at which a player can push a sled will give a good indication of the power they have. If you do not have access to a blocking sled, have players compete against each other to determine which player can overcome the other.