Off-Season Drills for High School Football

Football is a highly physical sport that you can't just jump into and begin playing when you get the urge. You need to be in shape and properly condition yourself to have the skills and knowledge necessary to play the game. If you play from one year to another, you should do practice drills during the off-season to remain in shape.

  1. Four Corners

    • Grab four cones and place them in the corners in an open patch of grass or in a field. Place the cones 10 yards apart in each direction. Backpedal from one cone to the next in the square, then turn and shuffle to the next one. Continue to the third cone in the karaoke move, which is a shuffle but requires you to drop back the same way a quarterback does. Sprint to the fourth cone as fast as you can. Repeat these drills five times. The four corners drill builds endurance.

    Tipping

    • Football tipping happens all the time during the game when a quarterback tosses the ball and a member of the opposite team tips the ball to deflect it away from the intended receiver. Line all players up in single file and have the quarterback or coach throw the ball to the first person who must tip the ball and send it in another direction, while the person behind them attempts to catch it. This drill is essential for concentration and focus during the game. This will help your defense come up with interceptions, and it will help your offense maintain possession.

    Sprints

    • Speed is key in football. Practice sprinting different distances. Place a cone at the 40 yard mark and sprint the distance six times, then move the cone to 60 yards and sprint it four times. Move it another 20 yards to 80 yards and sprint this twice. Set the cone 100 yards from where you are and sprint this length one time. Take breaks of one or two minutes in between each sprint.

    Burpees

    • Burpees require you to get down into the squat position and place your hands down on the floor in front of you. Kick your feet back and place yourself in the pushup position, then quickly return back to the squat position. Jump up as high as you can and reach your arms toward the sky. Do this 10 times, rest for a minute and then repeat the movement 10 more times with a minute of rest in between each set.