Football Drills for Children

Youth football drills should focus on building fundamental skills. Quick and high-tempo drills result in the greatest number of repetitions per player, which will increase the effectiveness of each drill. Rather than having players standing around watching others, good drills will involve as many players as possible at a time. Maximizing available time is the key to a successful practice.

  1. Drive Blocking

    • In youth football, there is rarely much passing. Even if a team is lucky enough to have a quarterback capable of throwing the ball, few teams also have receivers talented enough to catch it. In part, this is because a lot of youth equipment is proportionally oversized to prevent injuries, but it also makes catching passes difficult. Thus, drive blocking is a very relevant drill for youth football players.

      In pairs, players should form parallel lines with a few yards in between. One line assumes the roles of blockers, while the other acts as defenders. Both lines should start in a three-point stance, with one hand on the ground. On the whistle, the blockers should explode into the defender. Players should generate power using their ankles, knees and hips. The players should engage the defenders with their hands inside of the defender's shoulder pads and push the player backwards. The defender should provide resistance, while the blocker continues to churn his legs until the whistle blows.

      Players should switch roles and resume the drill on the next whistle.

    Pitch Drill

    • A pitch drill is a simple running play that involves three players at a time. To maximize repetitions, consider running the drill simultaneously in two or three different groups. Player A is the quarterback, who starts the drill by shouting "go."

      The running back, who is positioned behind the quarterback, sweeps behind the quarterback to a predetermined side. The quarterback pivots to one side and tosses the ball underhand, with two hands, to the running back. The running back secures the ball and attempts to evade the defender.

      The defender attempts to tackle the running back. To maximize repetitions, the next player in line at each position should be ready to jump in and repeat the drill as soon as the previous players clear the field.

    Angle Tackling

    • Rarely in football do players have a clear head-on shot at a ball carrier. Usually the defender in pursuit must tackle the player at an angle, as the ball carrier attempts to avoid the hit. A drill to help develop this fundamental skill of angle pursuit tackling involves participation of two players at a time. This is another drill that can be completed in smaller groups to increase participation.

      Players line up approximately 10 yards apart. One player has the ball, while the other player is the tackler. The players move toward each other a couple of steps then the ball carrier breaks off the path at a 45-degree angle, either in the right or left direction.

      The defender reacts to the player and makes a form tackle to bring the ball carrier down. The ball carrier should not attempt to avoid the tackler, but should practice carrying the ball in the outer hand to develop good habits that will help him avoid fumbles.