Fun Youth Football Drills

Youth football players need first to learn the basic fundamentals of the game. Developing fun football drills makes it easier for young players to improve their skills. A lot of young players become bored and disinterested if they don't think drills are fun. Drills need to be simple; young players won't understand complex drills. Many fun drills can teach offensive and defensive skills, but also teamwork drills. Young football players always need to be reminded that teamwork--not individual performance--wins games.

  1. Stance Drills

    • A solid stance is the first step in gaining an advantage over an opponent. Good stances allow players to get first-step advantages when the ball is snapped. Have the players stand in straight lines across from each other. One coach should stand in front of all the players with a whistle while the other coaches stand behind the players. Have players get into stances at the sound of the whistle. Practice every stance with the players. Most young players will play a variety of positions throughout their career. Have the players hold their stances so a coach standing behind them can critique them. Blow the whistle again to make players stand upright. When most players become comfortable, blow the whistle at a rapid pace. This will challenge the players to react quickly and make it a little more fun.

    Catching Drills

    • Young players always want to have an incentive with drills. Split players into four teams as equally as you can. Have the coaches pick the teams to help keep competitive balance. Spread the teams out along the goal line in a straight line behind each other. Have one coach be with each team. Have the first players from each team run straight for 10 yards, then turn around and attempt to catch a ball thrown by the coach. Have each player who catches the ball stand at the 10-yard line. Make each player who doesn’t catch the ball return to the line. The team with all players standing at the 10-yard line will be the winner. Have all losing teams run a lap around the field. This will develop skills and create some fun competition.

    Obstacle Course

    • Set up an obstacle course for players to run through. Many types of courses can be made with various tackling dummies and machines. Split players into equal teams as much as you can. Time each player as he tries the course. Have players run through the obstacle course using football moves such as shuffling laterally and back peddling. This will teach them football movements while having fun with the obstacle course. Make losing teams perform some kind of exercise.