Football Plays and Drills Extras

Bonus drills, play, fundamentals and tips you
won't find in our main website area!

Quarterback Fundamentals - The quarterback is the focal point of the offense. Quarterbacking is a skill. And just like any skill, whether or not you become better or worse depends on whether or not you're practicing the correct quarterback techniques and fundamentals. You must have a deep desire and willingness to learn...


RB Fundamentals - The running back fundamentals you must master include running with both power and finesse, catching passes out of the backfield and blocking. Players - You must dedicate yourself to developing your running back skills. Put the time in on the practice field and watch the difference it makes during games as you begin to dominate.


Receiver Fundamentals - A good passing game makes a huge difference in your ability to win games. Granted, at the youth football level, running attacks dominate. But there are still situations where a pass is needed: third and long, last two minutes of the half, etc. Players - Don't you want to master your wide receiver fundamentals...


Proprioceptive Training - One of the main components of proprioception is your kinesthetic sense. That is your ability to sense where your body is in space. But that’s only one component unless your sport happens to involve standing or lying in space. You must also be able to sense and control your body’s movements. Balance is also a key element to proprioception...


The Finesse Running Game - Even if you run predominantly a power running attack or rely more on the quick-hitting plays, you should have a few finesse plays in your arsenal. These are the types of plays that involve misdirection, and therefore, can cause defenders to hesitate on that play as well as keep 'em guessing the rest of the game...


The Quickness Running Game - In the quickness game, rather than using power blocking such as the wedge, one-on-one blocks are predominant. Because the backs are hitting the hole very quickly, blockers don't need to sustain their blocks for very long to be effective...


The Old Tennessee Wing Power Offense - One of the oldest power running game attacks is the old Tennessee sing-wing attack, used many, many decades ago. The play series used most often with this attack was the off-tackle play. This was a play where the strong end and wingback double-teamed the defensive tackle...


Tight End Drill: Release Drill - Objective - Teach proper release for tight ends. Action - Place two bags about three yards apart on the line of scrimmage. The tight end positions himself between the two bags with a defender lined up across from him.

Defensive Line Drill: Rapid Fire - Objective - To give pass rushers opportunity to practice multiple pass rush techniques in quick succession. Action - Separate your defensive linemen into two groups. Form two single file lines with three players (these players act as the offensive linemen) in each line. The lines should be about 3 yards apart...


DB Backpedal and Break on Ball - It's extremely important for defensive backs to develop the skill of getting out of their back-pedal in time to close on the opponent's receiver or running back coming out of the backfield. Correct body position and footwork is imperative in transitioning from backpedal to break...


Football Drills
4 Corners Box Drill - A football drill submitted by our reader... M.D., from Ohio, United States... Discover the "4 Corners Box Drill" for developing football speed and agility in all directions...


Football Drills
Wide Receiver Short Speed Drills - A football drill submitted by our reader... Corey Kennedy, from North Carolina, United States... "Wide Receiver Short Speed Drills" to work on breaking away on the short game of a defender while playing receiver. It should help build stamina...


Football Drills
Shed Block Drill - A football drill submitted by our reader... S.L., from Arkansas, United States... By using the "Shed Block Drill", you'll teach your defenders how to shed a block and make the tackle...


Football Drills
Quarterback Avoid Drill - A football drill submitted by our reader... Kerry Carman, from Kentucky, United States... Discover the "Quarterback Avoid Drill" as you develop footwork and ball control while in the pocket. The "Quarterback Avoid Football Drill" works on feeling the pressure and keeping your eyes down field...


Football Drills
Green Bay Run - A football drill submitted by our reader... Cory Hennen, from Minnesota, United States... Discover the "Green Bay Run Drill" and run your team ragged. With the "Green Bay Run", you'll be able to condition your football players for a better chance at winning in the fourth quarter...


Football Drills
The Star Drill - A football drill submitted by our reader... Michael Scott, from Texas, United States... Discover the "Star Drill" and use it to work on change of direction and foot speed. Turn your football players into better change of direction players ...


Football Drills
Passing Drill - A football drill submitted by our reader... J., from Florida, United States... Discover J's "Passing Drill" and improve your quarterback's throwing accuracy...


Football Drills
Sharks and Minnows Drill - A football drill submitted by our reader... Dave Cisar, from Nebraska, United States... Discover the "Sharks and Minnows Drill" as you condition as well as determine who your quickest players are for the backfield positions...


Football Drills Submitted by Our Readers! - Collection of football drills submitted by our readers... A special thanks goes out to those of you taking time to submit your football drills to our site... Thanks for the contribution, as it helps others like you learn more about our great game...


Play Action Pass - The "play-action" pass can be an effective play for your team. It can be particularly useful in obvious running situations or just whenever you begin to notice that the defense is cheating up and not respecting your passing game over-all. The "play-action" pass will usually open up the zones underneath the linebacker coverage. You'll most likely be able to complete a quick pass to a running back or tight end over the middle or to a wide receiver running a quick slant.


The Dropback Pass - The "dropback" is the most typical kind of pass a quarterback will perform. You'll either backpedal or turn to the side and move backwards as you perform the dropback pass. Usually, a quarterback will dropback one, three, five, or seven steps, depending on the kind of play and depth of pattern the receivers are running.


When Running Backs Block - Running backs need to learn the same blocking techniques that are taught to offensive linemen. Of course, your job is a bit more difficult because the defender you're trying to block has time to react and fake around you. Plus, most defenders are larger than the back trying to make the block. One advantage the running back has is the opportunity to get a running start at the defender in order to deliver a bigger blow than an offensive linemen.


Ball Carrying Fundamentals - Usually, most coaches want the football to be held in the arm that is furthest away from potential tacklers. Therefore, if you're running to the right, you'll want to hold the ball in your right hand. If it gets punched out by a defender, there's a good chance it'll just be punched harmlessly out of bounds. If the ball had been in your left hand in this case, there would have been a good chance that the ball would bounce toward the middle of the field and then recovered by the defense.


The Pitchout - If you're a running back, you should catch the pitch-out with two hands. Look the football into your hands and cradle it in the correct carrying position before you begin to take on any tacklers. Be sure to place your index and middle fingers over the end of the ball (or you can cup the ball with your hand). Squeeze the ball with the your fingers at the end, your rib cage and the inside of your elbow.


Kickoff Fundamentals - Part 3 - If you do decide to kick with the straight-ahead style, place your plant foot about four inches to the side of the football. If you're looking for more hang time and height, use a higher tee. Whichever tee size you use, here's the general rule of thumb: Keep your plant foot about one foot behind a one-inch tee. Off a two inch tee, keep your plant foot about 14 inches behind the tee. Off a three-inch tee, keep your plant foot about 18 inches behind the tee.


Kickoff Fundamentals - Part 2 - If you can get a hang time of about four seconds, you're doing great. After you follow through with your kickoff, you should land on your kicking foot. This is a bit different than the technique for field goals where you should land on your other foot.


Kickoff Fundamentals - You can use a soccer-style or straight-ahead style on kickoffs, although the soccer-style method is the more preferred one these days. It will help you kick the football farther than the straight-ahead method. Usually the kicker should start the kickoff approach about 10 yards back and 5 yards to the side. However, each kicker should find the spot that feels most comfortable during the approach and then find a way to mark this very spot off before each kick.


Power Running - As a running back, you must change your running style as you prepare to drive into a tackler or go through the line. To best keep your balance, you want to widen your legs. This will help you stay upright when a defender comes in to hit you from the side. As you prepare for contact, be sure to shift your body weight forward and run lower to the ground. Be prepared to explode into the potential tackler...


Scout For A Possible Punt Block - When scouting other teams, be sure to take a good look at the opponent's punting game. Is the center slow in getting the snap back to the punter? Is the center delivering inaccurate snaps to the punter on a regular basis? Does the punter take more than two steps before punting or just take a long time to get the kick off? If you find that these questions are answered yes, you may have the makings of a game breaking special teams play when you play these guys. Get the team prepared to block a punt.


Two-Minute Offense Thoughts - How many times have you seen a team completely blow their chances at scoring in the last two minutes of either half because they weren't properly prepared to run the two-minute offense? As a coach, you need to take this aspect of your preparation very seriously. This could mean the difference of winning or losing a tight game. Take the time necessary to prepare your quarterback and the rest of the offense for these situations.


Improve Football Flexibility and Prevent Injuries - Warming up prior to practice and games is vital for keeping football players from getting injured. If you don't get stretched out properly, you leave yourself more open to muscle or ligament injuries. One of the first things you want to do before stretching is to get your body warmed up. Stretching cold muscles can be dangerous. Think of it like stretching a rubber band too far. If your muscles are cold and tight, you may pull or tear something.


Triple Option Football Explained - Triple option football has all three elements of the different styles of running attacks - quickness, finesse and power. The main idea behind this offensive set is to leave the defensive tackle and end unblocked in order to double-team the linebackers with extra offensive lineman. This brings an element of power to this basically finesse type of running attack.


A Football Player's Perspective - How to Make It to the Next Level of Play - It was August 2003 and my team at the time, the Pittsburgh Steelers, was holding the first live scrimmage for training camp. As a rookie in the NFL I had practiced a number of times with the team, but this was the first time I was going to suit it up for a "full contact and tackle goal line scrimmage".


Preparation Tips for Your Next Football Game - It's a good idea to prepare well for football game day beyond your regular team practice sessions. As a player or coach, there are things you can do to help you go into each game knowing you will perform properly.


Linebacker Double-Duty - Your linebackers are the main players on defense that must perform double-duty. They have to be good at defending the run and the pass. If they can only defend one really well, but are terrible at the other, it puts you at a disadvantage.


The Quick Kick - Yesterday I discussed the importance of a quality long snapper. In staying with the area of special teams, let's look a little bit at the quick kick. The quick kick can be quite effective in winning the battle of field positon.


Don't Overlook the Importance of the Long Snap - Too many football coaches don't place enough emphasis on perfecting the long snap on punts. Paul "Bear" Bryant knew what he was doing, right? Here's what he had to say about the importance of good long snappers:


Offensive Line Stance Technique - The stance is vital for solid offensive line play. A perfect stance results in good offensive line blocking because it provides blockers leverage and power...


Sled Offensive Line Drills - This page of sled offensive line drills continues from our first "O" line drills page...


Football Tackling Skills - Football tackling takes hunger and aggressiveness. Before you can get to working on football tackling drills and improving football tackling skills, you need to impress this upon your players.


Fundamentals of the Center-Quarterback Exchange - This is the most important fundamental in the game of football. If the QB & center can't get this right, you won't be running many plays effectively. Make sure this football technique is practiced over and over and over some more.


Defensive Back Technique - Stance, Start, Backpedal - An important part of football defensive back training is teaching the correct stance, start and backpedal techniques. Let's take a look...