Wide Receiver Drills Guaranteed To Improve Your Hands

This page includes 12 ball handling drills for wide receivers.

For more ball handling as well as some concentration and blocking drills, see our second wide receiver drills page.

"Throw Me the Damn Ball". It's become a great catch-phrase ever since Keyshawn said it. But if you want your quarterback to actually listen, you better put some time into the following football drills.

Put the time in with these wide receiver drills and the passes will follow!

Coaches - Most of your time spent teaching football receiver drills will of course focus on running proper pass patterns and catching the football .

Don't forget about their blocking skills, though. Your running backs will thank you for it.

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Wide Receiver Drills

Objective - Teach receivers to release off the line properly.

Action - Align each receiver across from a defender. Use a cone to simulate the QB during this football receiver drill. Go through different route releases. Teach receivers how to react properly to the defender's positioning and technique.

Coaching Details - Pay close attention to each receiver's release technique. Perform this wide receiver drill with the players lined up to the left of the cone (QB) and to the right.

Objective - Teach receiver to release and then go for the ball at its highest point while battling defender.

Action - Have receiver release against a defender playing bump-and-run with a fake or swim move, then run a go route up the field. Have the quarterback throw the ball high so the receiver and defender battle for the catch.

Coaching Details - Be sure each receiver is learning how to get up and catch the ball at its highest point. This football receiver drill will also be a good drill for your cornerbacks.

Objective - Teach hand-eye coordination and the ability to catch all types of passes.

Action - Start with about six receivers positioned in a circle. Give them two footballs and have them pass the ball quickly to one another through the circle.

Coaching Details - Be sure they are throwing all types of passes to one another in the circle; low, high, mid-secion, etc. You want your receivers to develop the skill of adjusting to the ball and the ability to "go get it".

Objective - Teach hand-eye coordination and basic receiving skills.

Action - Position 4-5 receivers on a line and have them face a lone receiver positioned about 5 yards from them. Give one football to the lone receiver and one ball to one of the others. The football receiver drill begins with the lone receiver throwing a pass to a receiver in the line. At the same time, the receiver with the ball in line passes to the lone receiver. Keep this cycle up for a sufficient amount of reps, then slide everyone sideways until each player has a chance to be the "Lone Ranger".

Coaching Details - Make sure each receiver is looking the ball in and catching with their hands.

Objective - Teach to catch with the hands and then tuck the football in to secure it.

Action - For this wide receiver drill, align your receivers in a single-file line. Have the quarterback or coach throw to the first receiver in line. The receiver should look the pass in, catch the ball with the thumbs in, then tuck the ball away. After the catch, the receiver runs to the end of the line and the next receiver runs their route.

Coaching Details - Be sure to throw a variety of passes (low, high, etc) so receivers can practice catching different types of balls. A great football drill for wide receivers where you can emphasize great route running.

Objective - A wide receiver drill to teach players how to catch the ball at the sidelines.

Action - Position the receivers in a line about 5 yards in from the sideline. At the snap, the first player runs a short out route and the quarterback throws the ball. The wide receiver then makes the catch with both hands and concentrates on keeping both feet in bounds.

Coaching Details - Run this football receiver drill from the right and left sides. Don't allow your players to lose proper catching technique because they're worried about getting the feet down. Catch it first, then concentrate on the feet.

Variations - Have the receivers catch, then turn upfield and run up the sideline... Have them catch it one-handed as they fall out-of-bounds... Have the QB throw high or low passes.

Objective - Teach players to protect the ball and to stay upright on contact.

Action - Position two lines of dummy holders (about 5-6 men in each line) with a small path in between. Have a coach or quarterback throw the football to the first receiver in line. The wide receiver then sprints between the bags. The bag holders should hit the player as he moves by and try to knock him down or fumble the football.

Coaching Details - During this wide receiver drill, emphasize good body control and keeping a firm grip on the football.

Objective - Teach receivers to get the head around and locate the ball quickly.

Action - Position the wide receivers in a single file at one of the yard lines with their backs to the quarterback. The quarterback stands about 12-15 yards behind the line of receivers. The QB passes to the first receiver in line and yells "Ball!". On that signal, the receiver turns himself around completely, locates the football and makes the catch.

Coaching Details - Be sure your wides receivers get themselves turned all the way around and are facing the ball during this wide receiver drill. Emphasize the need to get their hands up and in good position to make the catch.

Objective - Teach the curl route.

Action - Split your receivers into two lines, each line positioned out on the numbers. Put 2 quarterbacks in the middle of the field. At the snap the first receiver in each line explodes into a 10-yard curl route. At 10 yards, they turn inside and come back to the ball as each QB passes to the receiver on his side of the field. After the catch, the players should turn upfield, then go to the back of the line on the opposite side.

A key to this wide receiver drill is to "sell" the go route so the DB is fooled, then lower the hips, and plant off the outside foot.

Coaching Details - Emphasize to your players that they must come back to the ball. They should also come out of the break low without any wasted motion. Don't let them use poor catching technique just because they're focusing on the route.

Objective - Teach receivers to catch the ball in the endzone while getting their feet down.

Action - Wide Receiver Drill Variation 1 - Have wide receivers run across the back of the endzone while the quarterback throws the ball high and in front of them. Run the drill from the right and the left.

Wide Receiver Drill Variation 2 - Have receivers run an out pattern to the side of the endzone. QB throws the ball so the wide receivers must make the catch just before falling out of bounds. Run this variation to both sides.

Coaching Details - Watch their body control. Emphasize getting the feet down in-bounds.

Objective - This wide receiver drill teaches better concentration by forcing wide receivers to catch with one hand.

Action - Position your receivers in a single file line at the line of scrimmage. At the snap, have the first player run a go route. The quarterback should throw the ball so the receiver can make the catch with his upfield hand.

Repeat the wide receiver drill using a square-in route instead of the go route. Be sure to practice this football drill for wide receivers from both sides so your players can catch with the right and left hands.

Coaching Details - Your players should be taught to focus on the football and then look it all the way in. Make it a point to teach your wide receivers to catch the ball with the hand out and away from the body. Be sure they then tuck the ball away properly and make their move up the field.

Objective - Develop "over the shoulder" catching ability.

Action - Position your receivers in a single file out near the numbers. The quarterback stands at midfield with the ball. Wide receiver #1 runs a go route looking inside for the football but the QB throws a high arcing ball over the receiver's outside shoulder. The wide receiver must now adjust to the outside position of the football.

Coaching Details - Be sure your players achieve a quick, fluid motion when turning their hips, shoulders and head in the adjustment to the ball. Keep the arms up and ready as they turn. Body control is key during this wide receiver drill!