The key to a successful football drill is to create a situation where the skills learned in the drill translate directly into a game situation. Coaches continuously search for the correct drills to run during practice that will best prepare their players. Drills can vary widely from being position-specific to being a general skill that all players may use during a game.
Four-Cone Drill
Place four cones in a square 5 yards apart. Have the players begin at the first cone and run around two cones, finishing at the fourth cone, so it looks like a "U" pattern. Have them stay close to the cones, make sharp cuts at the two middle cones and accelerate away from each cone. Then repeat the drill in the opposite direction. Coaching points include making sure feet move continuously, arms are always pumping, not taking wide steps on turns and dropping the hips to make the turns. This drill is ideal for offensive and defensive skill players (backs, receivers, defensive backs and linebackers), but can be used for all players to teach agility.
Three-Cone Drill
Set the cones in a triangle with the two legs being 5 yards apart. Have the players run the legs of the cones (the two 5-yard segments). Have the first player begin by running from the first cone to the second cone, touch the line, and return to the first cone, touching that line. Then have him run around the second cone to the third cone. Finally, have him circle the third cone, run around the second cone, and finish by running past the first cone. Coaching points for this drill are fast feet, acceleration, low hips and finishing. This drill is good for all positions to teach agility.
Bull in the Ring
Form a circle 10 yards in diameter with the entire team. Select a player to be the "bull," then select his opponent, keeping in mind to match players of similar size and skill. Have the players begin in a three-point stance facing each other 1/2 yard apart. On your whistle, the players will try to drive their opponent back 2 yards. The loser is the "bull" and the winner will get to rejoin the circle. If the same player loses three times in a row, select two new players. Restart the round if a player jumps before the whistle or the players twist around. This drill is used to teach blocking and leg drive and is beneficial for any position.
Victory "V" Drill
Set-up the cones forming a "V" with two lines 3 yards apart at the bottom and 10 yards apart at the top, with both lines 15 yards long. Have a running back with a ball stand at the bottom of the "V." Have a group of two players every 5 yards inside the V after the running back. Comprise the first group with one offensive and one defensive lineman. Make the second group with one tight end or fullback and one linebacker. Comprise the third group of one receiver and one defensive back. Have the offensive players lined up with their backs to the running back and the defensive players directly in front of them. On your whistle, have all three defensive players delay 1 second and have the offensive player try to block his defensive player. Also on the whistle, have the running back try to make it to the end of the "V" by staying inside the cones. Tell the defensive players to shed their blocks and make the tackle. This drill allows contact, blocking, tackling and ball-carrying to be monitored in the same drill and is a good tool to build team energy or for a team with few coaches.
Pursuit Drill
This is a defensive drill from the middle of the field. Have the defense line up in your base formation. Set up cones on both sidelines at the line of scrimmage, 5 yards, 10 yards, 15 yards, and 25 yards. On your whistle, point to one sideline for the defense to pursue. Have the defensive lineman run to the cone at the line of scrimmage. Have the linebackers run to the 5-yard cone. Tell the playside cornerback to run to the 10-yard cone. Have all the safeties run to the 15-yard cone. Finally, instruct the backside cornerback to run to the 25-yard cone. This drill is used to represent pursuit angles a defense will take to catch an offensive player running down field.
Monkey Rolls
Have three players lie flat on the ground next to each other about 1 yard apart. On your whistle, instruct the player in the middle to roll flat on the ground toward one of the other players. Instruct that player to jump over him and begin rolling toward the third player. Have the third player jump him and roll toward the first player. Have the players to continue repeating until you blow your whistle to stop. This is a good conditioning and body awareness drill for youth players. It also allows for players to get used to moving in football gear and taking contact with the ground.
Stance and Starts
This drill is beneficial for all players, because every position uses a stance and a start. Each position has a relatively unique stance and start, but each has the same focus points. Coaching points are to eliminate false-steps and loading (dipping down before starting to move) and monitor acceleration with the first step. Players should focus on trying to move forward without wasting any motion or time.
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