Football coaches use shuttle cone drills to help keep their players in shape and to teach them basic football skills. Performing these types of drills regularly in practice can help you build better agility and speed. Some of the drills will make you faster while others will teach you how to make cuts and redirect your body. The use of different shuttle cone drills every day also helps keep daily practices from getting boring.
Zigzags
The zigzags drill will help you with speed and maneuverability. Place seven cones in a zigzag formation 12 yards apart from each other. The cones should be aligned in a slalom-type, back-and-forth formation with four cones on one side and three on the other. Start at the first cone and sprint on an angle to cone two. Go around cone two to the outside and sprint across the field to cone three. Go around cone three to the outside and continue sprinting across the field to cone four. Continue this zigzag sprint until you reach the final cone, cone seven. The drill should be a complete sprint without slowing down too much on the turns or touching the ground. Focus on your balance and speed in this drill.
Basic Shuttle Drill
The basic shuttle drill will help you increase your spring abilities and power bursts. Place four cones in a line with 5 yards of space in between each. Start at the first cone and sprint to the second cone, touch the ground, and sprint back to the first cone. Immediately turn and sprint to the third cone, touch the ground, and sprint back to the first cone. Immediately turn and sprint to the fourth cone, the one farthest away, touch the ground and sprint all the way back to the first cone. Do not stop to rest in between any of the cones.
Three-Cone Drill
The three-cone drill will help improve your sprinting and cutting abilities when running. It is also a drill you should be familiar with if you plan on trying out for the NFL at the combine. Place three cones in an L shape with about 10 yards of space in between each. Starting at the right side of the first cone, sprint forward to cone two, touch the ground, and sprint back to cone one. Immediately sprint back to cone two again, go around the cone clockwise and continue running toward the right side of cone three. Go counterclockwise around this cone and sprint back toward cone two again. Turn sharply at cone two and continue sprinting to cone one.
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