Getting young players prepared to play football is an important time of the year. Many youth leagues will not allow players to compete on the field in actual games until players go through conditioning drills. These drills are designed to get players in the physical shape to last a long season and also to give them the mental edge that they have the toughness and desire that sport demands.
Football Sprint Ladders
In the sprint ladders drill, football players will develop their speed and agility to become more explosive on the football field. Each player will start at the goal line. On the coach's signal, the player will sprint to the 10-yard line and back, the 20-yard line and back, the 30-yard line and back and the 40-yard line and back. Take a two-minute break and then repeat the drill.
Hamburger Drill
In the hamburger drill, two players will pair off in a tackling drill. The two players will lie on the ground with their helmets touching and their toes pointed in the opposite direction. On the coach's whistle, the players will get up and sprint 5 yards. One player will get a handoff from a coach while the other will slap the hand of another coach. At that point they will turn and sprint at one another. The running back will try to run over the defender, while the defensive player will try to bring down the running back. The running back does not make moves to get away from the tackler. This is all about demonstrating the explosiveness and power needed to play the game. Have each player run the ball three times and make the tackle three times.
Bear Crawl and Sprint
The bear crawl and sprint drill gets young players used to moving and staying low before getting up into a full spring. Have players get on the their hands and feet. Their knees should not be touching the ground. On the coach's whistle, the player will move on all fours as quickly as possible for 10 yards. At that point, the player will get up and turn in the opposite direction and sprint 40 yards. Have each player do this five times. This will help develop strength in the arms, shoulders and legs and help build quickness as well. The bear crawl movement helps get used to staying low and making plays close to the ball.
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