Wide receivers are members of the offensive side of a football team. Their main role on the team is to run pass routes, get open and catch passes from their quarterback to gain yardage and score points. The wide receiver position requires players to have good running speed and excellent concentration. A variety of wide receiver drills can teach ball-handling and agility skills that help players perform better on the field.
Front-and-Back Drill
Used to promote conditioning and body control, the front-and-back drill can be performed by two to six players, the Football Drills website explains. Player one stands on the 5-yard line while player two positions himself on the goal line. Player one runs backward and player two runs toward him as they pass the ball back and forth and make their way down the field to the opposite goal line. They rest for a moment, then switch places and repeat the drill running back to the original end zone. The players must maintain the 5-yard distance between each other as they move down the field.
Tap-Dance Drill
The goal of the tap-dance drill is to teach wide receivers how to get one or both feet in bounds when catching passes close to the sidelines, Football Drills explains. The receiver lines up 15 yards from the sideline; once the drill begins he runs full-speed to the sideline. The quarterback or coach throws the ball 3 to 5 yards from the sideline, and the player must catch the ball and tap one or both feet just inside the boundary line before he runs out of bounds.
Toss-Up Drill
Teaching wide receivers the proper technique to catch a football with their fingertips is the point of the toss-up drill. The quarterback or a coach tosses the receiver the ball, throwing it about 4 feet above the player's head, the Score Touchdowns website instructs. As the receiver extends his arms to catch the ball, his goal is to position his head correctly to see the ball come toward him and his hands. The receiver must catch the ball at its widest point with just the tips of his fingers.
Curl Drill
One of the most important parts of the receivers job is running proper pass routes on the field. The curl drill, suggested by the Football Plays & Drills website, teaches wide receivers how to run a curl route. Spread the receivers out in two lines, and use two quarterbacks at mid-field to throw the passes. At the snap, the first receiver in each line sprints 10 yards down the field, then curls back to catch the pass from the quarterback on his side of the field. After the catch, the receiver runs back and lines up to catch a pass on the other side of the field. This drill helps teach receivers to fake out the defensive backs who cover them during pass plays.
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