Football is a game that combines stamina, speed and skill. It takes a lot of practice for youth players to just learn the plays and the correct field formations and even more practice to master them. It is vital to run drills that teach specific techniques and moves over and over so that they become second nature to the kids. The best drills for youth players are those that teach the proper techniques and fundamentals but can also be adapted to continuously challenge the players.
Angle Tackling
Angle tackling is a defensive drill teaches the children how to tackle using the proper positioning and both their own leverage and the leverage of their opponent. Before beginning, space two cones on the field, five yards away from one another. Separate all of the defensive players into two groups and place each group into their own single-file line. Select one group to be ball carriers while the other plays defense. Next, designate a cone that the ball carrier will be running to. Blow two quick whistles less than one second apart. On the first whistle, the player on defense runs toward the ball carrier while the ball carrier runs toward the designated cone on the second whistle. If performed properly, the defensive player should be able to use his angle to close the distance on the ball carrier before tackling him.
Turn Drill
The turn drill is an offensive drill used by a wide receiver to practice how to position himself in a way that he is able to quickly locate the ball and catch it while on the run. To prepare for the drill, gather your receivers and form two lines and place one on each side of the field. The starting quarterback will throw to one line while the backup quarterback or member of the coaching staff will throw to the other. Select a specific route for the receiver to run and have him take off when you blow the whistle. As the quarterback releases his pass, he yells "go." As soon as the receiver hears the command, he must immediately turn his head, locate the ball, make a successful catch, secure the ball and run in for the score.
Lone Ranger
This drill is used to teach young players receiving skills, but it is also a useful tool in honing players' hand-eye coordination, which is vital in football. The drill requires four to six receivers. To begin, spread four or five receivers on a line and place a single receiver five or so yards in front of them, with the group and the single player facing each other. Take two footballs and give one to a player in the line and the other to the single receiver. When you blow the whistle, the receiver who is on the line by himself throws a pass to someone in the line. Simultaneously, the player with the ball in line throws a pass to the single receiver. Have the team continue the drill for a specified amount of time before having the player on the far side take the position of the lone receiver while the single player takes the open spot on the near side of the field. Continue until every player has had a turn alone on the line.
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