Evaluating football players is more complicated than simply watching them play during games. Their skill levels are sometimes difficult to judge with the naked eye. For this reason, the National Football League has developed a series of drills that coaches at all levels can use to evaluate and compare players quantitatively. Some of these drills apply to players at all positions, and others are designed to measure position-specific skill sets.
Three-Cone Drill
The three-cone drill measures agility -- a player's ability to accelerate, change directions and decelerate effectively -- which is an essential attribute for players at all positions. Place three cones 5 yards apart in a letter "L" shape; designate the end of the "L" as the first cone, the corner as the second cone and the top as the third cone. A player starts in a three-point stance behind and on the outside of the first cone. On your command, he sprints to the outside of the second cone and back. Then, without hesitation, he sprints around the outside of the second cone, cuts 90 degrees to the right, sprints around the inside of the third cone to the outside, sprints back around the outside of the second cone, cuts 90 degrees to the left and finally sprints back through the first cone. Start a stopwatch when you give the starting command and stop it when the player passes the first cone at the end of the drill.
Passing Drill
The quarterback is one of the most important positions in football because he directs the offense and must get the ball to the receivers and running backs effectively. The passing drill helps you evaluate how well a quarterback drops back after receiving the ball from the center and how accurately he throws passes. First, the quarterback takes a series of three-step drops, throwing to receivers running a quick hook, in, out or slant route. Next, the quarterback takes multiple five-step drops, throwing to receivers running a medium-length hook, in or out pattern. Finally, the quarterback drops back seven steps and throws to receivers running a long corner, go or post route. Adjust the length of the throws based on the age of the quarterback. Rate each quarterback on his footwork and record how many passes he completes. You can also measure the velocity of their passes if you have a radar gun.
Pass Drop Drill
When a linebacker is assigned pass-coverage responsibilities, he often has to move backward at various angles to cover receivers running routes in the middle of the field while keeping his eyes focused on the quarterback. This drill measures a linebacker's ability to drop into pass coverage, change directions quickly and intercept a pass. Place five cones in a zigzag pattern anywhere on the field, each 5 yards apart at 45-degree angles. A linebacker stands in front of the first cone in a two-point stance. A coach stands a few yards in front of him with a football. On your command, the linebacker turns his hips and runs backward at a 45-degree angle, around the outside of the second cone, while keeping his eyes on you. He then changes direction and runs around the outside of the third cone, followed by the fourth and fifth cones, in the same manner. After passing the final cone, he sprints forward at a 45-degree angle away from the coach, who then throws a pass to the linebacker. Start a stopwatch after giving the starting command and stop it when the linebacker reaches the final cone. Also, record whether or not he catches the pass.
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