Football drilling is a very useful method of increasing a player's understanding of the game as well as his motor functions in various situations. These drills are particularly beneficial to younger players, who are still learning the game and don't have the skill development older players can build on. If you coach a youth football team or have children participating, there are a variety of drills that can prove beneficial.
Crisscross Hand-Off
This drill lets players practice hand-offs to reduce the occurrence of fumbles. Start by lining up two rows of five cones each, with the rows set about seven yards apart with five yards of spacing between each cone. Place a line of players at each cone, with one of the rows of players all holding a football. On the coaches' whistle, players at each cone run in a crisscross pattern to the next cone on the other side. When the players cross in the middle, the player with the ball hands the ball off to the other person. When a player reaches the next cone, he cuts back across toward the next cone on the opposite side, exchanging the football again. Have players continue rotating through this drill for a set period of time, adding five seconds for every drop that occurs.
Cross Drill
The cross drill is ideal for any players who will be catching a football during a game. It allows players to practice catching the ball while having hands or other obstructions in their face. Start by dividing all receivers into two groups, facing one another from opposite sides of the field. Designate one side as receivers and the other as defenders. Both players at the front of each line run out toward the middle of the field, where a coach throws the ball. The receiver then tries to catch the ball while the defender jumps in front of him waving his arms to try to distract the player and obstruct his vision. Instruct the defender not to hit the receiver or bat down the ball, as that erases the value of the drill. The younger the children are, move them in closer to the middle of the field so that the timing of the pass isn't as important. Have a coach throw the passes to make the ball more likely to arrive where the players intersect.
Comeback Catch
Line up receivers about seven yards away from the quarterback on the line of scrimmage. Before the drill begins, tell each player at the line -- a maximum of two, one on each side -- whether he should come back to the inside toward the quarterback or outside toward the sideline. A comeback route is one where the player runs downfield for about 10 yards, then stops quickly and runs back to try and trick the defender. The receiver should then plant for the turnaround on his route with the foot in the direction opposite of where he will be turning. Instruct the quarterback to throw the ball a few yards behind the receiver as he plants his foot, anticipating that he will catch the ball while running. This helps teach the wide receiver footwork while teaching a quarterback to throw ahead of his receivers.
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