Youth football is a demanding sport that requires its participants to go through conditioning drills, learn plays and help teammates. Football is a team sport and no play is made because one player does his job. For plays to succeed, all players must do their job. Teamwork is an essential ingredient in learning how to play youth football.
Getting In Condition
When training begins for youth football, coaches start by giving young players conditioning drills. In many youth football leagues, players will only do conditioning drills for the first week or two of the summer. It is only when players pass the conditioning drills that contact work starts. Some of the conditioning drills include distance running, sprint shuttles, up-downs, bear crawls, push-ups and jumping jacks. Most of the hardest conditioning work is done in the heat of summer and that means water breaks should be given frequently.
Two-on-Two Blocking Drills
The basics of the game at all levels include blocking and tackling. In this blocking drill, two offensive linemen take on two defensive linemen. The coaches set up two cones about 8 yards apart. The offensive linemen try to block the defensive linemen in one direction or the other. A running back will get the football and try to run through the hole created by the offensive linemen. The defensive linemen attempt to get away from the blockers and make the tackle.
Tackling Drill
In this drill, a running back will take the handoff from the quarterback and attempt to run to the wide side of the field before turning upfield on a sweep. While the running back gets the ball, the linebacker will run from the middle of the formation to the edge so he can tackle the running back. The back will attempt to beat the linebacker to the corner or run over him. If the running back gets by, he wins the drill. If the linebacker makes the tackle, he wins.
Receiving Drill
The quarterback and the receiver try to work out a partnership during practice and training camp. In this drill, the receiver will run 10 yards downfield and turn around to make himself a target for the quarterback. He will attempt to catch the ball in his hands and not let it come into his body where it could easily bounce off his shoulder pads. After catching the ball, the receiver will secure the ball and then turn upfield and run 30 yards upfield.
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