If you want to learn how to tip and catch a football, you can learn from the best by watching NFL games each week. Standout linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens excels at tipping balls. Safeties such as Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ed Reed of the Ravens excel at catching them. If you are a linebacker or a defensive lineman, look to tip the ball off the quarterback's intended path to the receiver. If you are a coach, teach your defenders how to work on their technique to tip the ball, ideally to a teammate.
Step 1
Set up two cones 10 yards apart and place a receiver at each cone, recommends Jim Dougherty in "Survival Guide for Coaching Youth Football." Ask your linebackers and defensive backs to pair up. Direct the first pair to stand about five yards apart facing you.
Step 2
Command both players to backpedal, as if defending a pass play. Pretending to be the quarterback, turn your body toward one of the receivers and send a high pass in that direction. The defender closest to you, who should be a linebacker, closes in on the cone and receiver, and breaks up the pass by tipping the ball in the air. The defender should have a hand up and fingers extended to gently touch and redirect the ball.
Step 3
Direct the second defender, who should be a defensive back, to come in behind his partner and intercept the pass. Have him pass the ball back to you to repeat the drill. The first pair goes to the back of the line and the next pair tries the drill.
Step 4
Repeat the drill with the defensive backs tipping the ball to the linebackers so that the linebackers gain experience catching a ball tipped by a teammate, more likely a defensive lineman in a real game.
Tips and Warnings
- To modify the drill, use one defender and one receiver. The latter tips the ball in the air off the tips of his fingers. Or just use two defenders, such that the front defender tips the ball to the rear one. Have the linemen practice tipping the ball. Direct them to raise their hand to mirror the quarterback's hand. If the quarterback throws with his right, have the defender raise his left hand to tip the ball.
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