Football tryouts are a time for coaches to evaluate the talents and capabilities of prospective players by using a variety of activities, including sprinting, kicking, throwing, catching and blocking drills. Most football tryouts take place with potential players dressed in shorts and T-shirts and not in full football gear, though full gear may be required at later stages of the tryout process. From the opening day of activities to the announcement of who has made the team, the football tryout process can be a grueling one, for players and coaches alike.
Getting Started
While the exact football tryout process may vary from team to team, there are several components that many teams have in common, such as the introductory meeting. At the beginning of football tryouts, you can expect the coaches to gather you into a group, where each coach will be introduced and the tryout process will be explained. Prospective players will then be divided into groups based on position and gather at an assigned area on the field. In many situations, the coaches determine the group you are assigned to, regardless of the position you hope to play. Your position assignment may change as a result of the various drills in which you are about to participate.
Speed and Quickness Drills
The most basic physical aspect football coaches are interested in is speed. The 40-yard dash is a common drill used at football tryouts to determine what position a potential player is best suited to play. You will be required to run at least one 40-yard dash during football tryouts, either alone or against someone else. You will be required to begin the 40-yard dash from a three-point football stance, from which you break into a full sprint over a distance of 40 yards. Your sprint time will largely determine the position to which you will be assigned. The 10-yard dash is a quickness drill that coaches use to determine a player’s ability to cover short distances and is done in the same manner as the 40-yard dash, but for a distance of 10 yards instead. In some cases, players who have less-than-impressive 40-yard dash times have impressive 10-yard dash times that better suit them for positions that require short-distance quickness, for example, offensive linemen.
Lineman Drills
Common lineman drills employed at football tryouts include blocking drills using a padded blocking sled. From a three-point stance, you must fire out and hit the padded portion of the sled, driving your legs while trying to move the sled. These sleds come in a variety of forms, including two-, three- and five-man sleds that require the appropriate number of players to move. Using a five-man sled, you may be required to fire-out block, hitting the pad directly in front of you, and then roll to your right or left and then hit the next pad. Coaches are mainly looking for form, strength and technique during these drills.
Other Drills
Quarterbacks can expect to throw the ball a lot during football tryouts. You may be asked to demonstrate accuracy by throwing a ball through a tire or by throwing passes to prospective teammates. Wide receivers can expect to demonstrate speed and catching abilities while running pass patterns. Running backs will be called upon to navigate obstacles, such as a row of tires or ropes, while employing high-stepping techniques to demonstrate agility and speed. Linebackers and defensive backs will be put through pass-coverage and pursuit drills that may be administered in conjunction with those used for wide receivers and running backs.
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