Understanding Middle School American Football Position Strengths
Up Downs Conditioning Drill
Up downs is an excellent conditioning drill that will improve reaction time and endurance. This drill starts by having the players run in place as fast as they can encourage them to get their knees up as high as they can. From time to time the coach will signal to the players, by whistle or a command, to get down meaning that they drop down do a push up and get back up as quickly as possible to run again. Because this drill can be very taxing, it is important to increase the time spent at this slowly over time as the players strength increases.
Conditioning: Cross jumping
Football is all about action and reaction, and those that practice reacting quickly in a variety of directions will dominate the field. The point to this drill is having players practice quick directional changes on the field. It starts by placing players in a small four square box. Once a players positions themselves in one of the corners they will proceed to jump from one corner of the area to other in either a patterned function or randomly. Changes can be made so that the player will only use one foot and then the other while they run the drill.
Practicing the Hand off
Running backs should constantly practice the hand off. This drill requires more than one player; it starts off with two lines, line A and line B, the front of each line facing each other a couple of yards apart. The player from line A leaves the line with the football running towards line B. At the same time a player leaves line B, and when they meet in the middle Player A hands off the ball to Player B. Now player B has the ball and will hand off the ball to the next person in Line A who will hand off to the next player in Line B. It should be a constant motion. It is an effective drill to teach handoff skills and help running backs achieve higher accuracy and consistency.
Dehydration is an enemy to football success
Drinking plenty of water is all it takes to prevent dehydration, and thus should be an important part of football practices. Make sure that during the football practice players have their water bottles handy and are drinking often. Times have changed and coaches these days should be aware of hydration needs and not use water as a reward, or withhold it as a punishment. When players are hydrated and energized they will practice harder and learn more.
Up downs is an excellent conditioning drill that will improve reaction time and endurance. This drill starts by having the players run in place as fast as they can encourage them to get their knees up as high as they can. From time to time the coach will signal to the players, by whistle or a command, to get down meaning that they drop down do a push up and get back up as quickly as possible to run again. Because this drill can be very taxing, it is important to increase the time spent at this slowly over time as the players strength increases.
Conditioning: Cross jumping
Football is all about action and reaction, and those that practice reacting quickly in a variety of directions will dominate the field. The point to this drill is having players practice quick directional changes on the field. It starts by placing players in a small four square box. Once a players positions themselves in one of the corners they will proceed to jump from one corner of the area to other in either a patterned function or randomly. Changes can be made so that the player will only use one foot and then the other while they run the drill.
Practicing the Hand off
Running backs should constantly practice the hand off. This drill requires more than one player; it starts off with two lines, line A and line B, the front of each line facing each other a couple of yards apart. The player from line A leaves the line with the football running towards line B. At the same time a player leaves line B, and when they meet in the middle Player A hands off the ball to Player B. Now player B has the ball and will hand off the ball to the next person in Line A who will hand off to the next player in Line B. It should be a constant motion. It is an effective drill to teach handoff skills and help running backs achieve higher accuracy and consistency.
Dehydration is an enemy to football success
Drinking plenty of water is all it takes to prevent dehydration, and thus should be an important part of football practices. Make sure that during the football practice players have their water bottles handy and are drinking often. Times have changed and coaches these days should be aware of hydration needs and not use water as a reward, or withhold it as a punishment. When players are hydrated and energized they will practice harder and learn more.
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