Quarterback Drills

Drill #1
Grip Drill

With palm facing down, the quarterback grips the ball and moves the ball up and down. With each motion, be sure they
re-grip the football. After at least 15 reps, repeat drill with the other hand.

Drill #2
Drop Drill

Extend arm from the body and hold ball with palm facing down. Drop the ball and then re-grip instantly. Bring football back
to starting point and repeat at least 15 times. Repeat drill with opposite hand. You can also do both hands at same time by
using two footballs.

Drill #3
Drop and Rotate Drill

Same as the Drop Drill except that as the ball is dropped, the quarterback rotates his hand around the ball before re-
gripping it.

Perform at least 15 reps with each hand, then try with two hands at the same time.

Quarterback Drill #4
Spin Drill

With palm facing down, hold the ball at one end. With a flick of the fingers, give the ball a full back spin so it lands on the
back of the hand. With the back of the hand, flick the ball into a full front spin and re-grip the ball with palm facing down
again.

Do at least 15 reps with each hand.

Drill #5
Basketball Drill

Just like a basketball point guard, move the ball from hand to hand behind the back and between the legs. Do at least 3
sets that last 25-30 seconds each. Perform this football drill as fast as you can.

Drill #6
Knee Drill

Objective - To develop the proper wrist snap and release of the ball.

Action - Begin the football quarterback drill with the QB's on both knees. Align them about five yards apart. The first QB
gets the proper grip, lifts the football like he would when taking the snap and passes the ball to his partner. Be sure the
ball is brought up near the ear, the follow-through is straight at the receiver with palm down. After ten reps back and forth,
move the players five yards further apart and continue football drill from there.

Coaching Details - Check for proper grip with opposite hand securing the ball. Be sure follow-through is correct and pay
attention to accuracy.

Drill #7

Alternate Knee Drill

Repeat QB drill #6 with the right knee down, then with the left knee down.
Drill #8
Wrong Foot Drill

Objective - Teach to throw off the wrong foot when scrambling.

Action - (Reverse this for lefties) The right foot is forward with toes pointed in direction of throw. As the pass is made, shift
weight forward onto the ball of the right foot.

Coaching Details - Emphasize the correct rotation of the hips and shoulders to reach the proper "delivery" position.

Drill #9
Release/Follow-Through Drill

Objective - Develop a proper release and follow-through.

Action - Align your quarterbacks with shoulders facing (standing sideways to one another) and about 7-10 yards apart. As
the first player makes the pass, he rotates his hips properly in order to get the shoulder around for a good throwing
motion. Partner repeats the process and returns the pass. Move the QB's 15 yards apart, repeat the football drill. Repeat
at 20 yards.

Coaching Details - Check grip, hip rotation, release and follow-through.

Drill #10
Drop-Back Drill

Objective - Develop the three, five and seven step drop-backs.

Action - Quarterback starts in the pre-snap stance and on coach's whistle, performs a three step drop. On the third step,
he should be set and ready for a pass with the ball held at chest level. Do the three step 5-10 times, then do the same
thing with a five step and seven step drop-back.
Coaching Details - Make sure your QB performs this drill with adequate quickness and that at set-up, most of his body
weight is positioned on the back foot.
Very important - Be sure there are no false steps in the drop... Boom, boom, boom, throw.

Drill #11
QB Clock Drill

Objective - Develop further the drop-back and stance.

Action - As your quarterback drops back, call out "3 o'clock!", "9 o'clock!", "12 o'clock!", etc. At each call your QB must
turn in that direction, give a pump fake, then step into the next direction. Repeat this with each of the three types of drops.
You can also have receivers set up and at each command; your quarterback will turn and throw a pass.

Coaching Details - As with the drop-back drill, be sure your quarterback is taking a quick drop. Don't allow him to let his
throwing fundamentals break down at any time during the football quarterback drill.

Drill #12
Sprint-out Drill

Objective - Develop "throwing on the run" skills

Action - Align a quarterback on a yard line at the sideline 10 yards apart. On coach's signal, they begin to run down their
assigned yard line as they pass the football back and forth. Once they reach the opposite side of the field, they'll turn
around and repeat the football drill back to the starting point.
You can then repeat the drill at 15 yards apart for a slightly longer pass or even five yards apart in order to practice the
pitch-out.

Coaching Details - Be sure they keep their shoulders square and utilize correct hip rotation. This drill will help develop
the skill of leading the receiver. Make sure the follow-through is done correctly.

Drill #13
Circle Drill
Objective - Develop "throwing on the run" skills
Action - Standing about 10-15 yards apart, have two QB's run in a circle as they pass the ball back and forth. On the
coach's signal, they will then reverse and repeat the drill in the opposite direction.

This drill will help your QB's get good at leading the receiver as they to keep the circle motion going.

Coaching Details - Be sure they keep their shoulders square and utilize correct hip rotation.

Down the line

Purpose
Improve throwing on the run technique.
Plus conditioning.

Description
1. Pair up Quarterbacks,
2. running the length of field and back playing catch.
3. Quarterbacks should keep a constant distance of 10 yards apart.
4. Release ball quickly.
5. Work to increase speed.

Coaching Points
Square the shoulders and hips to the target.
QB should lead other QB so he doesn't have to adjust to the ball but can keep running at a constant speed.

Opposite foot drill

Purpose
Basic warm up and to teach how to throw off the wrong foot.
Simulates throwing off wrong foot while scrambling or sprinting out.

Description
1. Right hander with right foot forward in heel to toe relationship.
2. Point the toe in the direction of the throw.
3. To throw with body, must rotate hips.
4. If thrown with correct motion, you will be forced forward on the ball of your right foot and weight will follow through.

Coaching Points
QB should rotate shoulders and hips as much as possible to get them in a correct position to deliver the ball.

Normal foot follow through

Purpose
To work on the complete throwing motion.

Description
1. Same as previous drill (Opposite foot drill) except step with correct foot.
2. Right hander step with left foot.
3. Point the toe in direction of throw.
4. Throw and follow through.
5. This motion assures tip of ball will be up for soft pass.
6. Over-emphasize the follow-through until it becomes an automatic part of throwing motion.

Coaching Points
When throwing at release of ball, QB should turn hand to outside and palm down
Sprint out drill

Purpose
Improve mechanics on throwing the sprint out pass

Description
1. Quarterback lines up in his pre-snap stance (or if with centers, under center)
2. On snap count he simulates the snap (or if with centers takes the snap)
3. Then he sprints out to the launching point
4. and throws the ball to other Quarterback target.
Sprint right and left.

Coaching Points
Release the ball quickly.
Practice throwback pass also.
Square the shoulders and hips to target.

Individual pass routes drill

Purpose
Improve the accuracy and
timing of throwing to specific receivers on specific pass routes.

Description
In addition to working on the passing drills that have been mentioned, it would obviously be to your advantage to throw to
an end or a back running any of our individual pass routes. You should work the most on the routes that are the most
difficult for the QB to hit consistently.
Depending on the level you are coaching, you might have relatively big differences between receivers and how they run
their routes (speed/quickness, accuracy). If so, let your QBs call out the receivers name to better remember the individual
style of each receiver.
1. one half of the Quarterbacks participating in this drill takes it's ground in the middle of the field, i.e. at the goal line
facing into the field, the other half facing them 30 yards away, i.e. at the 30 yard line.
2. one half of the receivers participating in this drill line up to the right of the first QB-Group on the goal line taking a
normal split; the other half to the right of the second QB-Group also taking a normal split.
3. On the (short) snap count of his QB the receiver will run the designated pass route, the QB takes his drop and
throws the ball to the receiver, who catches the ball and runs it to the QB-Group on the other side, then jogs over
to this receiver-line, and waits for his turn.
4. The QBs rotate within their group.
5. After a sufficient number of passes thrown by each QB the next pass route will be announced.
Tip:
Don't forget to switch sides, i.e. before going to the deep routes start over the short routes to the other side.
Tip:
This general setup can also be used for warming up QBs and Receivers.

Coaching Points
Watch for proper timing of QB,
don't let him throw off balance just to hit a receiver quicker, rather work on quicker drop,
dont let him throw too early.

Find the open receiver drill

Purpose
Improve the ability of the QB to scan the whole field and find the open receiver and automate his footwork.

Description
1. Set the QB up on the goal line.
 2. Scatter 10 - 15 receivers from sideline to sideline at varied depths ranging from 5 yards to 30 (be creative with
your spacing).
3. Have the QB to face his receivers and then the coach, standing behind the QB, will point to one of the receivers.
4. After telling which one will be live, have the QB to simulate the snap and drop 5 - 7 yards and set to throw.
5. All the while he should be scanning the field looking for the raised hand of the designated receiver (the receiver
should wait 3 - 5 seconds before raising his hand).
6. Upon seeing this, the QB will have to get into proper throwing position and determine the depth.
7. Repeat this until all receivers have had one pass.

Coaching Points
non-stop scanning of the field
proper use of feet to turn the body (making him ever ready to throw)
quick release as soon as the "open" receiver is spotted, without rushing the throw with poor throwing technique

Progression Drills

Purpose
This is an excellent Warm Up Drill for quarterbacks. It will improve arm strength and will help prevent arm
soreness.

Description
Two QBs or a QB and Coach or QB and Receiver align across from each other at about a distance of 10 yards. The drill
begins with both people in a seated position and they will play catch with the football . It is important to watch the
mechanics of the throw to be sure that all the proper mechanics are being followed. This is not a time to develop bad
habits.
Throw about 25 balls in each position.

Coaching Points
Stress both hands on football
Bring the ball up to the arm pit, then snap it up to the throwing position (cock your gun and fire)
Be sure to follow through. Remember to roll the thumb over with the index finger being the last to leave the ball

Drop and Progression

Purpose
To teach and improve the footwork of the QB during drop back and going through the progression.

Description
QB executes drop for play called
Coach calls out # in progression
QB turns to throw and sets feet for each target in progression.

Coaching Points
Emphasize quick movements - Getting hips and feet aligned with target. Two hands on the ball until throw.
Angle of initial "set"
Comfortable in pocket.

1 3
2
 QB
Coach

QB facing
QB shuffles around the cones, keeping his arms in the proper throwing position
throughout the drill and looking forward, eyes on his target.

Quarterback Progression
All too often quarterbacks decide before the snap to whom they will throw the ball. This drill walks the quarterback through
making reads while dropping back and delivering the ball to the best option.
Mark a line of scrimmage and have the following players line up: one quarterback, three receivers and three defensive
backs. Before every play have the QB give each receiver a route to run, and give your DBs a particular coverage. During
each drill the quarterback should practice three-, five- and seven-step drops, each one corresponding to the routes he told
his receivers to run. During his drop the quarterback should be going through his progressions. After the drop he should
deliver the ball to the most open receiver.

Four-Cone Distraction
This drill helps with quarterback accuracy, receiver concentration and defensive back/linebacker pass defense.
Set up four cones in a square, each cone separated by 5 yards. Have a quarterback stand stationary 15 yards away with
a football in his hand, and a receiver covered by a defender inside the coned square. The receiver will try to get open
inside of the coned area but he must keep his body square with the quarterback. The defender may bump and push the
receiver to keep him from catching the ball. The quarterback must complete the ball to the receiver and the defender
should attempt to swat the ball away.