RonllichElson

0ndlames[. PetGtson
 t0l
DEFETUSIVE
BAGK
DRIttS

RonDickerson
Sr.
JamesA.Peterson

+l *+
I
t
COAGHES
*
=CHOIEE
 W

@1997
Coaches Books.Allrights
Choice reserved. jntheUnited
Printed States.
N0part0fthisb00k
maybereproduced, inaretrieval
stored system,
ortransmitted.
inanyform0rbyanymeans,electronic, photocopying,
mechanical, recording,
0r
0therwise, theprior
with0ut permission
ofSagam0rePublishing,Inc.
ISBNr
1-57167-089-0
Iibraryof
CongressCatalogCardNumber:96'72471
Book
layout:Antonio
J.Perez
Cover
Design
andDiagrams:
Deborah M.Bellaire
Front photo:
cover Jerryfulillevoi

Coaches
Ch0ice
B00ks
isanimprint
of: SagamorePublishing,
Inc.
P0.Box647
lL61824-0647
Champaign,
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Fax: )359-5975
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WebSite:
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ffi
 grandparents,
Tomydeceased

Raymond oickerson;
andGertrude

alsotomyrolemodel,

l\ilartin
thelateReverend lutherKingJr.
Withthedeepestappreciati0n
lacknowledge theenc0uragement
andassistance
0fthe
r0Iowtngpe0pte
whoreadmy manuscript jnitseadystagesandmadeinvaluable Pdrl
suggesnons-my son,
Hon Dtcterson,
Jr.,mydaughter,Bashawn Dickerson,
Dr.Jim
l'eters0n,
Lireg
Shiano,l\4rs.
Sharl\,4arbury,
every ballplayer
thatlever
coached,
andt0the
many young,
persistent
hjghschoolcoaches whohavelearnedfrommycoachingstyle.
Theproject
wasbornfromtheconstant
encouragement
of mywife,Jeannie.lgive
herand
allthe
othersmyboundless
thanks.
t
isgood,Allthe
God time:Allthe
time,
Godisqood.

-nonDickercon
Sr.
h

!
ffiffi
:orthemorethan threedecades thatlhave playing
been andcoaching
footballatlhe
colegiatelevel,lhavecoaching andobservingdefensive
backs.Collectively,
my
experienceshave givenmeanopportunity toevaluatemanytechniques
andfundamentals
ifl playing
defensiveback
andavariety ofmeth0dsforteaching
thosetechniquesand
fundamentals.Intheprocess,l havecome t0realize
thattruelearning
occurswhenthereis
aneed t0knowasolid understanding ofhowt0learn exists, andplayers
andc0aches
realizethata panicular
goalcanbereached.

lwrotethisbookt0providefootballcoachesatallcompetitivelwelswithatoolthatcan
enablethemto maximizetheskills
andattlibutesoftheirplayers.
Asavehicleforteaching
properly
andlearning, designeddrillscanhaveextraodinatyualue.l0l
fufensiveBackDrills
featuresdrills
thatihavec0llected,field-tested,
afldapplied
werthecourseof my
coaching intheprocess
career.lI 0fusingthe inthisbook,
drillspresented coachesare
ablet0dsvelop
better theskills
ofthedefensivebacks,
thentheeffortt0write/0/
Back
Defensive Drillswill
havebeen wellworthwhile.

-BonAcke8on
St.

W
WARM-UP
DRILLS

w
s
 DBtt_L
#t; M0VEANDREACT
qbjective
fo wamlJp:
toimprove
reacti0n
time;toenhance
stamina.

Equipnent
Need
ed A football.

D.escipti1n:
Thecoach hasthedefensive
backs spreadoutinseveral linesfacino
him.Each playeris atleastd0uble-arms
lengthfrbmthectosest ptayertohim."
Withthebaliinhand, thecoach movestheb-all
o* ot ro, Urri,iirriiio* ilrit,
right,
forward andbackward). Theteam respondstothemovement oftheballand
vrg0r0usly
moves iqthedirection
dictated
bythecoach. Thecoach alsohasthe
opfl0n
0tcommandrng theplayers runjnplace
toeither orlo hittheground by
0rderng_
them to "get onyourface"0r"get0nyour back,.Both comilands ale
qu.ckry
t0Uowed bVanorder to "get0nyour
feet."Thecoach combtnes the
0irecr0nat
movement commands wjththevarjoushit-the-groundcommands ro
create
a rjgorous,ron-stopwarm-uD session

CaachingPoints:

Thecoachshould
require
hisplayers
t0 respond
t0 a newcommand
everyfour
tofiveseconds

. When inplace.
running players
sh0uld
berequired
to liftthejrknees
ashigh
as
possible.

o r) n
-
o tl .)
o
o o C) o
 OBI[[#2: JUMPA]IIDTWIST

j: trrverTowarm-up;t0 flexibility
enhance andbalance.

a:,:cnentNeeded:
None.

..scription: Thecoach hasthedefensive backsstraddleyardlines aboutthree

.:.js between each while
other, assumingagood defensive positi0n.Theplayers
:^:uld all
be facingthecoach inthe 12 position.
0'cl0ck 0n thec0mmand, "Switch."
jump
:-eplayers about fourinches offthe ground,
keep theirfeetspread andthen
:,,rist theirhips s0thattheyaretacing intheoppositedirection.Uponlanding0n
:-eground, theplayers should againbestladdlinga yardline,facingawayfromthe
:-.ach, thistimeatthe6 o'clock position. 0nthenextcommand, "Switch,"the
: ayers againjump, twisttheirhipsandland theyard
straddling lineintheopposite
: reclion. Each timethe playersjump, thejump shouldbeawayiromthecoach. The
:r ll should becontinued untiltheplayers have made sixchange ofdirections.At
ihat time,the players
shouldreturnto thepointwherethey staltedand repeatthedrill.

Points:
Caachinq

should
Thecoach hisplayers
require good
tomaintain andcontinue
balance to
theyardlineeach
straddle withtheground.
incontact
timetheirfeetcome

Asplayers theirperformance,
improve canincrease
thecoach (i.e.,
thecadence
ofthe"Switch"
frequency) command.

(o)
 DRI[[#3:RUNANDTWIST

waffn-up:
)bjective:Io roincrease
hipflexibility.

Equipnent Needed: Nane.

Descption: Thecoachhastheplayers f0rmthreetofivelines.Theplayersface

thecoach, while
keeping
twotothree yards fromeach 0ther.
0nthecommand,
"G0,"theplayers
inonelinestartbackpedalingandtwisting asfastas
theirhips
theycan.At thecommand, "Becovef,"
theplayefsst0pandreturn totheirstarting
position. theyarerecovering,
While thecoach givesthecommand, "G0,"tothenext
line0f piayers
andcontinuesinlikemanner,
untileach line
hasdone the atleast
drill
fourtimes.Players
ineachlineshouldback-pedal 20yards
at least the
before
coach asksthemtorecover.

CoachingPoints:

Thecoach theplayers
require
sh0uld andtwisttheir
to back-pedal hipsata
modefate
speedt0startthedrill.0ncetheplayers
havewarmed-up,they
increase
should andhiptwisting
theirrunning speed.

Theplayers
sh0uld recovering
runwhen position
to thestarting inorder
to
thewarm-up
acce4tuate benefits
0fIhedriil.

FRffiffi
l2
 T WIST EB
D R l t t# 4 :T 0 RS0 /HlP

:: i::,; -: warm'up
theplayer's hipsandlegs.
tors0,

::-:,-:-: None
"'"eded
-:-'--'--:r. Thec0ach hasthedefensive backs folmtwolines facing each otheI,
:: -: :.:--s ength distancebetween piayers. Thedistance between lines should
:i:::- :3 '4y ardsT0s tartthe dri l l ,0 p
n la
e y e
a r
s s u m ae
d s
e f e n ssiv
t a
e n cael o n e
andinthemiddle
.' : :- :-: iwolines between thetwolines. 0nthecoachs
::r--.-: "G0,"
theDlayerrunsbackward between the lineswhile twisting his
-:-::::'3ci tatel00king alternately over hisright andthen hisleft shouldel in
: ::- :: <eep intoone0fthelines.
fromrunning When heisabout half-way d0wn
--r -:s,thenextplaver inlinesh0uld assume thestalting posjti0n. Thecoach
:':, : startthenextplayer assoon astheother player reaches theend0fthe
-:, :ie players inthelines
standing shouldcheerand clapandpush theplay€r
-,-- 'j thedrillbackt0thecentel if he runs int0 one 0f the lines.

-:::^'ngPaints:
-hecoach require
should backs
thedefensive theirspeed
toincrease running
:hedrillastheybecome
more a performing
proficient thedrill.

Thedefensive twisttheir
should
backs andhips
torso astheyrun
continually
thedrillinorder themaximum
toobtain benefit
warm-up fromthedrill

,^(o
o o
o o
o o
o o
o o
 DBlt[ #5: HIGH
CH0PS

1bjective; a pre'practice
fo Woyide warm,up;to
enhance
footandlateral
0uickness.

Equipnent
Need
ed:A f oatball.

Descripti1n: fhe coachhasallof thedefensive backsforrnthreelines,double-arms

distance apart,
facinghim.Thecoach hoids
thef0otballoutinfront0fhim.The
drillbegins when thec0achslaps theball,which isasignaltothefirstplayerin
each linet0jumpforward andtakeupag00d defensjve
stance. When thecoach
slaps theballtwice, thethree playersstarttoruninplace,lifting
theirlegsashigh
aspossible andpumping theirarms vigor0usly.Thecoach thenstarts tomove the
football tohisrightandt0hisleft-sl0wly atfirst,thenincreasinghisspeedasthe
drillprogresses.Theplayers respond tothemovement oftheballbyshuffling
Iaterally,astheycontinuet0 pump their
arms andlegs.Thecoach sh0uldcontinue
thedrillforabout 15- 20seconds, thenslapthef00tballthree times. Thecoach
thenp0ints theballinthedirectionhewants theplayerst0 break.Thecoach then
slaps theballonetirne,which isa signalt0
thenextthree playersinlinetojumpout.

Coachina
Points:

Thecoach
should theplayers
require t0keeplifting
theirlegsashigh
as
p0ssible
while t0pump
continuing theirarms.

Astheplayers
warm-up,
thec0ach canincfease
thespeed atwhich
hem0ves
theplayers
latera
ly,aswellasthedurati0n
ofthedrill.

<-- 1f,------>

r) o o
{) o o
o o o

wmffi
t4
 DBltt #6: HIGHKNEE
ROPES

j: ectlye: prior
Towarm-up toafullpractice;to
evaluate
andenhance
agility
and
:- a (n e s s .

Needed:
::::ipnent High
knee
ropes.

::scriptian:
Anumbet of drillsexistwhichinvolve
useofhighknee ropes.
Among
:-€€xamplesofsome thehigh kneeropedrills
arethef0llowing: theplayers
require
:: r!nthrough
bystepping ineach openingorevery otheropening;cross-over
using
:,:ry opening
oreveryother opening; h0pstraddleeveryopening
oreveryother
::ening;high
chopssideways usingbothfeetevery 0pening thisacti0n
{start from
:r1sdeofther0pes);useonlythediagonals;perform laterals
down andback;etc.
-re coachshouldplanasequence ofdifferentmethods ofgoing
throughthehigh
(.eer0pesf0reachsessi0n 0ntheequipment.

Points:
:oaching

Thecoach
canusethehighknee ropes inpractice,
frequently butheshould
change
thesequenceofthedrilleach
timeinorder
toaddvariety
t0thedrill.
This willenhance
approach thepossibility
0fimproving
theplayers'levelof
quickness
andagility.

These
various canbeused
drills bythecoachasa diagnostic
toolt0determine
players
which possessanappropriate
level andquickness
0fagility t0play
defensive
back.

1o
o
o
ffiffi
t5
 DRI[[#7:THEBU[[ llrlTHER|NG

0bjective:
Io wam-up theplayers' andjoints;
muscles players,
to increase
prior
enthusiasm toa gameorpractice_

Equipnent Needed: None.

Description:fhe playetsforma circle

aroundoneplayer,
whoisactingasthe"bull"
inthering.Thebullmoves around generating
thensdeofthecircle, enthusiasm
verbally
andbyfeigning attacks.Thebullattacksanyplayer
hedesires( orthe
coachcancontrol thebull's ofa "target"
selection bypointing
t0a player)After
goodsharp pad-to-pad contactismade players,
with3,4different thecoach
assignsa differentplayert0bea "bull".
Thisdfillsho!ld
becontinued
untilall
players
have been inthecenterofthering.

Coaching
Points:

Theattacking
bullshould
n0tbeallowed
t0repeatedly
attack
ortake
advantage
0fanobviously
weaker
opponenl

Thecoachcanhelpdevelop enthusiasm uphisplayers

whilewarming if he
requires properly
thatthisdrillbeexecuted andzealously.

a) oo

ffiM
t6
OUIGKNESS
DRILLS

l
)

7
-
:

t7
 W
#8: TATERAI
DRlLL SHUFFTE

9bjective. Io0tquickness;
Io develop to impr0ve
l0otwork.

Equipnent
Needed.
Nane.

,escrptloni Thecoach hastheplayers formseverallineswrththeirt0es0nthe

yardlines, theplayersabout threeyards between each0ther.0nthecoach's
command, "Bight",
theplayers shuffleto theirrightwhilealternating
placing
their
eft f0ot,thentheirrightfo0ta comfortable distanceinfrontof theyafdline.
Play€rs shouldalways haveonefoot0ntheyafdline,withtheirotherf00tinfront
of thelineasth€VshLrffle lateray.Aftertheyhaveshuffled about 10yards,
the
c0ach "Left,"
c0mmands, whchsigna p
s the ayers t0 reverse
thedirection0f their
sh!ffe. Thep ayers'f00t movements sh0ud sim!latejumping ropeastheyshuffle
downtheyardine

Coaching
Points

Thec0ach sh0uld theplayers

require t0 keepbothfeetm0ving
whileshuffling
laterally
asth€ywo!ldwhenskipp
ngrope.

Astheplayers devel0p
theirskillsinthisdrill,thecoachshould require
the
p ayers t0 speed-up
theirshufflingm0vements inorder
to f!rtherenhance
their
levelof footquickness.

, y.ls.

R R
L R

W
l8
 DRlt[ #9r BACK-PEDAt
ANDM0VE

quickness
i.r;::,,e Todevelop inchanging fromtheback-pedal;t0
directions
ingoing
::,: :: aggressiveness fottheball.

: : - :- 2ntNeeded:
A loolball.

-r;,-'rtira Thecoach hasthree defensive backs ata timeassume a detensive

::::1 ., arrns apart,
di s tanc e fac i ng hi mT. h e c 0 a c h t h e n h o ld s a f o o t b a lla b o v e h i s
-::: .,rith
bothhands. When thecoach slaps theball, theplayers startt0back-
:::? afdattempt t0 reachfull
speed as quickly as possible. After theplayers
':.:'iu speed back-pedaling,
thec0ach moves thefootball t0indicate inwhich
tl : -::r ontheplayersshouldmove next.l\4oving thefootball straight back indicates
rc '-: : ayerssh0uldmove directlyforward;moving the football directlyleftorright
-:3rs theplayers shouldbreak ata ninety degree angle inthedirecti0n indicated;
:-: nrovingthefootballbackata 45-degree angle mean theplayers sh0uld move
':',,rard
ata 45-degreeangle.Aftereach change 0fdirection, thecoach sh0!ld
-..: theplayers attain
fullspeed, thenslaptheballagain tohave them revert back
:::a ck- pedal i ng.A fterabou t 3 0 s e c o n d s o f t h is d r ill, t h e c o a c h s h 0 u ld th r o w th e
': rballtoward thecenterofthethree players. Allthree players should g0forthe
:: Atthatpoint, thenextthree defensive back inlineshould getsettoengage in
:- ? dr il

ir
Points:
::achina

Thecoachshould theplayers
require toattain
fullspeed
while
theyareback-
pedaling
in0rder quickness
t0devel0p inchanging
directi0ns
att0pspeed.

Thecoachshould theplayers
require t0attain asquickly
t0pspeed asp0ssible
aftereach
change topractice
indirection inalldirections.
accelerating

t
.-o-- o o
I
oo o
o o o
ffi
t9
 ANDTWIST0UT
DRILt#10:BACK-PEDAI

inchanging
quickness
Todevel0p whileback'
ortwisting
directions
0brectlve. in
assressiveness
t0develop
t;n;oirecr;on:
iJiliiisi. il;tiiirii inaitiaisht
fortheball.
going

t Needed:A toorball
Equipnen

defensive,backs
hasthtee
Thecoach adefensive,
ata timeassume
Desctptloa

*rnii#ru; rlrl[ii1i,1ifi*l
i;:::mu*"l;'r aspossib
..rti.iu,nq,o toptpredasso0n

:il*;:',',iL'#:1*:;lt'*l;ti tun
:::H#[[lfl
:,":t*i:if ftl"lJ"
stri,Xllf;,;?llilT
ir,'lrJ*i,i.* .t,t.irbackledar and
theballtoeither siderneansthe "::
players
sh li',[1Til;l-*
eisht
or vards
runseven straisht tht
;;;.ili i; ih;;";rh.Aitertheplavers 1!ui1
0ttne
thecenter
iirciitt ili.tt.to. "ball",
and thefootballtoward
ihrow
thene)(l
barl simultaneousry'
l'rn andruniorthe
i;; oir;;" Theplayers shoJld
inthedrilr'
getsetto pa'ricioate
,lrrt irrit'i t rtt tnbLld

CaachingPoints:
quickly
to twist0ut0f theirback'pedalas
. theplayers
[equire
sh0uld
Thec0ach
asPossible

.- theplayers
require lineafterthey
ina stlaight
I0 accelerate
should
Thecoach
asso'nas
topspeed
toieach p'ssible
il;r;ri;r ffi t:.;k'iedal

@
o a) o

lr4 y.t .l

20
 W

DRI[[#11:BACK-PEDAL
ANDStIDE
-- :,-ri,,e. quickness
Todevelop inchanging
directions
and
sliding
side
t0side;
to
. . : : p a g g re ssi ve n egssi
0 i nng fo rthe
ball.

. -,.nent Needed:Afootball.

-. .,-'ptlOnThecoach
hasfourdefensive
backs
at a timeassurne
a l0wback-pedal
: ,: : on,double-arms distanceapart, facinghim Thecoach thenholds a f00tbali
.
. s head. Thecoach startstheplayers back-pedaling byslappingtheball.
:':.' theplayers back-pedalaboutfouryards, thecoach moves theballeither to
. ' :ht 0rt0 theleftandtheplayers slide{notcrossover)in thatdirecti0n.
After
- : : ayers slidetwoorthreeyards, thecoach slaps theballagain, indicating
that
- : :ayers should againback-pedal. Thecoach should alternate
leftandright
, ::s to keeptheplayers infrontof him.Afterabout 30sec0nds of thedrill,the
:::ch should throwthefootballtoward thecenter 0f thepayefs. Theplayers
:-:" d a I gof0rtheball.Thenextfourplayers inlinesh0ud getready forthedrill
: rmping 0utinfront0f thecoach andassumi0g thel0wback-pedal p0sition.

...hinoPoints:

fhecoachsh0uld theplayers
require t0push0ffeach
timetheychange
d rections corners)afd
{square acceerate
asq!ickly
aspossible.

Tir€
coachshould thep ayers
require tostayl0wandshufflewhile
moving.The
ioachshou\d nol\lsrng
emphasize a cross-o\rer
stepdur\ng
ihes\de\Nards
s\de.

ffiffi
2l
 SHUFFTE
#12:TATEBAL
DRILL

T0develop
0biectlvej quickness
inmoving while
laterally theshoulders
keeping
ratherlhan
andshuffling
iqiaiewitntnetineoiicrimmage thecross-over
using
while sidewards;
sliding coordinati0n
hand-eye
t0improve

A.lootball.
Needed:
Equipnent

DescrilLiln: 1\e caacl \astw0plaYers {AandB)stafding 0na lh€'fiveyards.

rr.;i i 'r , it r ' r t lp L v t t , c . s t a n d s n e x t t o pTla
n et le
c or A
a c h h - o l d sa .to o tb a l
f;0nt0fhimatdstarts player CslidngfromplaYer A to plaYer B bYslapprnq Ine
ballWnen Draver Cqetst0theplayer B,hetagshiselbow andthenslrdes I0 back
o.aver A,taqshiseloow andso0n Alter30seconds oi thednll'thecoacn lnrows
i.r'r.rtitf rt*tto ,nt srid;ng prayer, whotrieslocatch it He tnen throws theball
back tothecoach, andtheplayers switch positions Thecoach canhave sev€ral
time ln addition he can alternate which
otor^rl ,f']ittt.i"q,nisdrillatthesame plaYers
theballt0when hewants tostopthedrill10al0w to
Irorphetnrows
change p0slt|ons.

CoachingPoints:

. Thecoachshould theplayers
require t0keep theilshoulders withthe
square
andt0relrain
theirslide
throughout
lineofscrimmage thecross-over
fromusing
itepwhen (the
sidewlrds useofthelateral
sliding shuffle be
should
emphasized).

. Thecoach theplayers
thedistance
canincrease aretequired ineach
to slide
aftertheybecome
direction withthisdfill
c0mfortable

22
 D R t[[#13R0
: p EJ UM p I NG

-::ctllerT0improve
footquickness;to
enhance
stamina.

-:, pnentNeeded:
Jrmprcpes.

jjrfiptlbriThecoach shouldstarthisteamj!mping rope daily, having hisplayers

" ! usingtwofeetata timefor10tot5minutes at; timeforihefirsimonth.' Tte
: :,erssh0Ltld beallowed torestasneeded. D!ring thesecond m0nth, theplayers
, -:ird berequiredt0jump rope ononelegforoneminute, restfor20seconds, ihen
:: eatthesequence using theotherleg.Thedrillshould becontjnued for j5
^.rLltes. At thestartofthethird month, theplayers should berequjred toalternate
(s k i ppi ng).
::s fo re ac hj ump Thepl a y e r s s h o u ld t r y t o s k ip r o p e f o r 1 5 m in r t e sn o n -
:::0,maktng asfewmistakes aspossible.0nce theplayers have developed their
,( s atrope Iumping/skipping.thelength 0fthedrillcanbeincreased t0atleast20
- ru te s .

:,.aching
Points:

. Thecoach should notexpectplayers

toprogress
quickly
withthjsdrili.Bope
jurnping
isa skillthattakes
timeforsomeplayers
tomaster.Thepotentiai
effectonf00tquickness andbalance,however,
canmaketheeffoninvojved
worthwhile.

Thisdrillisaerobically
demanding.Asa result,
coaches
should
all0wtheir
players
t0 rest (asneeded)
periodically whiietheydevei0D
theiraer0bic
y and'ooe
caoacir j,mp;19skilts

(c io ir)'
 lN CADENCE
TURNS
DRlt[ #14:0UARTEB
t0 the
turnsinresponse
whileexecuting
Io inpro\elootquickness
Ibiective:
signals
calling
qu;rterback

Needed:None
Equipnent

,il:;"1,'iJ:.ilH;iJililj,X j#;i::
iii:lT,t::iii i,f
3:i:lijfl defensive
""li"'
plavers
immediatilv asood
assume
ii'Jilliriitiil;i.i',lrtethree the the
calls"'Hke"'
coach
coachWhen
,.riii"t. t..pl.gf.t.nd facingthe , .-
j:rifl
il.;il -5Hr[:im*1'm':U*:iil;] ry:i,"llil1
l;:;;;;i;;;;;siil;.i*l:t
:c.. l:'?:i',',t'o',,.i:,.|j ffii,:T:,i,1T
at a
for1520seconds
thesesignals
call|nq "
ff
Iiffl :;*:il::i;','*:tl;;n."ni:['jHlililil
positionsstartthedrill
to

CaachingPoints:
t0th€calls
listening donot
sothattheplayers
. Thecoach emphasize
sh0uld
make oIlose
movements
anvfalse tnellpolse

tulning
I0execute ina precise
movements
. should
Thecoach theplayels
require
;;;;;;l,hih,r,hourders iquaeatailt ""
canI
at thisdrillthec0acn
proficient f iffJffJI:J:?,li,,"il:
+
DBIIL#15:OUICK
ANDCHOPPY
-: Cevelop
footquickness
whileexecuting
thecr0ss-over
step.

: ,tededNone.

- Th€coach hasthreeplayers
at a timetakepositi0ns
along
thesideline
- :d e 0f thefield,double-arms
distance apart.0nthecoach's
:^: p ayers
shouldstartrunningforward ina straight ifewhile executing
:. ?rstepasrapidly a possible.
The players shou d runinthismanner from
: io thefrrsthash
mark, thencutleft0rright and
gl tr dti return
u tE tul I to
tu the sident
U testue ife.
: -'eep ayerscantaketh€irstartingp0siti0ns assoon asthefirstthree
::'t runfrng
andcansta|tthedrillwhen the players infrontofthem afe
:r ihehasmark
h .

: shou thep ayers

ldrequire t0 rLtn
ina straight
linewhileexecuting
the
-:h step.Thelmportance
.:: r\,er g0odb0dybalance
of maintaining should
be
' : lla0.

: : ! ayersdevel0p
theirskillsinthisdrill,thecoach
should
requlre
the
r.:'s t0 execute
m0Tecross-over stepsandrunfaster.

ffiffi
25
 DBILL#'16: THEC0NE
AR0UND

footquickness
Toimplove
oblectlvei

Etghlcones.
Needed:
Equipnent

Thecoach
oescr,Orlonr hasthedefensive backs formtwolinessimilar to a relay
race.iourcones-with twoyalds betweeneach cone-should beplaced fiveyatds
inffontofeach line.0nthecoach's command,thefirstplayer ineachIinesprints
toward thecones. When hegets t0 eachcone'he the
circles cone, usingveryshort'
choppy thencontinueJto
steps, thenextconeAftercircling the cone,
last the
olaver'baci-pedalsalongtheside 0fthec0nes towhere thenext playerinlineis
waunq.Thenext praye;
startst0 rLn
thedrillwhel tneplayer ahead 0[h mpasses
thest;rtp0.nt c0ntinue
lorthedrill.ThedrirlshoJld untilallplaYershave had a
chance once.
torunit at least Competitionbetween thegr0ups intheformofrelay
racescanaddvariety tothisdlill

CoachingPoints:

. theplayers
require
should
Thecoach thecones
tocircle poised
ina balanced'
raPid
using
manner, stePS.
chopP\i

. thecoach
improves,
0fconditioning
Asthe0lavers'Ievel requrre
could each
during
times
io runthedrillmultiple
player each session
drill

28
- {
ffi

D R l t [# 1 7A: R0 UND
T HEBAG

f00tquickness
. : ,'e Toimprove andagility.

16-20
:^e.t Needed: stand'Lrp dummies
blocking

'. rtrcn:Thec0ach hasthedefensive backs formtwo inessimllarto a relay

fe yards infront of each line,
Bl0 bl0ckingdummies areplacedoneyard
-': -0nthec0ach's c0mmand, thef rstp ayerineachlinesprjntstQward the
- ?s,thenweaves through themasquickly asp0ssible. Wheneachplayer gets
,- :.e astdummy, he sho!ld back-pedalalongsidethe row of blocking
d!mmies
: :! thestarting p0sition. Thenextplayer startst0 runthedrillwhentheplayer
ls ::: ri h m backpedals pastthestartpoint.Thedrillshould continueuntia I
.:-shavehada chance to runit at leastonce.Thecoach couldaddc0mpetition
y ki ni tga re l a ra
: - : d ri l l b ma y ce .

- t9Paints

--e coach should

emphasize 0l planting
theimportance a fo0tandpushing
off
- thenewdifectionwhenthep ayers
afeweaving
throughthebl0cking
r i mmi e s.

ls theplayer's irnproves,
conditi0ning thecoachc0uld eachplayer
require t0 run
:re drl multip
e timesdLrring
thedrillsessi0n.

I -
-

- -
-

- -

- -

ffi
27
 w
: HEJUGGT ER
DRlt[# 1 8 T

andtiminQ;
quickness handeye
to enhance
theplayet's
Toimprove
oblettive: lateral
coordlnation.

EquipnentNeeded:Iwo lootballs

r eachnardar0a playel
startstl"isd'i'lwithd f0otball
coach
Desc!tpiln:Ine
ippo,i. ol23Ydrds
nl'0,, o',,unce i[:.oif.,,..
thedefensive
toward "T,'::lJ:::i:lJ,t,',t'#
backTheplayer
catc
throws ballt0theplayer'
theother hm
making
lmmediately
irrrn. in, ,*rn ,r,ltrr
This
direition isrepeated
sequence the
until coach
r.* i.,rit"lult,nttpposite
orthedefensive backdr0psthefo0tball'

Paints:
Coaching

. backmustwatch eyes
thecoach's andmust
andthefootball
Thedefensive
bothhands
theballusing
catch

should
Thec0ach 0f pace"
usethisdrillasa "change drill'
MOVEMENT
DRILLS

29
 T0THEBALt
ANDREACTI0N
DRltt#19:BAGK-PEDALING

,'Jif'?,.1,:i:lff
.,?liffi
i,'/.ffi':",.LT;ill[Hili iJ:ilfil'f''
[ilIf,'J:':::
ball.

ent Needed: A lootball

Esuiom

has
coach
Description:Ihe t'rt
defeT*
f0ur
::ffi*jtX1:l',r1T;iT:tn
"G0," p,avers
the
*:,ffi$lll:1,?';.:ililill,.Slilif,';;"and, to
start
apassAfter
asainst theplavers for'
back-pedal
il;if;;.I;;;;; d;iendins
ffii#ft ;;.,1'^rrb.'lll.'l;.r;gi1i
;;;; thenreacr :i,fiifi::ll'1if,?il|',
#li'ff'J
players
four
All
0lavers. sh0uld
ff#,[1'$::
,*ru*iil*nlls:uru:H
ilifli:fl
nextfoutdefensive
PlaYers

CaachingPoints:

require proper
t0mainta;n
hlsplayels s0astokeep
alignment
. Thecoach should
in"it.u.1onr'it a i't times thevarebackpedal'ng'
while

players berequired
should Iolhe
lo react
. When tnecoachrhr0wsthefootball
qrnlfVut tno,gLtheyweretrying thepass
tointercept
Ouli

o t, o o

v v

30
_5 ffi

DRI[L#20:KEEPt0W

. : .jl/ye Todevel0p p ayer's

thedefensive ability
t0 keep
loWwithknees
bent
. shuffling
to cover
thereceiver.

- : : n e n t Ne e d e d :N a n e

. , --',ptiofl Thec0ach hasthedefensive backs spread 0utinseveral

colufl]ns,
: -. : armslength apart, facinghim.Theplayers sh0uld ass!me a bent-knee,
. :,:a defensive stance withonefootcomfortably infrontof the0thef(i.e.,
a
0 n).th eco a ch scomm"G0,"
, , 1 : r e dsta n ce and,theplayefs sh0uldpush0ff with
. iick f00tandc0ntinuing t0 flrove
backward, alterfatelydragtheirleftf00t,
. iheirrightf00t( shuffling)f0r about 10yards.0r thecoach'scommand,
:::-,]!er," theplayers should sprintto thespotwhere theystartedandassurne the
. elens vepositron lo sLar i I
t t\e d aga n.

::ringP0ints;

-hecoach should thattheplayers

emphasize need
t0 keepl0wwhilemOving,
.,.lh theifkfeesbent,andusetheshuffle
t0 cOver
thereceiver

;:e playersshoLrld
increase thespeed
at whichtheyshuffle
asth€ybec0me
:.mfortable withthedrill.0ncehehasperfectedtheshuffle,
a defensive
back
shouldbeableto shufflebackward asfastashecanback-pedal, thereby
.idingt0 hisabillty
to employ man-to-man
coveragetechniques.

@
.) q q
\_4 o q
q q O

ffiffiffi
3l
 DBlt[#21:WAVE

playet's
thedefensive
Todevelop facingdirections
abilityto change
obl?cflvej
(outside back-pedaling
0rinside)while

Needed:None
Equipment

Thec0ach hasthreedefensive backs assume each

stance'
a defensive
Desctpflont
the
a'rdfacing coach0n I\e coachs
Iir-i,no.op,.nt tt. lile{ie 45-50-a51,
"G0,'
r0 mn and: the p
Inlee ayer star
s t0
t 0ack- theIne l nec 0€c n
peddld0wn
l0lheleftort0 l'leIiglt lo'lavethep dversswngone0TInelr
tl'enpoinLS
either
pnsacrossthe.rbodvsoIhattneyare raclng theoirecti0n poinlingTnecoach
hels
ponrs
r5"en inneopposi':':',:ti9,ihl:ll:i,';:11J,1iff
fliil:[:fili:',::?;
tace
t0 agaln
onnosite -nit theirbodY
le0across
lo back-pedal their
andmaintain
ii'.r.'r,tri ollr,n.ptiyt'stt'-ou'd,onr'nut
o.irrJt..qfititf,.ptr1,ers
have forabout
back-pedaled 15yards'thecoach
got0theend0f theline' the
Simultaneously'
iort.nO,."C"*ri," andtheplayers
nextthleedefensive takeupp0sitrons
backs facingthecoach' tobegin drill
ready the

Paints:
Coaching

. should thedefensive
require toback-pedal
backs line
ina.straight
Thecoach
tin.* much
ttiurionlf'.1lutO aspossible)and theilbalance
maintajn

. morecomf0rtable sh0uld
withthisdrill'thecoach
Astheplayers become
Itaster'
directions
ir,* tt rr,*g. tacing
,uqtita andback-peda
frequently
more

32
 W

II T0enable
O B l t L# 2 2B

defensive
r"'he changing
backs
: R E AK

t0 devel0p
th€ird recti0n
ANDCHUBN

y moving
thehabitof continual
of movement.
I j."l,Veeded
None.

-:,./l Thecoach sh0uld

havethreedefenstve backsassume defensive
r'r facing him,about doube-arm distance apart.0nthecoach's command,
. r l' ep ayprhave
- 0 d v ps std tr l 0 b a L \-Oe dAa'ter s noveo aoout' ivo
: -e coach commands, "Break,'
andtheplayers breakat a 45-degree ange in
: .,:t 0r thec0ach isp0intlng.
Afterrunning aboutfiveyards intheirnew
' :- thecoach commards, "Fecover,"whichsignals theplayers to chrrntheir
- : changing directi0nsto runbackas quickly aspossible directlyt0 where
: : : t e dt h ed rl l .

-il Paints:

: coachsh0ud emphasize
thatdefensive
backsmustdevelop
theabillty
t0
-:.gedirecti0ns planting
with0ut theirfeet.
0rstopping

, iheplayersbec0memore c0rnfortable
withth s drill,thec0ach
sh0uld
. r-ifethattheyacceerateaftereachchange
of directi0n.

@
o o

ffiFffiffi
33
 ANDCHURN
#23:BAGK
DBILL

obl ec l iy e ] T o e n a Dle d e le n s iv e Da c k s t o o e v e | 0 p tn e h a b l to fco

wnite
irriir-teer ct'anging directi0n
their ol movement

ipnent Needed: Nor'e.

Equ

fl?liiiil;JJ,1li,,lilJl?iT:lffJ:li::ltm
have
ptayers gone
i'i'*'i!,.:!i:
10yards.
ab0ur 11'"^
th,e_coa-c
,,rrrlr'rii,ii, i.rr prdal. the
Alter

iffinT,;H'J.',,.:Titrul;:i:lr';l:;;
CoachingPoints:
to develop
need
backs t0
the'abilitY
should
Thec0ach thatdefensive
emphasize
0ftheilfeet'
themovement
orstoppins
ri5rgJi;ii..r;iih.ut planting

Astheprayers m0re
oecome thj;;IlL'l:;fi:ii::i0,.'r'
comtorrabre-wth
afterthecomn
thattheyaccelerate
require
assoonastheycan'
position
starting

34
 W

D R l t t# 2 4T: URN
ANDG0

.: l0 devel0p of defensive
theability t0 switchfr0mback-pedaling
backs t0
.-: e ne asp
0 n
r t.

.-i Needed
None.

:: rr Thecoach hasthreedefensivebacksat a tirneassume defensive

-: double-arm distanceapart,facing
hirn.0nthecoach's command, "G0,"
. .is startt0 back-pedal.
Thecoach thencommands either,"Left," "Right,
"
,15Rlght,"0r"Straight
Ahead'. Afterheafing thecommand, theplayers
,: rie y twistoutof back-pedaling,
beginspriftingi0thedirecti0n 0f the
.-l !iven,andthenaccelerate forab0!tfiveyards. Thethreeplayers then
:. !1/hl e thenextthreeplayersassume defensive p0siti0ns t0 startthedrill.
. -':::n should varyhls
command indrcating
thedirecti0n 0f the sprintsothatal
, : qetto experience moving ina directions.
-
. ' ':gPaints:

- : coach should t0 tw st 0utof theirbackpedaingand

theplayers
require
.. t.h int0a fofward asqucklyaspossrb
sprint e.

: i thep ayers more

become comfortable
withthisdri , theyshould
beableto
:::e eratet0their during
t0pspeed theforward
sprint.

ffi
35
 DRI[t #25:T-STEP

(break
directions
theabilityto change the
ontheball)usinq
Todevelop
0blectlve;
technlque.
T-step

ed:A loorball
Need
Equipnent

ffi:J'i'ilS
ffi:"1,T::11&r:n
,ll?::i'J
3:iiliifi ,
i#;iH:'ft'ljf
:l'lu::i:iiili.il;il':'l'ilJ
*:lmmyii.T,t(*!lltr:l
lr#1:n;fxfl inrnll::*:m'HJ
BilJ,;jl H:
[:l?'il;';il
Jj,I;T
null,rl*li:ml;:nf ill;'J?..'1;
n:::*l"l',llJl#xlffi
lufi,li*1ru;ln:t'if
'|",'ff
il:."'.ff ""
i;:Tli,.''
,li[:1f
CoachingPoints:
'
the"T-step
canperfect
. thatnotallplayers
temember
should
Thecoach
technlque.
"T"
.- Thec0ach emphasize
sh0uld bringing thefootthatwasthet0p0f the over
thearms
lnaddition'
i"tt,'ittln tt'' newdirecti'n
i##;i;;il.ilo accentuatethe
l.o tittr'i"s Jtru u. used ( ie , c0ordinated
movement)t0
efforttodrive forward.

xx
 W
DRlll *26:DIAG0NAt
BACK-PEDAL

iiiye.T0impr0ve f00twork 0nturns;t0

develop
theability
t0 maintajn
speed
: ' ! n f i n go na d i a g o n a l .

' nentNeeded.
Alaolball.

. 'it/ir,ljThe
c0achhasthedefensivebacks
f0rmthreelinesandtake!p go0d
-.
. !e p0siti0rs theyardlinesfiveyards
whilestraddling apanAllplayers
- r .e Jacingthec0achwh0ison thesideline.
When the c0ach raises
the
:: to sh0wpass, a players
shouldgetsett0 reactt0 theball.Thec0ach
. iovestheballlaterally, t0 theplayers
whchisa slgnal t0 back-pedal
ona
:.1'eeangle
lnthedirection Aftertheplayers
theballmoves. backpedalabout
yards,
: sevef thecoach
sh0uldmovetheba inthe0ther
direction.
The
'i sh0uldagain
reactt0 thernovement 0f theballbypiv0tlng andback-
-; ona 45-degree
ange inthedirecti0n theball m0ved.tjltimately,
thecoach
: ravethepla\/ers
back-pedal f0uftimesineachdirecti0n.Heshould then
. :fe balltoward
thecenter of theplayers.TheplayersshOuld reactt0 theball
::i:mptto intercept
itl andthensprnt t0 thesideine.

'' iqPoints:

ccach should theplayers

require to execute pivotf0reachchange
a definite
'" l,0r. theraccelerara
ir lhenewd,rect,0r

, i rheplayers
developtheifskillat thisdrill,thecoachshould
require
the
:,ersto increase
theirspeed bothwhenback'peda ingandduring
thepivots
-entheychange directions.

-5 yds.-

3t
 EAGTES
DRltt #27:0UARTER

improve
oblectiverTo while
f0otspeed movements
facing
executing

pn ent Needed: A.IooIball

Equi

ata t meiakeupgood
Ih'eeplavers defersive p0sltl0n-s
Desruption:llecoachnas
nm lhecoacn holds thelo0lballinfroft0l hrm
i"-oiJ.'tt l,ttr"t.part fac,rg back^tohrs
i. .[:,lii pi.y.,t.rlt il^ermoveirheballouicllvtooneside€nd.then
0thers de thPn t0lhefrolt agarn lne
iLni'r-. *.tnt. rr'.rquickly 10Il^e
turns
otau.,i ter"trothebaI movement
rf,outo by executing lettandr'ght0uarteJ
-hen,
lhenext l lree players
should JJmpoul
Liiut t.t,ottt toveslheball
", takeupgood
ind defensive p0siti0ns-preparedtoperform thedrill

CoachingPoints:

. Thecoach shouldfequiretheplayers theilfeet'tokeep

t0shuffle thelt
rr,riiit" tqrtit good
tt mainiain astheyexecute leftand
balance the
rightquarter "ti
turns.

. Asthe0lavers devel0p thecoach

theirskillatthisdrill, thespeed
canincrease
Also,
,irnicl;il,*ttrt ttt.tootball. astheplayers 0fconditioning
level
i.piouts, oftheduration
ftngtl,
tf',e 0fthisdrillcanbeincreased

(o (o

Er EI.
o
(o
0

38
 ffi

DRI[[#28:CR0SSING
THEtlNE

. -,r mprove andfootquickness.

agiity,hipflexibility,

. : \'eeded:None.

' r. Thecoach
hastheplayers line,
forrna single withthefirstplayer's
toes
. I 'e 0nthecoach'scommand,thefirstplayerstartsto move laterally
'-: re bystepping forward
diag0nally inffont0f thelinewithhislead1eg,
,::ra y backward back
{cross-step)in ofthelinewithhistrailleg.Assoon
',: p ayer
movesfiveyards
down thenextplayer
theline, sh0uld startthe
I :0 0n.Theplayers pefform
sh0uld thedrillfromhashmark to hashmark.

-aPaints:

:0achsh0uld remindtheplayers thatthisdrillisdesignedto devel0phip

: liryasweilasagilityandfootspeed. 0f thisdrillisnotto
Ihe obj.ective
. r. player's
lateraimovementtechnique ilat€ralmovesaredoneusing the
'': ''r0ta cr0ss-stepl.

inthisdrill,thecoach
theirskills
develop
:re 0lavers require
should themto
of movement
:-:asetheirspeed and takeshort, choppY
steps

33
 At{OBREAKING AT45 DEGREES
DBILL#29;BACK-PEDAtlllc
reaclto
backwards'
backt0 move
the
improve ot
ability adefensive
obiectlveiTo
th; footballand 11
intercept

A football
Needed
fqulpmenl

fifli:lJ"
t';li:llHif,
fil4l:;t;,
ilil''.*:;j'''],'*,iiJffi;'lli;:
tr'i h*illt-l,t1',
,ut.lii.tii* 'i

+iill:l'*[T
'ollh
i{}:lffi
nril';ili,*i$*:f '
:T:iJ'ii"".'
:il?1lfi
l;:l:ll':'li'.fi
idffi,',','.',.;.'lffirll,ll',y,'.ll:
;:il[:ru;i
::'rruni
Hililifr
t *:'iil'o:l
*r;:r
rln##d*:,"
:ffi
'l;:r:1,t3
ii il.','";l :."^
li:i'i;'
Poir'ts:
Coaching

' li:,lfJ:;;[T i::::'^

iT.l:liff;ni'Jl;i':liilf
inili],ri,T:
qulcKlY
dlrections
andchanging

'll'Jl?H[i::i1[:f :ffii'lifi::'til8]l?
iJi,'I::iTfi
J:l:lf
:fr
thecoach

@
40
 ffi

DRItL#30:BACK-PEDAIING
ANDBREAKING
AT90 DEGREES

. i i0 mprove of a defensive
theability backt0 move
laterally.
reactto the
, :-d ntercept
it.

- . -r A football.
'Veeded

: ,-NThecoach facesonepLayer at a time,whoispositioned approximately

- :; eway. Thecoach startsthedrillbycornmandlng, "Set."Whentheplayer
c0mmands, "G0." Thep ayerreacts by
.,:: defensive stance,
thecoach
: : ':ct y backwards.Theplayer keeps hiseyesonboththecoach andthe
: , .llrerl-2sec0nds, thecoach moves thef0otballt0 theright0r left.The
. ::cts immediate y bymovlng inthesame directionasthef00tball at a
. - :e angle lateralLy.
Thecoach throws thefootballinthe generaldirection 0f
:.-,-s veplayer. Theplayerintercepts thef00tballandreturrs thefootball t0
::. byrunning backandhanding it to him.{[,4any
teams usea team"callword"
, r -qNG0'to lettheirteammates knowthattheballhasbeen lntercepted.
requires t0 ye| "BlNG0"
theplayer ashereturns thebaI to thecoach).

' i P a i n ts:

- : ! ayershould quickly
startmoving whenthecoach
backwards c0mmands
'
: r Stayinglowwhilebackpedaling,
thep ayer maintain
sh0uld eyecontact
. :h thecoach
andchange quickly
directions

--: ! ayersh0ud intercept possible

theba at thehighest yell"BlNG0"
p0int,
andthensprint
thec0achdeslres)
:' /"hateverc0deword thefootballbackt0
' ' : co a ch .

ffiffi
4l
 ANDG0
DRlt[# 31:TURltl

oi a defensive
theability
improve turnandrun'
backt0back-pedal'
oblectiveiTo
andintercept
reactto thet0otball lt

A loorball-
Needed:
EouiDment

?ff ifftl #",il#i#';r:"J::

'Jg:ii,:ll1x'ii,liiTffi r1',n1-U
ffi;;il,.;;;,;;;;eeri,*1,10"91;;1 *o
Jl,',n
lii::".'liill
:t;,;lif,
'Go' The
.omnands.
f.1t'jj:^'^:l'fi,I',il:,'ji:::'J^'rTll,',o*,,' praver
teacts
tt'',-'lffi':3:iliiififfi:il'rlff
lffi;;iil;;;;;;;no'p'intlng'
;,r'ouii.i
i'ili;:tr;i:$ifl,:il',lli.li""jJiiili,lffi pru',o
oiir',o,i*,iu.
torward
sprints
football, towardthecoachandretulns
il ffi; il;;;ilt;,he
:itlffi
li:'..i,*ji:if.;:+[,'; ili11l'lT
;ll;n;T,',xsi[il.1]!
:?,:lr
ul,.;',.i -'1'*
i;:ilii::iJ[:
;:l*tj;l#l;lie'1fi :lil"T'
i;;'illiil'fl
CaachingPoints:

''ffP8tilil;il;f
r,i
Hilflil{ iL;
Ihnril*t,x
:t#;J*.Tff
andturnt0sp
withthecoach
contact

' lffiI'i:i"Jfi8s ilfJ;i:fi

il"il;lIii:'JJi:f
lil'-,lx:i!,'ii
bac(to tl'ec0ach
thelo0tball
handinq
lorwaid,
"ffi'.'$f'

42
 0Bl[[ #32:BUNTHELlNE
'r. r- .: T0impfovetheability
0fa defensjve t0pivot
back 190
degrees
whilerunning
' :' Fdctto the[00tbarlardinterceot
r.

:^:/Veeded
A football.

- i rr':: :r Thecoach
faces oneplayer whoispositioned
atatime, approximately 5-j0
; , ...3,/Thecoachstarts thedrillby
commanding,"G0."Theplayer reac tsby
- : -. r rectlybackwards degrees
{180 awayfromthecoach). Thecoach thenmoves
- : r::aI totheleft0rtheright. Theplayerreactsby plantinghisrear foot, dropping
r :,:a i rdus i nghi s arms andh ip s t o t u n B A d e g r e e s in t h e o p p o s it e d ir ecti o n .Afte r
- :::r-ds,whiletheplayercontinuesrunningbackwafds,thecoachmovesthe
: --: Nthe0pp0site Theplayer
direction. reacts
imrnediately byturning hisbody180
::: r,,hrle
continuingt0move straight
backwards.
Thisactionisrepeatedthree
t0
: -:s beforethecoach thegenercldirection
throwsthefootballin of thedefensive
.- -5eplayer intercepts thefootball
andreturnsthefootball
to thecoach by
'l :ackandhanding it tohim.

--epayer should
startwhenthefootball
moves.
Staying
l0wwhile
running
.:'aight
backwards,theplayer
sh0uld
alwaysmaintain
eyecontact
withthecoach
:-achange quickly.
directions

-recoachmust thattheplayer
stress shouid
usehisarms
andhips
tohelphim
'3pid
y turnhisbody180
degrees.

-replayer
sho!ld
inrercept possible
theballatthehighest yell"B|NG0"
point, (0r
,.,hatever
codewordthecoach
desires)and
thensprint
thefootballback
tothe
:oach.

----€\-

i\
O]
t'
?;
v
 BACK
#33:DEFENSIVE
DRILL C0UBSE
0BSTACtE

Todevel0p
oblectlver fo0tw0rkbyreqLir 10peIl0r
backs
'ngdefensive ma serles0I
,
(e.q,backpeddling, iolward
acceleratrng andbackwards' etc
nul0llng' J;
maneuvets
to
Dacks perlorm ol
a sequence wllnln
ma'leuvers
Loassessthe;0ilty 0f delensive
time.
a specific

cones;
Needed:Six
Equipnent twoto fourstopwatches
dummies;
fouIblocking

Theobstacle course issetupaccording lo thelavoui lllustrated intfe

Desclrrtl0,1
o a o rarThesixconesar
n eusedtoesr ablis' ' ltheboL a l b- y arxi0es
nda- l u-0l
Yar 0
lriu.ou ur-ritfOlwobtocking dunmies {one0ntopof tne otner)are stacked'
,i.'rrrii tiitrol^ ttr. oi thetiro 15-vardx 10-Yardareas created bytheplacemenl
byhavnga player slart withh'sheels on-tne llneun
0l-tnec0nesTl'edrillbegins
thefilstplayerto 0etlorm the back
dlill oedals l5 yar0s
thec0ach's c0mmand,
diagonal.hurdles thetwo stacked blocking dummies' and
.rraf.iuft, fot*ttOona
ihenaccelerates forward andhitsthefrontlineHethenrepeats theprocess 1ntne
thedrilloncehe hitsthe front line again
,rmJis-utiO ,lo v.tOareaHefinishes
peda,;ngas lasl aspossibre r0 Ihefi'rishpoinr' 0nLea
ur rrofoi,iooft ,"0'n.ck
pL1,ei ras:i,acneO tneseiond coie.another plavercanstart i5edrill

CoachingPoints:

. (ie never
thef€etchurning
l0wandkeeping planted)
of staying
Theimportance '
beemphasized
should

. to explode
berequired
should m0ti0n
0rfotward
outof a backward
Players

. canbeadded
0f c0flrpetitiveness to thedrillbyhavingtheplayer
Anelement
c0urse
tne0bstac'e aqanslpre0eterm ned.tme
totpiit tn"t tt tb romprete
l 7- 19
- ' 5 7 secs :dv er aqe
,i..iaot ft q .q' r .L=lessthanl5 secs:good -
secs, belowJverage = m0rethan19secs)

r]'-
-^
ir. /tl
,, r1 r' :l
lrl t ,ti /L
; {! rg4' t=
-r ra
t- E 'i
E,l I
l,r r'
lr l l/ t ',rl
REACTION
DRILLS

45
 ANDG0
DRltt #34:REACT

theabilityof adefensive
enhance
0blectlveiTo t0
backto reactto ballmovement;
practice thequarterback
blitzing

A lootball;
Needed:
Equipnent dummies'
0rblocking
twocones

thecoach
drillinvolves
Descflbll0[-The andthreeplayers interior
Bepresenr;ng
twocones
linemen,
offensive dummies)are
{orblocking setupfiveyards
apartona
between
vardlhe.Standinq thecoach
thecones, snapstheballt0anindividual
asa
servinq quarierback.
0nmovement 0f the the
ball, two defenders low
sprint
andhaiOacross andc0nverge
thetineofsclimmage onthequarterbackwhois
positioned yards
six behindthecones

CoachingPoints:

. Thecoach usevarious
sho!ld kinds before
0fcadence theballin0rdef
snapping
t0qetthedefensive
backsusedtoreacting t0the
asopposed
totheball,
"quarterback's"
voice lf necessaly,
inflections. playet
anInlufed
a managel0r
cansnaPtheball.

. Thecoach thedefensive
remind
should filstpri0rity
thattheir
backs ist0key
sixYards.
andsPrint
thefootball

. Aftereachrep,theplayers
sh0uld sides
switch fromboth
s0theycanattack
thenfliPsides
sides,

,'" ,- \
/ tr,B) \
lL 1l\
@@

46
 W

DBltt#35:REACH
ANDCATCH

.::.-',: T0practice
reacting
to thesnapof thefootball;to
develop
hand
: : -:: onandquickness;
to enhancetheability0f a defensive
backto recover
a
'_::

.:. --:nt Needed:Dne football;

lNerfl twotennis
balls.

,'...-::ror.Thedrillinvolves twoplayers, a coach, andsomeone tosimulate a

' :: -: rheballissnapped, theplayers'eyes focus onthetennis ballsthatare
:: - =-. d bythecoach whoispositioned three yards fromthefootball. Thecoach
- :: - : ?rmsoutfromhisbody forminga "1"Players react tothedropping ofthe
:-' : :allbythecoach andtryt0catch theball before it hitsthe ground a second
-: :'i€r allplayersgofromadepth 0fthree yards fromthecoach, thecoach can
- r.. ::rk t0fouryards, etc.A depth offivet0sixyards fromthecoach is
:-:::':d e s pec i al l y c hal l engi n g . T h e c o a c h s h o u ld b e p a r t ic u la r ly a le r t o n ce th e
: -:.: : velevel
ofthedrillisincreased andplayers startdiving forthetennis

:,:^ ".9Points:

.,-:e thedefensive backs proficient

become toandgoing
atreacting forthe
:.-ns balls,
thecoach switch
could to using
two actualfootballs.

. --: keyist0focusonreacting
tothesnap quickly
oftheballandonmoving to
::chthefalling
tennis
ball.

\ ro
6 ;| 6 )

ffi
4l
 ANDMIRR0B
DBllt*36:REACT

oblecllverToer\a1cetheablityol adelensive 0f an
backto leactto theactions
tom0ve
t\e ability
oi/r',tiutp'tyrt;toOrutlop toimprove
Dyslid'ng; qurclness:
Io
warm-up.

AIootball;
Needed:
Equipment dummies'
twoblocking

Des( tiption. Aballca'ier{BCl anda de'ersive back(DB) standldcingeaci'0ther

rine
rr i-0ntol a yard between twoblocking dumm'es 0laced
roo,t ioutio ftt ,1rtOt
0 nrh e q rour d sever
appr ox,mater y yar 0s
apar lhedr
t illinvor ves hav i ngthebal l
,ut:'ar'uurtoito iheya'dlrnebetween tne two ol0c^ingdumm es without,
berno nel0 uD bv "ott
Ine defender'Theballcarrier "1oves laterdllyasqulcklyasp0ss'0re
Thedefende', mrr0r'ng reacts
theballcarr'er'
.noirt.nois to tart t'e defendel
0f theball-carrier anoslides t0 stayinfront0tllrsopp0nent nrs
to the-no;ements
ooaristo keeotheballcarrier fromscoring (ie cross'ng tle yardllnellne0erenoer
ilavusehishards, outtneerpnasis rs0r reactilg q'icllyandmovlng hrsIeet lne
nasaspecilic
b a l i ca rr ier r :m elim it{ eg' 5sec0nos) ilwhich to scor e

CaachingPoints:

. mustn0tbepermitted
t0 ovelextend thelr
theirarmswhileusing
Thedetenders
ontheballcarner.
hands

. t0 move
theneedfora defender
Toemohasize beperf0rmed
hisfeet.thedrillcan by
tokeephis
tneOetender
requiring hands hisback
behind thedrill
during
 W
DRltt37:REACT
T0THEBA[[

,-i.iilei T0enhance
theability
of a defensive
backt0 reactto theball;t0 develop
' :-r 3ndeyec00rdination
whilethedefendefrs0nthernove.

: : :nent Needed:
Aloolbal.

-. -,-'ption; ThedriI involves havingthedefeosive backsformonelineabout20

, r: f rom thec0ach, facinghim.Whenthec0ach raises
thefo0tball showing pass,
. ' 'st player inlinesprints toward thecoach at topspeed.Whentheplayer gets
- - 3-4yards of thecoach, thecoach throws thefootballat thep ayer's chest,
: ' ngtheplayef t0 reactquicky to theballandcatchit before it hitshim.After
-'. -
: ayercatches theba , hetosses it backto thecoach andreturns t0 theback
' :-e ne Thecoach thenraises thef00tball t0 signalthenextplayer if linet0
' : : i h ed ri lal n dsoo n

::hingPoints:

ihe coach shOuld emphasize

theimportance
0f watching
theballandreacting
:: it onceit isthrown.

Jhecoach canaddvariety
to thisdrillbythrowing
thefootball
either
overth€
heacl
r ayer's orbeowthep ayer'swaist,thereby,
requiring
thedefender
t0
I aytheball
at unusual
anges.

ffi
4g
 T0THEBAtt
DRltt38:BREAK

l0 enhance
0blecrlver backt0 Ieactt0 theball;t0devel0p
theabiIty ol a defensive
hand pracl'ce
andeyecoordination;ro t0 thef00tball
moving

Equipnent Needed: A IaoIball.

Descflpflon:Thedlillinvolves havingthedefensive backs formonelineabout20

iromrhecoacn. racing hi.l.Wnenthecoach I aisesthefootball showingpass
vards
rhefirstplayersta,tsto sprint directlyt0ward tl'ecoachWhentheplayer gets
within10yaidsof thecoach, thecoach pumps hisarmlikelaking a pa-s-stowardthe
sidehewantstheplayer to bIeak. Theplayershould thenbreakat a 90-degree
dnolet0 thals 0e.0nce the plaYer md\es hisbreak ihecoach should throwthe
at rheprayer
ioo"rball to rakehi'nreacrq-ickly t0 catchtheball The plaYer
sh0uld
thenreturn thebailt0 thecoach t0 theendof thelineThecoach
andreturn then
raisesthefootballt0 signal thenext player
inlinet0 staftthe and
drill, soon'

Paints:
Coaching

emphasize
sh0uld
Thecoach thatplayefs
sh0uld at alltimes'
watchthef00tball
astheYtrYto catcnlt
especially

Toaddvarietv thec0acn
to tnisdri'1, canthrowtnef00toaltin frontof 0I behind
angles
thedeferder,nordert0 ma(eh'r Ieactr0 theballat vari0-s,different

50
STAMINA
DRILLS

5l
 DRllt #39:CATCH-ME'lt-Y0U-CAN

to warm-up'
inprovestamina;
0bjective:Io

Needed:Narc'
Equipnent

defensive
theentire
caachhas outinthreelines0n
teamsptead
Descriltion:Ihe --
rl: iir,,xn*: l[ ,';iifi]ii:Ti$fl:il ff lxiii!'l'
iil'Jii.'lf':iii{,i}'ill
thelhe' forward
run
retreat
;;; i;t';;;; il it;,h'theline, andtouch
fivevards

?}ililTifi r,'li;?ti;:::,lll,:wlllliiffi ',x,.fl

:ii'?"':"'#'$:i
iil"r,,i[rl ii,iJ,r.,iivebacks(DBs)shourduslsilS
bn
il:llj'$i."ijjlill,xH;;io
:t:n;Jjitl3J
i','.:l tn,t*."
*,u,,.r,
CoachingPoints:
a greater
needs
orLB's)
{DLs the
handicap'
. lf oneDarticular ofdefenders
group
coach thedistance
canincrease groups
between

' l"x::::';'lJl"'JlJf :',1''""

l''J'''J#l:Hffil
lfi:l[xlff
:ilTl;:
ofPush-uPS
number

40

50

to

20

Io

+
G

52
Tft W

D B l t t# 4 0A
: R 0 UND
T HEWORtD
I
., :r/erToenhance
stamina,
t0 imprOve
f00tw0rk;t0
warm-up.

None.
, - :irentNeeded

.,..iptian:fhe dti inv0lvesthreedefensive backsat a timewho ineup0nayard

. :.rtheleft0f a hashmark.0n command frornthec0ach, theplayers
sprint
..:'d20yards, thefshLrffe t0 theifrightt0 the0therhashmark, thenbackpedal
.. :o the0rigina llne,andthenshuffe leftbackt0 their0riginai
starting starting
-: Whletheyarernoving, thecoach hastheoption of havingtheplayerseither
^ p aceorhittheground byordering themto 'Get0r yourface"or"Get0f y0ur
- , , B0thc0mmands shoujd beqLricklyfollowed bytheorder to "Getonyourfeet
, : Tove-which f0rtheplayers
isa signal t0 resumetheir"around-the-world"
-:, at topspeed. TheroLite,c0mbined w th thevarious hit-the-ground
andrun-in-
.:: commands, isdesign€dt0 cr€ate a rigorous,non-st0p,warm-upsessi0n.

2chingPoints:

A I movernents
should
bedone without
at t0psDeed, hesitation.

inplace.
Whenrunning playefs berequired
should ash gh
to lift theirknees
p o ssrb
e.

Hash Hash
mark mark

i
(shuffle to the rightl-->

(shuffre to the lettl

ffiffi
53
 PEAK
DRItL#41:PIKE'S

plactice fllovements;t0
lateral lateral
enhance
stamina;t0
develop
oblectiverTo
warm-uP.
quickness;to

c0nes
Equlpment:Nine vesIS
0rscrimmage

,"'.'^'#ffi
t.[:i:;:i];::;:ffi:H:T"rimnasevests)inadsp

:Hnlfrti'ili1i*ff
i:t:?,'.'il:i
:i:?:
tTit'ffi ililJ::f.T.
illi[h:i.lHTT;Ji;xf
!riil3i'.'*,,'.',
aiiTilljl%lli:iliR'JilJl?,f,13If;
CoachingPoints:
0ntherunand
sharply
to cutthecotners
. defender
Each beencouraged
should
pastthelastcone
sprints
q0alloutuntilhe
t-
l0 I5e0rilrbyestablis:|n9
.- inecoach canaddanelement 0l comoelit'o'l L-'1"
o'aye's
whoia'tromake themrnr1"-
.'in,*l''iirc it ronplelrg t\e l-n 0fpush'ups' etc
sprints'
number
# #;;;il;;;;i';itrm a-predetermined

o
o
o
o

54
 DRltt #42:STAGGER-SPURT

i: ecflverT0 stamina;to
develop improve practice
footwork;to changing
directions
w
:- rkl y;to arm-up.

::JbnentNeeded:Iwelve
cones vests.
0rscrimmage

-:sctipti1n:fhecoachlays out12cones (orscfimmagevests),dispersed asshown,

:..' adistance 0f40 yards.
Thedrillbeginsbyhaving thedefensive backs lineup
r=-ndthefirstcone.0n command frornthecoach, thefirstplayer inlinesprints
':',!ardf0rtenyards, thenback-pedalsforfiveyards.Hethenturns andrepeats
'-: sequence overthenexttwocones forward
ispfinting forten yards andback-
:=:arngfiveyards). Thedefendercompletes thecoursebyperforming four
:r rto n a l,s i mi l afs equenc es .A c o m p le t e r u n t h r 0 u g h t h e " s t a g g e l- s p uIt' l a yo u t
- ,: vessprinting forward for55totalyards andback-pedalingfor25yards. 0ncea
: : ierhasreached themidway point thenextplayer
inthelayoLit, inlineshould
:,r n performing thedrill.

Points:
,:aching

Thecoachshould theimp0rtance
emphasize 0fanall'out therun
effortduring
andthevalue
0fchanging quickly.
directions

. Thecoach tothedrilibytiming
ofcompetiti0n
canaddanelement eachplayer's
run.
Players perfofmthe
whofailto run'fast
enough'can tod0an
berequired
0fpush'ups,
number
arbitrary sprints,
etc.

ffiffi
55
 WADDTE
DUCK
DRltt #43:BAGK-PEDAL

develop
obj'ective;To intheupper
stamina t0
upthehipsandknees;
leq;to loosen
warm-up.

ent Needed:None.
Equipm

coachhas
DescriollonrThe thedelensivebacks 0utinlront0thimThe
spread
ass"mea stancewhicn involves level
anexaggerated In
0l llexl0n
'treir snould
olave,i
likeaduck) 0ncommand' peoar
bacK ar
theplayelS
andknees
nips h.e, squat
mantaining
wnite the'Iflexed'duck-like
body posilion
iaii speeO,

CoachingPoints:

. beenc0uraged heels
t0stayofftheir inthe
participating
while
Playersshould
drill.

. t0theplayers
emphasize
should theirhead'
keep
thattheyshould
Thec0ach
paos
arms.ina position
n agime-like thedrill
during

. c0mfortable
more intheir thisdrillthe
t0perform
ability
Astheplayersbecome
0r
coachcanincrease thespeed
either atwhich theplayers
m!stback'pedal
they're
thedistance totlavel'
required

5E
 W
D R l t t# 4 4A
: B 0 U NTHE
D DUM M IES
'--:,'i/r,eiT0 improve stami0a;t0 warm-up; to improvetheability
of a defensive
r, :. : r c h a n g e d i re cti 0 n sq u i ckl yw hiler
later
n0ving
ally.

: . : -.rt NeededA nininun 0f f1urblockinqdunnies.

. .r '-tior:Theblocking dummiesareplaced ontheground parallelt0 each0ther

:: -.lratedinthediagram. Thecoach assumes a position
at oneend0f therow0f
: ::' -; dummies. Thedefender begins ina positionjust
outside to theleftof the
r :.J, facngtoward thecoach.0n a signal fromthecoach, thedefender slides
- ,i aterally
between theblocklngdummies at af appr0ximatelya 45-degree
, . . ,1/hen hereaches the0utside 0f thenextbl0cking durnmy. thedefender
; :-. :ackto theinside (while
continuing to facethecoach). Thedrillcontinues
r::! n thesame manner. Afterthedefender reaches thelastblocking dummy,
i . -ts f0rward forfiveyardsat fullspeed.

..::-'.gPaint:

, rrpetition
canbeadded groups
to thedriI byhaving of players
compete
.:: fst eachotherinrelavfashion.

57
 DBltt#46:D0UBtE
MIRB0R

:qectiye;
T0improve
stamina;
todevel0p
theability
ofa defensive
backt0change
: -ections
while
running
either
backwards
orlaterally;
t0warm-up.

-:!ipnentNeeded:Norc.

position
:.scripti1n:fhedefenders themselves asillustrated.
facing
thecoach (Cl.
--e coach signals
theclosestdefendertohimtomove. Thatdefenderis
::rmanded toperform oneofthreebasic
movements-run backwards
ina straight
-:, rLrn
laterally
ata 45-degreeangle,
0rrunf0rward ina straight
line.
Theother
'--eedefendersmirr0rthemovementsofthefirstplayer, allthewhile
maintaining
--esame distance
between eachother.0na finaisignalfromthecoach,allofthe
::fenders sprint
fullspeedpastthec0ach.

Point:
:.aching

. Thedrillisdesigned
toenable
defenders
t0respond
to twostimuli
s multaneously.

tYo oo

s9
 DBtt! #47;GASSERS

theabilitY
roimprove
stamina: back
0fa delensive tochdnge
obiecllverT0 0evel0p
inback-pedaling
involved
ii,iril..i qri.*tv,. *p!ovethefootwork

Needed:None
Equipnent

3;#'tri'J#,ff .'.:"T ii: yard

:il15:,iil!1:il{.:l
;S,i:$if.:il
th;:,::::,rrr.r$;:lftt,,l,:ii:t
,.r,i.r..rii.lip,irt.therile r'n.e,and
ffi:\'iJi:l;:\!T,l;iil:f ;:"-l"#fi
ll'i'dil 'J:tiii
fiveyards
sprint ];;triFr-
irffi
distancetheplayers must
yardlrne
iiqrt.tt ,"tiii.i,t" *til theplayers
have themid-field
reached

CoachingPaints:

. theplayers
tothedrillbyhaving either 0rback-
sptint
canbeadded
Variety
inbothdirections.
pedal

players
between byhaving timethedrill
thecoach
. canbefostered
Competition

25
30
35
40
45
50
45
40
35
30
2S
20
t5
lo
5
G
1000000

60
TACKLING
DRILLS
 HITANDB0UNCE
DRltt#48:THETW0-MAN

r0 i"lprove
0blecrlver theabilitY0f a defensive0ackt0 "front-up
aballcarrie':t0
livetackling
,1d ointspriort0 furl-scale drills
rli"'up ir,lt
",itrr.,
pn ent Needed: l\ loatball
Equi

placing
drillinvolves
Describflrrn:The ingr0uls0f three0neplayer
theplayers acts

*lm m:11.",*,',.l,1 pitches

:[T:
ll,i:ili::ff J::.'.'#i","':li
theoall-cat'ier'
the0al't0 runs
whotl'en at
i"" a'illr.itt **t tnec0ach
,n, oaclgetsint0agood
rt ,r#it^llir. itreoeteniiue htt ngp0siti0n
and
:i;;i':;;;;;;;;;;';rtnouitact<tins hit
fii tneoere;ders 0n ball-carrier
the
backwards
tobounce 3-4yards then
Theball-carrier
..*4, tjial.f f-*,tier position
and
wh0als0getsintoa goodtackling
tf,. otn.|.Otfendel
uonio.rf,et
!ii^tt ,t.li..". ur.w,buta'lows t\e iunne'
I0escape lhissequenl:
'gltln"t
2-3times At thatp0nt'
pertackler' lhe
,ri i tl. t*tri lt, Ortnhit properly players
ift*t f,i,*histleandrotates
i.rrn i-f,trr defensive
theolfensive

CoachingPoints:

. back keep
should hishead upandhiseyes while
open
Thedefensive
hisfaceinthe
sticking
sim!ltane0usly runnel
s numDers

. review allbasic tackling fundamentals should

Thedefender
Thecoach should
tackling-him' bend and
knees
his a blow
strike
*,.0-rotn, Otfl"*ti., without
w it h o u ir u n n in g t h r obuagllc
h tahrer ie r '

62
 DRI[[# 49:THETHBEE-MAN
HtTANDBOUNCE

--:rrflyerTo
improve
theabiiity
ofa defensive
backto,,front-up,,
a bajlcarrjer;
to
..,"r-up andjoints
themuscles priortofull-scale
livetackling
drills.

::, tnentNeeded:
A lootball.

_-:scrilr
rlon:Thed11ll
invclvesplacing
theplayers
ingroups offour.0neplayeracts
,, 3ball'carrier,
while theotherthreedefendefs
serv€ astacklers.
Theco;ch
:::-tronsthethreetacklerscentered0nandopposjtetheball-ca(ier
ata distance
:' 3b0ut3-4yards.Thedrillbeginswhen thecoachpitchestheballtotheball,
::'- erwhothenruns between twoofthedefenders.Thedefenders bothstepint0
'-: runnerwithouttacklinghim.Theresultant
collision
causes theball-carrieito
:: rrcebackwards 3-4yafds.Theball-carrier
thenapproaches thegapbetween the
::-ertwodefensive backs.They als0assumea goodtacklingpositio;
andstrikea
':':€fuibloWbutallowtherunner toescape.Thisdrillsh0uid
continue
untilthe
--rerhasbeen bounced backwards2-3times.
At thatp0int.thecoachthenblows
- : lvhistle,
stopsthehittingandhastheplayersrotate.

::schingPoints:

. Thedefenders
sh0uld
keeplhejrheads
upandtherr
eyes
open,
while
ste0Dino
1rotheball-carrier
withrheir
Inside
shoulder shoulder
{thar jscJosesiro
which
therunner
attimeofimpact).

. Thecoachshouldreview
allbasic
tackling
f!ndamentals.
Thedefenders
should
strike
a.blow
withouttackling,
bend andstepint0(without
theirknees runnjng
through)
theball-carrier.

63
 TACKtING
DRILt#50:FORM

theplayers'
improve
0biecfirue:To totackle
ability being
without t0warm-up
injured;
joints;t0
andloosen
themuscles increaseplayer prior
enthusiasm ora
t0livedrills
game.

pnent Nee
Equi ded: None.

DescrotionrTheplavers otner
willfaceeach on0ppositesides l'ne
0fa Yard
2 3 vatds
aooroximatelv apartTney should 0epaired someonetarly
opposiie 0t
equat andweight.
neiqnt bedesignated
0neI neshourd asballca'riers
.whilethe,
serves
oJpositeiine Onc0mmand
is tacklers. fromthe each
coach' should
tacklel
o ik uothe opposite
oatlcarr'e, hima1dcarry him backwards2-3yards
andserh'm
dOwn 0nthegro-rd0nl'isreet{Tnis
0rillisbestd0ne at50/5%offullspeedl
Aftereach ther0les
repetiti0n, 0ftheplayers should switched
be

Paints:
Coaching

. A perfect-heads
up,eyes tackle
necl-bowed
open, bethegoalofeach
shouid
tac(ler.

. theplayers
tothisdrillbyhaving
canbeadded
Varety ata 45'degree
tackle
instead
angle, ofhead-on.

BC
a) \, o r)
oT
\J o a)

64
 DBILL#51:THEPOPSICtE
STICK-DBIVE

theplayer
T0improve
i,-.ecllve; s abilitytowrap-up,
lift.anddrive
thesimulated
:: carrier (i.e.,
backwards tackle).

:: )ipnent sled(popsicle).
Needed:Aone-man

players
,-;scr/bfron:The shouldforma single
line,onebehindtheother,{acing
the
:.e-man s\edata distanceof10yards.0nthecoach'scommand, thelirstpiayer
in
-ewil runforward, position
getint0ahitting infrontofthesled(popsicle),
wrap
- sarms aroundthemidsection0fthep0psicle,thrust
hishipsforward,anddrive
the
: ld uptotherearuntilthec0achgivesthec0mmand to"DH0P lT."Thenextmanin
-ewiliattackthesledassoon asthecoach commands "Hll'

Points:
:taching

. Eachplayer
sh0uld withagood
tackle hishead
wrap-with up,hiseyes
open
andhisneck
bowed.Thecoach position
canbest hirnself
toobserve"cl0sed-
eyedtacklers"
bystanding
behindthepopsicle, facing
thereby thetackler
ashe
approaches
thedummy.

. Thecoachcanhelp good
devel0p tacklingtechniques
byhaving
thosewho
violate
thebasic ofsound
techniques (e.9..
tackling byducking theirhead,
theireyes,
closing etc.) thedrillasoftenasnecessaly
repeat untiltheymaster
therequired
skills.

65
 D0Wll
STICK-TAKE
DRlt[#52:THEP0PSlctE

improvetheplayer's
ability andtake
drivebackwards
t0 wrap-up,litl
0blecfilerT0
to theground
ballcarrier
thesimulated g,
{e tackle}

sled{popsicle)
A orte-man
EluiDnentNeeded:

Descr,irll04Thisdrillrsthesame aslhepreviousdrill(lhepopsicle stick-0rive")

Again the playerswill.^
rr.roiif'uirf,tpf.vtt*illdrivethesledintotheground
line,onebeh'nd lacing
theother, theone-man sledat a drstance0I ru
forma sinqle
s command, thelirstplayer qet
inl;newillIUntorward rnt0a
vards.0n ihecoach
infrontot thesle0wraphisarmsaI0und themrdsectl0n 0l (ne
fiittinq
oosition
anddrivethesledupto therealat anangle until
o.oiiir!.ir'irtt r'i,t,pt fotward,
[.i"ni."r'int lrti.v to theglound. Thenextmaninlinewillattackthesledafter
commanded "HlT"
in, pt.ulorttu,if"f'u, teseiit,andthecoachhas

Points:
Coaching

. A q0odwrap-up tackleinvolves navingtheplaYerkeeFhisheadup hiseYes

d 0re-mansledwelghs malely
appl0x 4JU
andh,sneckbowed{Slrce
oo-en ,,
poulds.
.t isrec0mmended thalplaYers rg lessrhanl4U
weigh poun0s sn0ul0
inthisdrillforsafetyreasons)
notDartici0ate

. Thecoachcanne'pdevel00 go00lacklingtecnniquesbYnavil-qtnosewho
tnebasc princ;ples
ol s0Jnd (eg
tackling ' byd-ckrng neao
thelr
violale -closrng
theori'las0fIelasnecessa'Y
elcI repeat untrltheymasterIre
theireyes.
skills.
required

66
 DRltt#53:THEMATTACKTE

:-./ecrlye.
Toimprovetheplayer
s ability (wrap-up,
totackle lift,drive
backwards.
totheground),
:-Ctaketheballcafrief while thep0tential
minimizing forbeing
- Lrred
whiletackling.

::ripnentNeeded:
A laotball;
a wrestling
mat.

This
-:scriDtlrrri drillcanbeconductedindoors
eitherwithoutpads 0rinfullpads.
: 3yers sh0uldbematched inpairs
0fappr0ximately
equal sizeandweight.one
: :yerisdesignated asa tackler,
while
theother playerservesasa ballcarrier.
The
:: carrier startsthedrillbystanding
withhisbackt0themat,while thetackleris
::siti0ned him
opposite atadistance ofabout 2-3yards.Thecoach beginsthedrill
:, hafding whostands
theballtotheballcarrier stillandallows
himself t0be
-:: kled. Thetackler
acceleratesthrough
therunner,
while makinga good form
::: kl e .

Points
::aching

A good
wrap-uptackle
involves theplayer
having keep
hishead
up,hiseyes
openandhisneck
bowed.

Thecoach
canusethisdrilltohelp
develop s0und
tackling
techniques
ina
contact thatinvolves
environment littleorn0chance
ofinjury.

6t
 DRItL#54:THEC0MPETITIVE
DUMMY
TACKTE

im|fove
Abjective:Io s ability
aplayer totackle;
todevel0p
enthusiasm
anda
spirit;to
competitive qLrickness
enhance andreaction
time.

Needed;
Equipment Adunmy;
a football;
a mat.

Descriprb,lrTwo
defensivep ayers
shouldbepositioned
10yardsfromthemat,
p0sitioned
onallfoursonthe ground
facingthetackling
dummy which stands
j!stinfront0fthemat.Thecoach
upright beginsthedrillbym0ving
a football
to
startthedefendersmoving.C0mmands,such as"R0LLBlGHT,""R0Lt "HlT
tEFT,"
BELLY" and"HlT,willbeused theplayers
tosignal tomove quickly
inthedirection
indicated
andeventuallytoattack tackle)
{e.9., thedurnmy.

Coaching
Points:

Thisdrillism0st participants
when
effective intoteams
aredivided andscore
is
keptto foster
competition thegroups.
between

quickness
canusethisdrilltohelpdevelop
Thecoach player
andincrease
bybalancing
enthusiasm teams withplayers
ofcomparably
equal
skills.

F ( e l\
lI I-\ l\
1 OJOJ

G8
 DRILL*55: THEBUTTT ACKTE

improve
CbiectiveiTo abilityto 'front-!p"a ballcarrieri
theplayers to teacha
backthe
leiensive DroDerwaYt0 usehis eYes, hitwhile a ball
tackling,leverage
andfollowthrough.
carrier,

Afootball;
Needed:
EouiDnent vests
threet0fourscrimmage

DescdptlbniThedrillinvolveshaving workingroups
players 0ftwo-withoneacting
andthe0ther
asa ballcarrier asa tacklelThe coach positions three tofourvests
ab0utfivevards aDart onthelinewiththetwo playels facingeach otherattheone
endoftheiineoficrimmage {LoS)atadistance 0fabout 3-4yards Thedrillbegins
when thecoach commanda "HlT."The carrier
ball moves perpendiculartotheLoS
andheads forahole inbetween thejerseysWhile running with theball the
carrier,
tacklermeets theballcarrier "Butt
attheLoSwitha vigorous anda ' quickwrap
withouttackling him,whichcauses theballcarrierto bounce backwards 3'4yards'
Theballcarrierthenapproaches gap
the between the next two vests.
The tackler
re0eatshisdrillseQuence 0fbuttingandreleasingtheballcarner' 0nhisthrrdhit
thetackler thetackle
finishe; bytakingtheballcarrier to theground Thecoach
thenblows thewhistle,stops and
thehitting rotates new players intoposition
The
direction movement
oftheballcarrier's {leftt0 right
or vice-versa)shouldalsobe
alternatedonce eachtacklerhascompletedonerepetitiondown theline

CoachingPoints:

. must
Thedefenders getint0a good position
hitting between vest,keep
each
upandth;ireyes
heads
their open'stepint0theballcarrier, using
while inside-
andstrikea blowwiththeirtaceandshouldet
outleverage,

. nevet
should
Thetackler over
cross hisfeet,getahead
0ftheballcarrier0r
droDhishead Thecoach
tackling.
while a player
canusethisdrillto review s
to perform
abiiitv pr0perly.
fundamentals
alltackling

+
LOS
cIA
 TACKLE
DBILL#56:THESCOBE

fieldtackling
theopen
T0improve secondary
ofthedefensive
ability
tlver
oblec

A'Iaotball;six
Needed:
Equipnent orcones'
vests
scrimmage
(BCiand
asaballcarrier
ol rw0,witho'leactrng
Descf,b Theplayers
t;onr workIngroups
a6'Yadsquare
thelierdinro
{otitttrecoacnoivides area

l***im:*[tl ji:nntll*y,'';l:::x'Jfl:%
fir";i'#;;';;;;,;irier

"ScoRE"'at
ff';H;;i#;;;;liiov rattatrv
mouins commands
thecoach
until
trying
withttrebattcarrier byleaving
t0score
il.irntit, i.in pr.v."soiullspeid
t',:l,l
ll*lil',''
ini*nur i;{,tii;#fl
upon
depending
fostered r+}i,;if,
0f playel
thenumber
:
til;;i;;ff
Points:
Coaching

. The00intshould thatthedefenders
beemphasized shouldstayinagoodhitting
leavingthei ieetp'emalurelYl should
A tackler keep
#ffifi;..;;;.;l;srngor
iis neaouo,t'isevesopenand"100khislickin"whiletackling

. shouldnever cross in thereby

boxther'rnner
overhisfeetHeshould
Thetackler
nisfeet c k hi s ar m s
.i tt.n t.r ,u.ttt.' /,og0 HeshoJr onitfr om Ihetop0f
lo
irouidtheballcarrier hrmbac(wards
anddrive

-@-.-----------
o\
{
A

a9
A B
^]
@

70
 DRltt#57:THESIDEtINE
TACKIE

objective:fo
inptove
theability
0fdefensive
backs
totackle
intheopen
fieldusing
the
sideline
asatackling
aide.

Eoui1nent
Needed:A'foolball.

Description:Ihe placing
dtillinyolves theplayers ingroups
0ftwo.one player actsasa
(BC),
ballcarri€r while theotherisdesignated (DB).
asatackler Thedrillstarts with
bothplayers onahashmarkfacing eachotherab0ut10yards apart.Thecoach begins
thedrillbytossing
theball{0r having someone actingasaquarterbacltosstheballto
theballcarrier
whoissimulating asweep towardthesideline.{NotetThefirstrepetition
ofthisdrillcan
bedoneat 50-75%speed untilboth piayers
become accustomed to
whatisexpected.)The designateddefensive piayertakesonesiepback andout,reads,
runs,andthensprints towardthesideline.Thetackler approaches
theballcarrier
diagonally,
whilemaintaining aninside-out relationship.
Thetacklerattempts togivethe
ballcarrier
onlytwochoices-run over get
himor knocked outofbounds.lf theball
carrier
triest0cutback, thetacklefmust correct hisleverage
andmake aheads-up
tackle.lftheballcarriercontinuestotheoutside,thetacklershouldbuttthroughhim
andtakehimoutofbounds. Thisdrillshouldberepeated using
theopposite sideline
and
players
rotating untilallplayershavehadonegoodrepetition oneachsideof thefield.

Coachino
Poi,tts:

muststayinagoodinside-out
Thetackler hittingposition.
Hemustneveflunge0r
hisfeetprematurely.
leave Hemustkeep hiseyes0penandstrikethrough
to the
runner's
opposite
side.

Thetackler never
should cross hisfeet.Heshould
over atternpt
t0 boxtheball
int0theboundary,
carrier him0nlyonewayt0
therebygiving go.

7l
 DRItL#58:THE0PENFIEtDTACKTE

player
0fadefensive
theability
improve t0tackle field
intheopen
obl'ectlverT0

Needed:
Equipnent sixt0eight
Alootball; 0rcones'
vests
scrimmaqe

arranges
lnecoacn lierd
Lhe wide
intod 15-18-yalo areawith,Yald
tac(l'ng
Descr,ollon.
eu'rv
nia,r,'o
rine, ti'e\/a[ds.lf
thefield milffl]lt]*liiHlTlJfl:r,
isakeadv
thenallthecoach
lines, t0
needs d0is i
create t
orvests
usecones
thenthecoacncan of
cornel
tomatkeach
thefieldisnotmarked,
asaballcalrier(Bc)and
actins
;;h;;;.ih;;6il;tkinsioups oftwo'withone
rl fOAl.
{Ndtethese asrhecoachdeems
Iotaleo
are
posit'ons
'". "i""r "iu,iot erd0fthe
0fone
I themiddle
tnedril'slanoing
.pprp-it.ljit l.'r,.irierslarts atthe,
side
one
wirite
ilir.tiioaiea, aposition
assurfles
tneoefender linedupofft0
tn'^* onthe
.pp"ii'..1'"t commano
coach's
;ill;il:'r1:i'ilir1tJ[t:T:i,
rheLackrer
i:ii'J,iillil'l"i;l,ii$[:1il,'#$:::'ii'-.rd snourd
ba'carrier
rhe
iunnrro,auoOSoinS onrY
andisallowed (laKej
maneuver
oneelusive
*ttide lhe/one,
p];ytl;h;rioback oll therunnerwhen he 6-7
sets vards awavironirm'
n;;;;;;;
ofcompetition
"r"uirir.etate,anOcotrrnitonlyalterlher.nnerhasconmiltedBeca
aspirit groups
between 0f
nriia rr"it tttpi.s i, canhelptodevelop
olavers.

CoachingPoints:

. mustsprintout'break allow
andworkhisfeetHeshouldnever
down
Adefender
calrier'He
afakebytheball
ir,rirt.titig.iii..l.set0himHemustnottake
should keephiihead up,hiseyes staYlowandwork
open, back.

. n0lbepelmlttedtousemore
than make
onetakeHesnoul0
lhebd'lcarrier should
onhisteet
zone
endofthetacklins
hitt;;;;;il.;J;;J trt tosetpasttheother

72
 DBILL#59:THESIDELINE
TOWEtTACKTE

rverToimprove
Cbl'ec theability
ofadefensive
backtotackle
onthesideline.

Equipnent
Needed:
Alootball;
a towel{ora scrimmage
vest).

Description:Ihecaachplaces a towel0ravestapproximately sixyards froma

sideine. pairing
Thedrillinvolves theplayefs up.Oneplayerservesasa balcarrier
lBC),whilethe0ther isdesignated asa tackler(DB).
Eachpairofplayers starts the
drillbyfacing
each otheratadistance of12-15 yards,
tenyafdsinfromthesideline.
0nthecommand frorn
thecoach to"HlT,"theoffensiveplayer
runs toa point
between thetowelandthesideline andattempts to makethedefensive playermiss
him.Thetackler starts
atthesarne c0mmand andapproachesatanangle t0cut0ff
therunner.Thegoalofthedefe0sive back ist0stoptherunnershort ofthe
imaginary nebetween thetowelandthesideline. BecausethisdriI lends itselfto
score it canbeused
keeping, t0f0ster a spirit
ofcompetition
between offensive
anddefens veplayers.

CaachingPoints.

This
drilloffers
anexcellent
live,
full'speed
tackling alsoprovides
exercise.lt a
g0od
opport!nity t0integrate players
0ffensive ontheteamintothedrillas
runners
andhave them "compete"against players.
thedefensive

Bothplayers
startthedrillatthesame time. canbebased
Points uponwho
thelinefirstbetween
crosses thetoweland lf thecoach
thesideline. wantsto
foster ofcompetitiveness,
a sense hecanmandate thatthelosingplayer
{0r
group)
berequiredtodopush'ups, sprints,
sit'ups, etc.

ffiffi
l3
 DRltt #60:THE2-MINUTETACKTE

0f thegamesituation,
levelof awareness
a defender's
1bjective:IoinrJove t0
practice tackling
sideline theability
enhance
techniques;t0 backto
of a defensive
in-bounds.
keepa ballcarrier

Needed:
Equipnent A Ioatball.

,esc/pllonrThe upplayers-one
pairing
drlllinvolves (BC),
actsasa ballcalrier
whilethe0therserves asa tackler(DB).
Theplayersfaceeachothelat a distance
0f 1215yards, withtherunner 0nornealthehashmarkandthedefender positioned
approxlmate y tenyardsintromthesideline.0nthec0mmand 0f thecoach to "HlT,"
theoffensive playerrunswiththeballtOward andattempts
thesid€line t0 run0ut
0f bounds.Thetackler,reactingto thesame command,appr0aches at ananglet0
cutoff therunner andattempts sholtof thesideline
to st0ptheballcarrier This
between
drillcanalsobeusedt0 f0stera spirit0f competition offensiveand
defensive playersbykeepingsc0re.

CaachingPoints:

wayto impless
Thlsdfillisanexcellent game "sense" players.
upon lt als0
providesa goodoppo(unityt0 integrate players
offefsive 0ntheteamint0the
drillasrunnersandhavethem "cornpete" the
against players.
defensive

B0thplayers startthedrillat thesame tirne.Points canbeawarded basedup0n

wh0gets0ut-0fbounds 0r s keptin"bounds li thec0achwantst0 a
toster
sense hecanmandate
of competitiveness, thattheloslng {orgr0up)
player be
'e qu,polo 00p- s1- u0s.
sit- "0s.s0' i' lts.
eIc
 DRltt#61:THEDUMMY
STRIP
qbjective:foin$ovelheabilityofa defensive
backtowrapupthereceiver
and
stripthefootball.

Equipnent
Needed:
A vertjcal
dummy;
awrestling
mat.

Desuipti1n:Iheplayers lineup,fiveyardsfromandfacing thecoachwhostands in

front0fa matwitha tackling dummy standing
0nend. 0nthecoach's command
"HlT,"
thedefensive back takesacouple ofsteps backward, "the
recognizes
receiverontherun with the ball"and acceleratestoward the mat.Thecoach
t0ssesthedummy intheairasthetackler approaches (sirnulating
awidereceiver
catchingtheballinfront0fthedefensive back).Thetackler wraps upthedummy
withonearm, while simulating stripping
theballwiththeother arm.Boththe
tacklerandthedummy should landonthemat.Thisdrillcanbeperformed indoors
or
0utdoorsandbedone with orwithout pads,
withlittlefear
of someone being
injured.

Points:
Coachino

Payefssh0uldkeep open,
theireyes drive
through
thereceiver,
wrapupand
the
strip ball
simultaneously.

Thisdrillisa good pace

change-0f lt provides
exercise. theopportunity
tohave
a
fun,learning experience gym
inthe 0n aninclement-weather
day.

MAT

io 9

75
 TACKIING
ORl![#62:PURSUIT

backt0 employ
theabilityof adefensive pursuit
a ploper
0blec tlve;T0improve .
ofa
anopen develop
fieldtackle;t0 theability
or r liriJutitt undtomake
"rii.
deiendet tousethesideline when makinga tackle

footballs
EquipnentNeeded: Sevetal

Descrlb|,bnjThedri||invoIvesfouldelensivepIaYerswhoareaIigned
four.dee0 and
0'sitions bacarriers
twooffensive
two
approrimaielyyards the
insid€ sideline' irT,Ji#,fi,lilr.,li.", ,*
down Eacn back
defensive
thesidel:ne takes ac0uple 0l
irlnne,s startirunning pursuit
i.r.i:tizesthedirection theproper
of therunandtakes
ri.pr'i.r[*lto, of Ihedele'lsive
TnecoactrOesi!nates wh0'st0make thetackle one
{usually
anoie. use
sh0uld
selecled
back
) Tnede{ensive
;;;t."si';;;;pp*"lt;side oi the{reld
thesideline asa 12th man andmake thetackle

CaachingPoints:

.- sh0uld neverstarloulpursuing They

atallatangle sh0uld always
Defenders 0f therunner'
basedupontheir and
speed that
;;;;il; 0"6;;t;tloit ansle, speed and
tiitli ot
inir"otirl offensive ofvarying
backs
cutting skills. "ptated;gainst

. backs
tf a defensive tosprint
arerequired thefootbal!
fullspeed.to l!l:^djll"
ut * *rellent that
exercise
conditioning can t0replace
beused
t*- ai- tttua
windsprints.

EC
r-)
i^ (Dal
i^;
Dg: ,
. ,<) /a;-
--r<7
.' G \
\:/

76
 A
DEFEATING
DRILLS
BLOCK
 DBI[[
DRlt[# 6 3T: HEPIANO

backto playoff of a l0wblock

theabilitYof a defensive
1biective:foingrcve

EouiDnent Needed: None.

Description:lhe sixplayets
drillinvolves at a time-oneplayelactsasa defender
(DB)while fiveserve asoffensive plaYers (receivels). withthe
Thedlillstarts
offensive players aligned nextt0 eachother0na straight lineThecoach beginsthe
drillbyc0mmanding, "HlT,"which isa signal t0 thefiISt0ffensiveplayer t0 attack
thedefender 0pposite himbytryingt0 throwa l0w block
at hisknees.The defender
useshishands to keep thebl0cker awayfromhisknees andfeet.Ass0onasthe
firstattempted bl0ckisdefeated. the defender slides downthelinewhere
latelally
upon thesecond blocker immediately attempts t0 throwthe same blockagainst the
defender. Thissequence c0ntinues untilallfive0ffensiveplayershaveattempted to
throwa lowbl0ck0nthedefendet intapidsuccessi0n. Thedefenderfinishes the
dr ll byclargngpdstlne rasl
ma'lintheI ne.Subsequerlly eachplayer I0tated ore
p0sition t0liisiight(eventuallyintothedefensive p0sition)andthedfillisrepeated.
Theplayers shouldbe givenseveral Iepetitions 0n 0ffensiveanddefense

Points:
Caachina

should
Thedefender 0ntheoffensive
c0ncentrate hiseyes
watching
blocker,
with
hisarmthrust
andtiming the player's
offensive block.

thedefensive
0ffa bi0ck,
Inwarding player give
should ground
without
allowing
t0gett0hisfeet0rhisknees
thebl0cker

t8
 DBltl-
#64:THESEtt-0UT
DBltt

1bjective:Ioinrlouefie backtodefeatorplayoff of a kick-

abilityofa defensive
outbl0ck 0ra pulling
bya fullback lineman.

Equipnent
Needed:
A blocking
dummy.

Descriptian:Ihe dtillinvolvestwoplayers ata time.oneplayer isdesignatedasa

blockerballcanier while
{BC), oneactsasa defender (defensive back).Thecoach
setsupanoff€nsive lineofscrimmage (tOS)behind which heplaces a blocking
dummy 2'3yards deep intheoftensive backfieldslightlyoutside thenormal tight
€nds position.Thedefensive back isaligned
outside thedummy ina normal
cornerback's position.
Facing himinthebackfield isa bl0cker, attheopposite angle
andthesame distance fromthedummy. When thecoach commands, "Hll"orslaps
thefootball, bothplayers willrunatthedummy and"sellout,"simultaneously
hitting
onopposite sides 0fthedummy. Theoffensive player
simulates a kick-out
asthedefender
biock, triest0reach theballcarrier afterdefeating theblock.The
defenderthenwhips hisoutside legint0thebackfield, causing theballcarrierto
loseground andrunlaterally,thereby giving
pursuing defenders timet0catch up
withhim.lt isimportant t0notethatif thetirning 0i thisdrillis"off"{i.e.,
both
players
don0ta(iveatthedummy atthesame time), thenthedefender willsimply
frontuptheballcarrier. At thatpoint, thedefender andtheblocker-ball carrier
w'll
thedrilluntiltheycan"sell0ut"witha dummy
restart between them.

Coachina
Points:

Thedefender
sh0uld
drivehisinside
shoulder
thr0ugh theoutside
thigh
0fthe
(dummy)and
blocker "se| 0ut"byd0ing
whatever
it takes
tobreak
free0fthe
player's
0ffensive blockandgert0theballcarI|er.

It maytakeseveraIrepet
itionsbelorethetwoplayers
arrive point
at theimpact
lf onearrives
simultaneously. earlyandhasalready
knockedthedurnmydown,the
coachshouldjusthavethem"frontup"andstartoveruntiltheygetthetiming
right.

ffi
7g
 #65:THESTALK
DBILL UP
BtOCK-HEAD

oblectlve: theability
T0improve back
ofadefensive orplayoffofa head'
todefeat
!p stalkblock.

Equipnent Needed:None.

Thedrillinv0lves
Descr,brlonr withoneplaYer
uptheplayers
pairing actlngasan
oliensive {B)andtheother
receiver/blocker asdefensivebac\luts) lne0rl'l
oegl'ls
bvhav'no tnetwopartic'pants setupfacing
eacn olheracross a line0fscrinrnage
rtbS),ninri,no,titottensive alignmenl
anddelensive and stance s
{arthe-coach
When
disLretion). tnecoach commands hlT'orslapslhefootbdll 0ltenslve
tl^e
oi.urr.ttrtptttonook the0Bstraightbackinaneffortt0 drivehim 0ffofthe
ibd.fnr O.tinOetttitt togetupunder number.
theblocker's t0 controlhimwithhis
andtomove himback Theplayers
upfield. arethenrotated witheach gettLng
hinds,
asmany onoffense
repetitions asthecoach
anddefense believes areappropnale

Points:
Coaching

. plaYers
onlhe0ffensive
getns hands
should
fhedefende, nunbersandge.thrs
1ea0 push
theblocker's
upabove andtoward
ngh mback 0l tneIle0
theIns'de

. back
A defensive inhishands
bestrong
must andarmsHeshouldworkupunder
thepads
ofa blocker t0
hisfaceinordeI
andthrough hlm
c0ntrol

00
 DBltt#66:THESTATK
Bt0CK-TURN
OUT
qbjective:Ioinprcve
th€abilityofa defensive orplayoff 0fa turn-
backtodefeat
0utstalkblock.

pnent Needed: None.

Equi

Desuipti1n:Ihe pairing
dtillinvolves uptheplayers.
withoneplayer actingasthe
receiver/blocker
0ffensive {B)andtheother asadefensive
back(DB).Thedrill
byhaving
begins thetwoparticipants setupfacingeach0theracrossa lineof
(LoSl
scrimmage intheir normal offensiveanddefensive
alignment andstance (at
thecoachsdirection).
When thecoach "HlT"
commands 0rslaps thefootball,
the
player
offensive attempts t0block theDBfrominside0uttrying
toturnhimt0the
0fthel0S.Thedefender
outside triestogetupundertheblockersnearest
pad.
shoulder working himbacktoward thecenter Theplayers
0fthefield. arethen
rotated
witheachgetting asmany repetitions
0noffenseanddefense asthecoach
deemsappropriate.

Points:
Coaching

. should
Thedefender attempttogethishands player's
ontheoffensive inside
while
shoulder, keeping get
hisownarmfreet0 totheball.

. The0Brnust
controlthe
bl0cker himback
andtryt0force toward
thefootball.

ffiffi
8l
 #67:THESTALK
DRILL BtOCK-H00K

t0defeat
back 0ffofahook
orpla\/
,.**'*e o{
abilitv adefensive
3ljr,fi,:r;J"

Equi1neNeeded:None

Thedriuinv0lves
rionr
Desc/ip uell:ei::e;:,:l'jffJJiffii'i#;iitt
eairin?

*ru
l$nif it'"m$i,i$i
Hi:1ffi
4i*ni*1i*
"i",,,:,f$lruli','l','i*:ru,',m
::l,l:*'ll'!l:l'd
',
#i:#T#lffiiIxv^i1ur"*:nl'J
;r*ff
feelsareaPPfoPriate'

CaachingPaints:

'i,$iii:r$:iil
j:i','.{.,ll*kiifi
[[,;rqB$:li*rh
' iiiii'iilii:
i'f'ffiln::h:niil''i'L"l'Ji
;:lil'liliild*dn:il:
@
6'
E
{,
!

82
 DRlt[#68:THEFUILBACK
KICK0UTBLOCK

oblec Toimprove
tiver theability
ofadefensive
back orplay0ff0fa kick
todefeat
outblock
bya fullback.

pn ent Needed: None.

Equi

Description:Ihe placing
dtillinyolves theplayers
ingroupsof three,withoneplayer
acting
astheoffensive (FBland
fullback twodesignatedasdefensive backs{DB).
Thedrillbeginsbyhaving thethreeplayerssetupfacing
each otheracross
a line0f
scrimmage(L0S) intheirnormaloffensive
anddefensivealignment andstance (at
thecoach'sdiscretion).
When thecoach commands "HlT"orslaps thef00tball,
the
FBattempts to kickouttheDB0nthatside inorder
t0create aseam between him
andthedefensive endonthatside. TheDBmust attack
theFBattheL0S. strikinga
blowwithhisinside forearmand his
sh0ulder pad.
The get
DBsh0uld hisfe€tup
underhim,andbeready tomove 0rinside.
upfield

CoachingPoints:

Thedefender
shouldbeablet0fightoutside wideplays
andforce inside
getting
without toofarupfield
andcreatinga gapbetween
himself
andthe
defensive
end.
TheDBmust stillbeablet0getback andhelp"upthe
inside
middle."

fullbacks
Because areusuallybigger
andstronger
thandefensive
backs,
a DB
should
avoidgetting
int0a contest
ofstrenqth
withthem.
A DBsh0uld
usehis
quickness
andspeedtogett0theball.

@
x
LOS x xxxx tt\

)
e9 @
@

ffiW
83
 BtOCK
G0UNDER
DRll[*69:THEFU[tBACK
backto defeator play0ff of a
theabilityof a defensive
}bjective:IoinDtove
block.
fullback's

Equipnent Needed: Nore.

invorles
drilr
Descnprr0rrThe th:Pralilsei'.i,jlTr',i1lliii;i.ll^3?ifi
er99!.s
offensive
asthe
acting (FB)and
fullback the
liJ.Tn:liiii1
:li*:n[im:.'ll;:ll;l:;:u';*t;ffi
i;1fi
rli{:'jiii;',
i,ytJ;},ri"'Hii*:tTlT
*:'ii,},',.iffi
;['J';:
n:it*.ll,i*;n't i:]?H,:','1"lBiliil
iill*xT[iJj
andtryto beathimtotheinside.

CoachingPoints:

. keep
sh0uld hisinside lf theballgoes
thetackle'
armfreetomake
Thedefender
tf'. O.ttnOtt
orit,Ot, force
tf'ould intotheball
deep
theblocker

. Becausefullbacksareus!allvbLsserandstronserJ
iiiSfSlf;
;lil*',':H"',Ul x;;il,;*i";;,,',.
l',Xl',.;l "k"h'
tacKle.

@
,---t ,----'---'.-
[,**i'-,.\
@@@

84
 0Rlt[ #70:THEPUH.ING
GUARD
BLOCK

backt0 defeator piayoff of a

theabilityof a defensive
2bjective:IoimTove
pulljng
guard's
block.

Equipnent Needed: None.

Description:Ihedrillinuolvesplanning
theplayefsingroupsof four.Twoplayersact
as pulling
guards whiletheotheftwoaredesignated
{G), asdefensive backs {DB).
Thedrillbeginsbyhaving thefourplayerssetupfacingeachotheracross a line0f
scrimmage (LOS)intheirnormal offensive
anddefensivealignmentandstance.
Whenthec0ach "HlT
c0mmands orslaps theiootball,
the guardspullandatternpt
to kicko!t ontheDB's.Each defenderrnustplaythisblockjustashewoulda
fullback's
block.Heattacks theguard,takeshimon,bounces backandgetshimself
under Hemustbeableto turninallwideplays,
control. whilehelping oninsideplays
aswell.Players sh0uld berotated betweenoffense anddefense asthecoach feeis
rsappr0pflate.

CaachingPoints:

Thedefendershouldmeet theguardasclose tothecenter

0ftheL0Sas
p0ssible.
Hem!stattack undertheguafd's pad
sh0ulder andforce theball
carrier
totheinside. goes
lf theballcafrier t0the0utside,
thedefendermust
trytoforcethebl0ckerdeep theplay0utt0thesideline.
intotheballandstring

Because guards
most0ffensive areeven
bigger
andstronger
thanm0st
fullbacks.
defensive
backsshould getting
avoid intoa c0ntest
0fstrength
with
them. usehisquickness
A DBshould togett0theballandhis
andspeed
aggressiveness
t0makethetackle.

x
x
-- | ,\ x A-
lxx!9 (9rt\tot
@@
@
ffi
85
 TIGHTENDBt0CK
DRI[l #71:THE
orplayoff ol a tight
backto defeat
theabilityot adefensive
T0improve
obletfiver
block.
end's

ntNeeded: None.
Equipne

;:lf:::i'.l',i'i,ti:
?ill'i'illi;',1i,',,11 ffii'
ffffi$J$,1'1""Tfffi
.,?'.]jiln:l;,l:'li;:il:lt.:::l:lhl"l';ff ;:;:lll,il:[::i-'""H
[:*r,Tl,'H#ll
ilifr
;i'*iilt';.':''ffi
n'iffi
mtffi ft'
r.rlra$4ri{1i{il;illlTlx:l'f
ilfilfiltriT*fT
s:"
lirflti*?ituT*gilil*$
CaachingPaints:

,i:{*f
$':i'l',':f#rx
i,}ff*.#i,{iililljf,Tfl:jffi
i$iffi
'H::lli:+r:i,':iffi
,'ffi
ldiifr
.,:hffi
tiiif:il*!.i;il.i'#
t0 t
als0staywiththeTEincoverage

x
x /.-\
x x x (TE)----\ LOS
,'-r t
- (DB)
\--'z
|
I
\

86
 DRltt *72;THECRACK
BtOCK

theability
improve
oblective:To ofadefensive
back orplayoff0fawide
todefeat
receiver's
crack
block.

Need
Eoui,nent ed:None.

twoplayefs
&ill involves
Description:The ata time.one playeractsasadefensive back
(DB),
whiletheother servesasawidereceiver {WB}-eachin hisnormaloffensive and
alignment
defensive andstance. When thec0ach commands "HlT"0rslapsthefo0tball,
theWF attemptstocrack blockthe DB.The defendershouldquicklyleadthe situation
anddecideupononeofthree courses First,
0faction. he canattempt t0 beatthe block
byquickly
hitting
up-fieldandforcingtherunwide anddeep(see OiagramA,below).
Second,hecanreadthecrackblackandquickly turnhisbackto theblocker,
therebY
theblocker
causing t0 him
clip (seeDiagram B,below).Third,
the DBcan deleatthe crack
theblocker,
blockbyattacking his
driving insideforearmandshoulder padthrough the
crackblocker's
chest fromtheinside t0outside(see DiagramC,below).Allplayels
shouldbeallowedseveral repetit
ionsatcrackblockingandbeing crack
blocked.

CoachilgPoints.
. should
Thedefender which
ouicklvdecide 0faction
course hewilltakewhen
block-read
acrack
confronting thecrack beatit upfield,
block. turnhisback
and
getclipped, theblocker.
ordefeat
. TheDBshouldnotg0under orinside
au ackblock lsuch areaction make
willjust
\nthis
blockeasylorab\ockerl.
thecraak instance,a will
blocker simpll"wall
the
off"thereby
defender theplaytomake
allowing it t0theoutside. A DBshould be
read
smart... quickly...
andactdecisively.

@x xxxx "9 , ,r r I
^ \\ -O t
@ @
A
Diagram oiagramB
x
a\
@ xxxx

r-!,
-@
Diagram
C
ffiffi
8t
 Bt0 CK
F T ARE
DRIL#t 7 3 :T HE

implove of a defensive
theability thebl0ckof a back
backt0 defeat
0bt'ectlvert0
outof thebackfield
flaring

EquipnentNeeded:Nore

actsasa
npair soneplayer
D e scl ,0 rto nr lhedr illinv0lvesplacngtheolaver s ,
back
oe'eriive who's
{DB). uffilTil'J::t"H,'fi::;L'#
asa'0rled
alisned
r,rT,'
'::;:ln:lT',HH:'l';i::,iffffi.x:i:;;tommands, trre
ors,aps -
p'sii'nontne
.itrtp', to tnoutside DB DB
lhe
il,;;;.;;il;;l
ft"ib";ii
:t;.Ji,l't'I:'it
s" ,
Iti:li'i:iB":i:i:1iil?l*
*:i[:*llglrulliil
andthedefense
theoffense

CoachingPoints:

. quickly
sh0uld move drive
int0thebackfield' armup
hisinside
Thedefender head
itlirJgh andtrYtoturnthebl0cker's
;h. h;Ji.o;itck ;f theblocker
t0 intercept
andinpositi0n -
tne
uofieid.TheDBwillendupoutside, inc0ntro!
stepsareexecutedproperly'
;itchif theaforemention;d

'::iill::ffilii?$?Hl:ifl:lTTfi l1tlil'
t'J','],'.'j:ilHil"'#f
disrupi
*;;nJ basicallv 0ftheplav
thetimins
ffi';il;-ili

@--------.,
x xxx

88
COVERAGE

>

HffiM
8S
 GOVER
DRI[[ #?4:LATERAI

ability
deuelop
lbjective:Io backt0 staywiththereceiver'
0fa d€fensive

Lquipnent Needed: None.

Ihecoach naslhedefensive backstand withhishan0s hisbdcl

behind
Descr,;otion: (Bc)then
rii*.'u'oti*rtntnatte-yard back
ora Iunning
linesA receiver assumes
anof'erstve Dosition, tl'edelensive
facinq back0n thecoachs c0mmand b0 Ine
andfolthbetween The
lines
lhet,ard defens've
ritrrri". ol'urttrrt r"lerily,back
,overing0r the
mirroling offensive Afterabout
player' ten .
u.rf rtiUr!tuiuratt}/,
movement,
t.Ithla-teral thecoach atwhich
commands"'Cut'"
,rro.Oroi O.Ck-*O
pla\/eItu'nsandattempts t0runup-lreld The back
defensive
timethe0ffensive
fishards t'0mbehind hisback and.ams theteceiverasheatlemptst0rurl
brinqs
,pliirrl.irtir,t. ,-ttues tocovet thereceiverforabouttenyardsoIuntilthe
coach haltsthedrill.

CoachingPoints:

. ThecoaLh rhedefensive
require
sh0uld hishands
backt0keep hisbacl
behind
movement playel
andjamIheoffensive as as
s00n poss 0le
alllareldl
d,r'inq
afteithe player
offensive upJield
turns

. become withthisdrill,
proficient player
theoffensive runat
should
AsDlavers
heturns
once asthedefensive
up-field backattempts nlm
t0cover
topspeed
 DRI[L#75:DEEP
C0VER

qbjective:fo
develop backto cover
theabilityof adefensive g0ing
thereceiver
deep.

EouiDnent Needed:Nor'e.

s pairing
dtillinu0lve
Description:Ihe uptheplayers. 0neplayeractsasadefensive
(DB),
back while theother serves asa receiver Thecoach
{R). hasthedefensive back
assume stance,
a defensive whilestanding astrideoneoftheyard lines.
A receivet
thentakes upanoffensivepositi0nabout three yardsinfrontofthedefensiveback,
astride
thesame yardline, facingthedefensive back.0nthecoach's command,
"G0," player
the0ffensive runs a weave pattern d0wn theyardlineatthree'
quarters limiting
speed, theweave ton0norethanthree yardsfromtheyardline.
Thedefensiveback performs thisdrillwithhishands behindhisback.staying
low
andcrouched andwithout crossinghis feet.
After thedefensive backhasrunabout
twenty yards,
thecoach should terminatethedrill,
have thetwoplayers recover
andhave two0ther players assurnetheproper positions
t0startthedrillagain.

CoachinaPoints:

Thecoachshouldrequire
thedefensivebackst0keep
their
handsclasped
behindtheirbacks thedrillandconcentrate
throughout 0nn0tcrossing
their
feet.

backs
Asthedefensive becomeproficient
atthisdrill,
theyshouldber€quired
boththespeed
t0incrbase theymust
andthedistance runduring
thedIill.

ffiffi
9l
 TURN
DRllt #76:SPEED

theability0fa detensive
T0develop
oblectlver whois
a receiver
backt0cover
a post-cotner
running r0uIe
ora cornet-posl

Equipnent Needed: Nane.

,escrl0rloniThedefensiveback assumes adefensivestance fivetosevenya'ds In

i,oniotanO tacinstf'ecoach.0n thecodchs commdnd "
G0 thedefensive back
starisuacl-peOaiingwhileturning tothe
alternately insideand th€ in
outside'
yards .,
tne
resoonseroIhecoach's hand signalsAltertheplayel IUnsback l5
ab0ut
shouldgivethecommand Bleak" Thisisa signal
totheplavert0execute a
coach
tiqhttollorturnt0 theoutside asthough coverinqa braking runnlng
recelver a
ouick.
oasrouit.tnAtterrLnning about 10Yards pasttl'epointwhen thecommano
IBreakwasqiven, thec0ach shoul0stopthe dlrllandhave the player
Ieturnt0 Ine
lineofplayeriwaiting theirtulntorunthedrill

CoachingPaints:

. Thecoach should t0gradually

theplayers
require thespeed
increase atwhich
in
involved
thetechniques
iheyi;nthisdrillasiheyrnaster thedrill

. Varielv canbeadded
a1d0r0oression areceiver'
tothisdrillbyusing lnthis
plaYer
oflensive
oranother throw
would a passt0the
i.rt-,'Jiinrtint"r*rh
receiveraflerhemakes onhisroute
hisbreak bach
togivethedetenslve a
chance theball
to Pla\/

ri
!
|n
I

s2
 D R l t t# 7 7BUM
: P
ANDRUN

qbjective:Io
developtheability
ofa def€nsive
backtobump a receiver
offhisrorle
t0 improve ofa defensive
theabiiity backto l0okthroLrgh
a receiver
t0thebal;t0
have adefensive
back practice
c0ntinuing
t0cover hisz0neafterburnping
a receiver.

Needed:
EouiDnen( A foolball.

Des dtillinvolvespairing
cription:fhe players
rp defensive whoalternatebeing
anddefensive
receivers backs.ThereceiverslineuDina three-Doint
stance withthe
coach asthequarterback.
acting Thedefensiveplayer
linesupina gooddefensive
stancet0coverthereceiver. When thecoach dropsback topass.thereceiverruns
either
a slant'in
ora slant'out route (asdirectedbythecoach).
Thedefensive back
getclose
letsthereceiver tohimandthengives hima quick,
hardbump. lf the
receiver inorruns
slants straightatthedefensiveplayer,
thedefendershould bump
thereceiver's
insideshoulder. lf thereceiver
turnsout,theDBshould bump the
receivels
0utsideshoulder. Afterthebump bythedefender,thecoach sh0uld throw
thefootballtowardthedefensive player.Eothplayers
shouldtryt0catch theball.
Playersshould
alternate receiveranddefensivebackroles.

Points:
Coachino

Thecoachshould
enrphasizeto thedefensive
backthathesh0uld
letthe
get
receiver cl0seto himbeforebumpinghim.The defender
should
not
andget0ff balance
overextend whentryingto b!mpthereceiver.

player
Thedefensive sh0uld "100k
always thereceiver
through" t0 the
q,arterback.
Feshouldalways
watchtl^eba...

{DE

ffiffi
g3
 DRltt
C0VER
DBlt[# 78:THREE-YARD

T0enhance
tlver
0blec theability back
0fadefensive s
tobealertt0 therecerver
mJ".mentr:topttrtice defensve
inacomlortable
leing stanceit0perfect
thestart
stance
fromadefensive andtoeliminatethe sleps
falsestaltsandunnecessary

Nee
Eouionent ded:A Ioolball.

Descl/ol/onr pairifg,p
lhedriltinvolves thedefens vebdcks One plaYeractsasa
,rGuSifnl.*nie tr't otnetservesis adefensiveback {D
B} Dependrngupon the
ofplayers
,-i*nrtunrti,tt ttt puirs canperform thisdrillatthesame time The
ir* r'i.to uo.ritnreeya'dsopa'tina tnreepointslance,whiledelensrvebacks
take "."
u0ddelensivestance yards
three 0ff thelecevers0n thecoachs movement lTne
r.*l OaorOrir*it' te balllikeaquarterback showng pass) theIeceiver at
sprints
ioor o.r-Ofoiupo.otutelytenyardiThedelensive back back-pedals n0t
trVing to
geteien withhimw irhinthe10yards Afterthetecervershaverun
ii6uJir'e 'uitto
10vards- "tecoacn
the shouldthrow ihefoolballlowardthecenter 01tne0elenslve
ri#'r. nt in., ooir,otihtherecerversa1drhedelelsive allconverge
backs onthe
i.riinJuit."pitor""h ir Theleceivers anddefensivebaLks shouldthen allernate
theirpositions.

CoachingPoints:

. theimportance
emphasize
should
Thecoach back
0fadefensive alertforthe
being
keeping
movementi,
receiver's falsestartsor
andnotmaking
a lowstance
steps.
unnecessaly

. Thedifficulty byhaving
ofthisdrillcanbeincleased backs
thedeJensive lineup
oinineyards
five,seven offthereceiver therecelver
thedistance
andincrease
sprlnii app,opriately
OowntiefA (ie. deeper
twoyards
forevery thedetensive
oiaver uo,thereceiver
lines fiveyards
sprints deeper)

@"

@"

@"
+l o yds.-+

s4
 DRIL[# t9: C0MPETE
T0ll{TERCEPT

qbjective:IoimrIwe
conpetitive
instincts;
t0enhance
interception
technhues.

Eouionent Needed:A loolball.

Descption:Iheplayerclorm twoequallinesfacingeach other 15yards

approximately
apart.one lineis
designated asoffensive (F),while
players theotherservesas
defensivebacks(DB). Thecoachstands t0thesideo{theoffensive playersandstarts
thedrillbysimulatingthecentersnap 0fthelootball {slaptheball,bark"hike,"
etc}.
The
drillbegins
byhaving thefirstplayer
ineachlineruntowardtheotherplayelthecoach
throws theballinbetween theplayers.
Theplayers react t0theballinaone-on,one
attempt tocatch thef0otball.once
theballhas been caught, theplayerreturns
theball
tothecoach andthenexttwoplayers begin.

Coachino
Points:

player
Adefensive shouldkeephis
eyes protectthe
onthefootball, ballwith
his
body,
andreach aspossible
theballashigh intheair.

Thecoach
cancolrtrol
whocatches theballand
keep
thisdrillrelatively
collision-
freebywhere
hethrows theball.

!
i
T
rn

I
ffi
95
 PERCEPTI0N
DRI[[ #80:DEPTH

imDrove
ob,bcllveiT0 back
ol a defensive
theability tointercept pass;to
thelonger
inciease
comoeiittve toDraclice
instincts: interception
backs
adefensive
techniques.

iDnentNeeded: A loolball.
Eou

plavers
DescfipllonrThe lormtwoequal linesfacing each other
approxrmatelY30
40vdiaoart.0ne I'neactsas oilensive plaYers {B)while lhe serves
0ther as
aefLnsivbbacks(081. Thecoach stands 0nlhesideline withtheoffensiveplayers
.nO'sti,ittn.Otltt
U\/simulatrng thecenter snap ofthe The
football pl€yer
first in
eacnlinerunstoward theother at lullspeed Thecoach lhenthrowstheballIn
between the0lavers approximatelY20yards down thefieldTheplayers reactto
oniattempt
theballina oire-bn tocatch thefootballoncetheball has been
cauqht,tl'eplaver
returns theballbyrunnrng it backt0thec0ach andthen g0es t0
tneend0f theoDposite Thecoach
line. canhelp contr0lthecompetrtrvenessol tnls
dnllandhelpkeep it fairlY by
injury-lree where hethrows thefootball

CoachingPoints:

. back
Thedefensive keep
should hiseyes plotect
onthef00tball, theballwith
aspossible
theballashigh
andreach
hisDody, intheair

. a defender
Once a pass,
hasintercepted heshould kn0w
lethisteammates that
throw
hehastheballandthattheysh0uld fofhimby
a bl0ck a
h0lleling
prearranged
codeword "Bingo,"
"Fire,"
(e.g., etc.)

@
^ fti)
.,o.,,..(9 6

W
96
 DRt[[# 81:DEFENDTNG
THECUBt

1bjective:foinrjove
theability0fa defensive
backto overtake
andstepinfront0f
a receiver
andintercept
theballwithout interferinq.

Equipnent Needed:A I oatball.

Description:Ihe playercformasinglelinefacing
thec0ach at a distance
ofabout
20yards. At thecoach's directjon,
thefirsttwoplayersinlineruntowardthec0ach
(thefirstathalf-speed,andthesecond player
at%speed). Thecoach throws the
footballnear thefirstplayer(R)atapproximately
thesame timethatthesecond
player,{DB)overtakeshim. Thefirstplayerserves
asa receiverwhilethesec0nd
playeractsasadelensive back. Theintercepting
playermust stepinfrontofthe
receiver,
intercepttheballwithout making bodily
contactandthenreturn the
interceptedbaItothecoach. Thepatthenreturls t0theend0flhelineofolavers.
They swirch rherr
order inline(defense
tooffense andv:ce-versal.

Coachina
Paints:

Thedefender
must
steparound,
infrontof,orover
theshoulder
0fthereceiver
without
making
contact
before
theballarrives.

0ncehehasinterceptedtheball,
thedefender
must
keephiseyesonthe
football
untilit isunder
hisarmwithhishand
covering
thepojnt
oftheball.

gl
 THEOUTANDUP
DRIL[#82:DEfEND|ltlc
t0react
Dacks the0ut
t0andcover
Toimprove
oblectiver otdefensive
rheability
wtthout
route
and-up beat0eep
getting

ntNeeded:
Equipne f0otballs
Several

ili:1lli1*ii{i:.',:'"'"'ff
31'Jr3Jifii Ttre
atignment
noirittnte.-otep 1w0!layl ii"i':'::',f;
il#jiis,{,ft'*fiii
#:;xl'*irhi*r;*il;Jxfl
:iiirii.'iijr,^'i'i
u.,k
;txiiii!!i!l'',l!l:
Jlrii"'T';ff
iffii
l'lJ
ry",q9J:l*!:'J;l|19tvil:'J,'.'J.X
iil#fl;niL:hr*';:"w*lr*"i:
ill,t,,j*lffi
a "Gotoute.
running

CoachingPoints:

' ll,"';liiffi Jff'l:;l:l:*-'

fJ?:
TiltllilTj,;,Ti:
:i:*il""ill:
'ff tr,*Ii':liljf
ff"if lt;'r'r'il,',;[iilffi$1

98
 D R l t t# 8 3 :T H ESPEED
T URN

qbjective:Io
inrfaveIheabilityofa defensive thep0stc0rnef
backtocover move
with0ut
bya receiver getting
beatdeep.

Needed:
Equipnent footballs.
Several

lves pairing
hedrillinuo
Description:I uptheplayers0neplayeractsasa defensive
back(DB),whilethe0ther playerservesasa receiver Thetwoplayers
{R). startthis
10yards
drillapproximately apart, withthecoachandthereceiverontheline0f
scrimmage andthedefensive back heads'up Thecoach
0nthereceiver. c0mrnences
thedrillbyslapping
thefootball0rcalling"Set."
Therecejver to r!na post
starts
which
route, causesthedefender toturnandrunwithhim.once thedefensiveback
hasturned,thereceiverthenturns andrunsforthecorner.
lnthe process,
he
crossesthefaceofthedefensive back.Thedefensive
back must thenturnhisback
tothelineofscrim0rage andsprint tocatchthereceiver.

CoachingPoints:

Thedefensive
back
sh0uld
read (coach's
thequarterback's while
)eyes
maintaining proximity
cl0se t0 thereceiver.

Instead
0fcrossing
overinfrontofthereceiver,
thedefensive
backshou
d roli
quickly perform
{i.e., a speed maintain
turn)and theploper
inside
anddeep
p0srtr0n.

WKffiffi
s9
 DRltt #84:THECATANDM0USE

lheabilityofa defensive
inprcve
1bjective:Io deeproutes.
backt0 cover

Needed:
Equipnent f00tballs.
Seueral

Descriptian:Ihe uptheplayers
pairing
dtillirtuolves 0neplayeractsasa defensive
while
back{DB), theother asa receive(R}
serves withthecoach,
Thedrillbegins
thedefensiveback andthereceiver0ntheline0fscrimrnage Theplayers line!p
fiveyardsfromthesideline,whilethecoachispositionedinside
thehashmark. The
defensivebackisfacing withhisback
thereceiver, tothecoachandhishand the
0n
while
receiver hesprints downfield
straight ona f lypatternThed€fensive back
thereceiver
trails onhisinside trying
shoulder, tosqueeze himinto
the sideline
Once thereceiverhasgone 20'25yards,
thecoach throwshima passwhich both
playersg0I0r.

CoachingPoints:

back
Thedefensive should head
thereceiver's
read andeyes maintaining
while
withback
contact ofthereceiver's hand.
deepest

lo0kback
should
Thedefender hisinside
oveI shoulder, contact
maintaining
once
forfootball
andtimehismove/jump
withthereceiver thepass
hasbeen
tnr0wn.

t 00
 DBlt[#85:THEJUMPBAtI

1bjective:fo
inrl ovethedefensive
backsjumping
abiiity,
timing
andlevelof
competitiveness; "fighting"
t0practice fortheball.

ipnent Needed:A tootball.

Equ

Descption:fhe
&illinyolves
twodefenders
facingthecoach
at a distance
of about
tenyards.
Thecoach throwstheballinto
theairhighenough
between thetwo
thatbothplayers
defenders must theground
leave inorder
t0retrievetheballatits
point.
highest

Coaching
Points:

. Thedefensive
backmustwatchtheball.
timehisleap
andfightt0gettothe
p0ssible
highest pojnt
offoftheground.

. Thecoach pairplayers
should 0fsimilar
abilities
andrepeat
thisdrillatleast
three
times pairofdefenders.
foreach

odi

ffiffi
l0 l
 DRIL[# 86:THEDOGFIGHT

Toimprove
0blertlvei back's
thedefensive and
competitiveness
timing,level0f
skills.
interception

A f ootball
Needed:
Equipnent

tw0defendels
Tl'edrillinvolves
,escrlpllonr thecoach
faci'lg of2-3
lromadistance
vardsTl'ecoacnDeqirs b0thplayers
rhe0'irlbysignaling t0slartback-pedal'ng
withtnefootballwhchlsa cue
oe.Thecoicnthenm0tiors
irqe-bv-s 'eflotIighI
rhe thl0wstheball
Iobreak
to lhedefenders intnesame direction coach rhen
;;tweenthetwodefensive backs, causingthem t0 t0
fight gettheintelcepti0n'

Paints:
Coaching

. back
Thedefensive thequartelback
watch
shoLrld s eyes while
andthefootball'
get
t0 t0the
hisleapandfighting
timing ball

. pairplayers
should
Thecoach 0fmlxedabilities andrepeat
andskills thisdrill
foreach
severaltimes untiltheproper
plaver aggressive is
attitude bY
exhibited
thedefenders.

Nffiffi
102
 DRll-t#87:THESTRIPPER
qbjective:Ioimrfouethe
abilityofa defensive
backto taketheballoutof the
ofof"stripa receiver
hands of thefootbal..

Equipnent
Needed:
A football.

Description:Ihe pairing
dtillinvolves uptheplayers.oneplayer
actsasa receiver
while
{R), the0therserves asa defender Each
{DB). pairlines
upfacing thecoach
froma distance
ofapproximateiy yafds.
10-15 Thecoach assumesa position
near
thecenter0fthefield, withtheplayers yards
10-15 offtoward onesideline.
0na
signalfromthecoach, bothplayers
runtoward thecenter0fthefieldt0a p0int
directly
opposit€
thecoach. Thecoachthenpassestheballtothereceiver.The
defenderreachesaround thereceiver
withhisoutsidehandtrying
todislodge the
Theplayers
ball. should begivenseveralrepetitions
frombothsidelines,bothasa
receiver
andadefender.

CoachingPoints:

. Thedefensive back
should
watch thecoach'seyesandthefootball.
Heshould
timehisstriptodislodge player
theballonlyafterthe0ffensive hast0uched
th eb a l l .

. Thedefensivebackshould usehisinside
armtokeepcontact
withthereceiver.
Thedefendermust beprepared thereceiver
totackle incase
hisoutside
arm
d0esnotstriptheball fromthereceiver's
hands.

St?ip
Point

ffiffiffi
t0 3
 STRIP
DRI[[ # 88:BUTT-T0-BUTT

lheabilityol a defensive
)bjective:Ioinrf)ve backt0 c0me thereceiver
around
wh0hasalreadycaughttheballand it
strip out0f hands.
his

EquipnentNeeded: A toold]all.

Descriptiln:fhe lvesqrouping
dtillinuo inpairs.one
theplayels playe{ actsasa
receiver while
{R), the serves
other asa back
defensive (08) Eachpair upwith
lines
thereceiverfacingthecoach andthedefenderwho hashisback to him{butt't0-
butt).Thepairispositionedl0l5 yardsaway fromthecoach Thecoachstafts the
drillbypassingtheballtothereceiver.N0 "commands"areused The
inthisdrill.
defender reacisto the soundof the hands
receiver's the
hittinq ballby immediately
turningaroundandattempting pulling
tostriptheballby onone0rbothofthe
receiversarms. Theplayers shouldbegivenseveral asbothI€ceiver
repetitions and
defendef.

CoachingPoints:

. back
Thedefensive should listen react
carefully, instantane0uslyt0thesound
thereceivert
ofthef00tballhitting timehisturnandstriptheball
hands,
carefully.

. Thedefender usehisarms
sh0uld t0keep contact The
withtheleceiver'
defendermustbeprepared
t0 the
tackle in
defendercasethe to stripthe
effort
ballfromthereceiver's
hands isunsuccesstul.

o
I

I
tt
'@l
/-\,,
a9-
W
t04
 DRlL[#89:BUTT-T0-BUTT
FtRE

O^b/ectlye;
T0improve
theabilityof adefensive
backt0 reactqujckly
to thecallof
"Ball"
andcome around
thereceiver without
making physicalcontact
withhim.

Equipnent
Needed:
A foolball.

Desctiptia_n:fhe
dtillinvolvesgroupingtheplayers
inpairs.oneplayeractsasa
'eceiver{Bl,while
theother servesasa defensiveback {DB).Thepiayersassume a
positiontenyardsinfrontofthecoach. Thereceiver
faces thecoach,while the
defender hashisback totherec€iver.Tobeginthedrill,
thecoachthrows theballt0
thereceiver.When theballgetstowithin threeyards ofthereceiver.
allofthe
defensive backs
whoaren0tcurrently panicipdting
inthedrillyell'gall."
ihe
defender thensnapsaround infrontoftherecejver
with0ut maki0qcontact wjth
hrml-lelooksfortheball, jt,andreturns
intercepts it to thecoach.

Coachino
Points:

Thedefensive
back should
listen
carefully,
react
instantaneously
t0thecail,
andtimehiseffortt0moveandintercept
theballwith0ut physical
making
contact
withthereceiver
carefully.

Toincrease
thelevel
ofdifficuhy
ofthisdrill,
thecoachcanreq!irethedefender
tosnapovertherightside
ofthereceiver
while hethrows
theballt0the
outside
left0fthereceiver.

t0s
 DBltl # 90:TlPAllDBIOCK

ol a defensive
in$ovetheabilitY
Ibiective:Io from
rapidly
backto transition
deiense andblock
tooffense potential tacklers

Atootball;
EluilnentNeeded: dummy'
a bl0cking

Descfrbtlot;The drillinvolves theplayers

grouping inpairsBothplaYers-act as
defenders.Each oairlines upwiththefirstplayer facing
lP-11 thecoach roma,
distance otaoproximately 10yardsawaY witha bl0cking dummy beslde nrmlne
second 0laver(P-2)
assumes ona linefacing
a position thecoach at a or
olstanc.e
aDDroximately 20yards. Thecoach startsthedrillbypassing theballt0rne nrsr
olirnriuruiir,*rio tipt theballback overhis headto thesecond defender'The
a command {eg "BING0 '/ "G0"/
o.rorriuJi*otr.i^tei.epts theballhollers
;itii." etc.)
andruns ttreballbacktothecoach Ass00n asthefirst playerhears
who lepresents a potential
receiver(formerly
the"iodeword,' heblocks thedummY
onoffense, nowondelense should
) Players begivensevelal repetltlonsasD01nIne
firstandsecond rnan inline.

CoachingPoints:
ii the'dummy"
andblock
Iisten atthe
. tiptheballhigh,
sh0uld
Thefirstdefender
warst.

. Theseconddefender theballatitshighest
catch
should yellthe
point,
enough
loudly
codeword
transition'to-offense thatallteammatescanhealano
coach.
theballbacktothe
sprint

t06
 D R t t t# 9 1T: EAM
T tp

0bFcrlyei
T0improve
theability
0fa defensive
backtoconcentrate
onlheballatall
practice
trmesjto keepingtheballinplay.

Equipnent
Needed:
A lootball.

Descflpli0nrThecoach hastheplayers formasingle line,

withabout twoVards
between each player.
Thetirstplaye. {P.11inlineshouldbeaD0roximatelv 20vards
awayfr0mthecoach, Iacinghrm. When thecoach raisesthef0otball showinooass.
thefirstplayerinlinerunstoward thecoach. Aftertheplayer runs a fewvarJj,the
coach throwsah ghpass t0theplayer. lheplayer0oes 10tcatch thebali.butti0s
it upinthe€irrothesecond player lP.2), whowj l;kew;se tiptheballr0 therhird
player andso0n.Thelastplayef
{P-3), inlinecatches thebailandtosses it backto
thec0ach. Theplayers thenlineupagain, withthesecond player
movino to thefirst
player position,
theprevr0us fisr player movjngtorheendoftheline, eic.The
coach sh0uld
continue thisdrilluntilallplayershavehadthechance tobeinthe
position.
f irst-player

Coaching
Paints:

. Thecoach sh0uld
emphasize
theimportance
ofeveryone
keeping
theireyes
on
th eb a ll .

. Thec0ach shouldestablish g0althateach

asa basic player
tipsthefootball
t0
theplayer behindhimandthatthelastplayer
lnlinemust
catch theballwithout
Ietting
it hittheground.

ffiffium
107
 ANOACCETERATE
DRIIt # 92:REACT

T0improve
0biecrvei ofa defensive
theability thequartelbacks
t0read
back
quickl\/
teact
movements, thefootball
andintercept

Needed:
Eouionent footballs
Several

DescrrlloniThe havinq
drillinvolves players lineupthree abreast 15-
appr0ximalely
2Ovardsawavlromlhecoach. ThemiddleplaYer actsasa defender {DBlwhile
the
piayers
twooutside serve asreceivets The
{R) coach startsthe drillbycommandlng
"Set."
Hethenslaps theballandturnshisshoulders and stepst0ward oneofthe
Thedefender
tworeceivers. reactstothecoach s{quarterbac k's) bodymovement
toward
bvsorinrinq the receivet
onthe indicated sideof thelield. When hegets
a vaidortwool thereceiver,
within thecoach passes theballt0 thatreceiver'
everyone
caJSing inthegloup tocall'BALL " Thedefender lhenliftshishead
tocaies
ouicktvl andintercepts
tnefoot-ball theball. Playelsshould eachbegiven
t0bethe"man
severaloDDoltunities inthemiddle"

Paints:
Coaching

. man
Themiddle mustwatch (qualterback
thecoach's will
footwhich
s)front
tohimwhich
indicate heshould
directi0n 90.

. Thefirstmove should
0fthedefender bea heads-down t0hisleftor .
sprint
followed
rioht. sealch
bva heads-up When
forthefootball lheinterceptronrs
m"aae.Lne call0ulthecodeword
should
defender theballback
andsprint to the
coach.

c
\

(R)

ffiffi
t 08
 DRI[[# 93;2-0]rt-t
VERT|CAt
STRETCH

1bjective:fo
inr[ovetheability0fa defensive
back(az-deep
safety)
toDrotect
his
zoneagainst
anequal vertical
stretch bytwowidereceivers, quickiy;;;
react
Intercept
thet00fball.

Equipnent
Needed:
A football.

Desuiption:Thedtiltinvolves
havinga defensive
back{DB) alignhimself 10ya,ds
awayIrom-and [acing thec0ach
inthemiddleoftheheld.Two players,
acrino as
receivers
lB).position themselves
beside
rhec0acl.anequatdiitaiceon,,intir,O.
ofthedefender (ab0ut ayard
outside
hashmark).Thecoach stansthedrillbv
commanding "Set."Hethenslaps theball,
whichisa signal
toeach receiverio
sprint
straightdown thefield.Thedefensive
backmusiback,pedal, allthewhile
keepi0g
hiseyes onthecoach {quanerback).
Hemust neveralloweither r€ceiver
t0
getbehindhim.When thecoach
iquarterback)turns
tothrow theballtooneoi the
receivers,
thedefender reacts
bysprint.ng
toward ar interception
p0int.Whe,t ths
nterceptt0n
ismade, thedefeqdercal,s
outthecodeword andsprjntstheballback
t0thecoach.Players arethenrotateds0thateachhasseveralopportunjtiest0be
boththedefender andthereceiver.

Coachino
Points:

Thedetensive
backshou'd (quarterback,sleyes
warchthecoach's wh:lekeeDin0
b0rhreceivers
intront0l himby peripheralvision.
"sing

Thereceivers
shouldjust
keeprunnirg
straight
downthefield.0nce
theballhas
beenthr0wn
theyshouldn0tgoforthef00tball
inorder
t0 prevent
colllsi0ns
andpossible
injuries.

@ c @
I
i PB)
I
,
i///

ffiW
t0 9
 MABKDRltt
DRllt#94:THEHASH

ii:if,:'filHl'.'I,'fl
fixf,liill"'J,'.H::iil
flifi fi:'"
l,'.\ff
[1'J,T."'i'i:
i,nentNeeded:A I ootball
Eou

;iq:
3fi'.Tflff
i{i!I!*lifr
i;^$"3,i''e,,::.*fi
ii:iir,{*i,::i'iiir
l:ur+**fit**tt*'n lfllfl;:,:ffi;
sji?'tJ"'.'ffi
ttfi*i;'fl
lTfi;jl',fs[','.'ff
g',l:t oone rece
0rthe rsThe
ive
"'
lllt',,lo*.[?il,[?
n',,',.'r'.*'noil1
Ii:Hlid:::'ff
::ll;, il,isi:?i',f,T1l"
ll::;u,:*;:::ifi;i.{
ardlheIece'ver'
tobeboththedefender
oioortunities

CaachingPaints:

#iJi'.*''
'*'ri:fffiffi:1,'J,t]x,Y,j;,'iJl,',.*"ff
i',',11:::i1l':ff
bviprrntinq
thrown po'nl
to tl'einterceDtion

j;lf:';','.n?:i?iT"ffilil
' l;J; if,:?1#iili'"'ji;':itjiiii back t0
theopporLunity
if,t.ft.tbarltogivelhedelensrve
"i'n'hr',nro*i
coveratttnedistance between thehashmalks

il0
 DEltt# 95:COVEB
D0Wtrl
2bjective:.Io
inri.oue
theabilityol adefender
to breakontheballonceit isthrown,
quickly
react andintercept
thefootball;t0practice
tipping
theball.

Equipnent
Needed:
A toolball.

Desuipti1n:Ihecoach actingasthequarterback,
thfows aQainst a n0rmal3 deeD
4-deeporfulldelensivealignment.
Thecoach begins
thedrit,bycommandinq ,Sei.
Hethenslaps theballtostartthedefendersm0viqg
inresponse l0 thefoorSall {i.e.,
thecoach movestheballtotheleft-thedefenders
sliderioht,etc.lThecoach then
throwstheballatany0neofhisdefensive backs.
Eachdefender isreouiredto (i0
theball;nt0theairwith0utintercepting
it.Assoon
asthedefenders in0wwheie
theballhasbeen thrown,theysprint
t0thatarea.
Thesecond plavermust a,s0ttD
theball,f0llowedbythethirdplayer,
ardsoon.Finatly,
thelastpl;yer intrne
intercepts yells
theball, thecodewordforaninterception,
andreturns theballto
thecoach.

Coachino
Points:

Thedefenders should
watch (quarterback's)
thecoach's eyes,
sprint
t0theball,
tipit intheairandbeattheinterc€ptor
backtothelineofscrimmage.

Thelastman
t0t0uch
theballleaps,
intercepts
theball,
andruns
theballback
tothecoach.

Thisdrillshould
berepeated
if theballhitsthegf0und
orif anyoftheplayers
whotipped theballdonotcrossthelineofscrimmagebefore
thedefender
wh0
interceptedtheball.

@-"rr ' ,u, o--

ffiffi
ill
 # 96:PASSPURSUIT
DBILL

backt0getqu;ckly
0f a deJensive
theabilitY
Ioimprove €rea
to hisdrop
oblecllver
t0 practice the
t0 intercepting
Ieacting foolball
uslq tnep,opeipursuit
angle,

EouiDnent Needed: A,loolball.

asthequarterback.
coach'acting a normal3-deep'
throwsagainst
Descriltion:Ihe "-Set''
ffixi;; oegrns
rnecoact'
i ;;f.*;; at;tnirent thedrillbvc0mmanding
thedelenoers response
mov ngin The
tothefootball
i. i# rruolirtiar ,t stlart
,ou.ri,,"'u d,0p'back passtoevaruat;illiiiifJii;ii::iltl]ll,"'**,
't'uisi,t
aIe
backfield
defensive properly l(
covered.
"
;l::,::,'':llry
:l:**l':*r;'lt*lt:'l*h'.lr:i"'ffi
[:ft1;:lix
iLxlf
::ff'lJilii
ni:lliy,*itu:ni'i1t:i'J;IH[ iilllllSl'$ii'il]i" thefootballtothecoach'
theballreturns
,'nirtit"* i-fl. OtitrOuwhointercepted

Points:
Coaching

. s (quarterback
watchthecoach
sl'ould
Thedetenders s)eYes'sprinltoihearea
where backt0 llne0I
thebdllwastnlownandbealtheinterceptor the
scrimmage.

. andcorrect
evaluate
sh0uld coverage
theoefensive t0
movement
Thecoacn
pulsuit
coverage. angles, etc
teamhustle,

w
f2
 DRI[#
[ 97T
: H EMIRB0SC0
R RE

1bjective:Ioinrfouethe
abiiity
0fthedefensive
backs touse0ne-on-one
coveraoe;
(eeping
ropractice an0llensive
ran lromcross,lg
ll.elineofscrim"']age.

Equipnent
Needed:Iwo
cones
0rscrimmage
vests.

Descripti1n:Iwoplayetsfaceeach otherat a distance

of oneyard.oneplayer
acts
asa balcanier{BC), whiletheother actsasadefender (DB).
Thecoachsetsuptwo
c0nes 0rvests2-3yards apart 00a linebetween theplavers.
Thecoach starts
thjs
dfillbycommanding "Hll"Thisisa signalt0bothplayers tosprint
forwardtoward
theline.Thedefensive playerusesbothhands ardattempts tokeep theoffensive
p ayerfrom gettingb0thofhisfeetover theline. plaver
Theoffensive has20
seconds togetbothofhisfeetacross thelineasman\/ timesaspossible.
The
players'roles
arethenreversed inorder t0 providebothplayers
withtheopportunity
t0pefform thedrilloneach side0ftheline.Thewinner istheplaver
whoallows the
0ffensive t0cross
0laver thelinetheeastnumber 0ftimes.

Coachinq
Points:

Thedefendersh0uldconcentrate
onhisman.
Hesh0uld hisposition
maintain
andneverlunge hisfeetprematurely.
0r leave Heshould
keephiseyes0penand
strike
through
thenumbers player,
0f theoffensive putting
hishands
undefthe
player's
offensive pads.
shoulder

Theballcarriershould
n0trunt0olowHeshould keepinmindthathisg0aI isto
getbothof hisfeetacrossthelineasmany aspossible
times within20
sec0nds.ll
heisknocked to thegr0!nd,
hegetsonlyonepointandloses
valuable
time.

(C)
6D
\--,/
r_-__-_,1
V Y
I____,;
@__ i

ffiffiffi
113
 DBIL[#98:BUMPTHERECEIVEB

theability0fadefensive
Toimpr0ve
oblectivei off ofhisroute
areceiver
backto knock

None.
ntNeeded:
E1uiDne

DescnbtirrnrThe twoplayers
drillinvolves atatime0neactsasareceiver(Bl,while the
other ;erves asadefender {DB)whoiscoveringanoutside zoneThecoach startsthls
drillbycommanding " "
HlT orslapping afootballThe player
offensive thenspants
downiield atthedifender andattempts toreleasetotheinside
0routsideThe
delender allows thereceivel t0getclose en0ughtohimtobump himandattempts t0
knock himoffhispass route.The defender hitlhe0utside
should oi the
shoulder
receiverif thereceiver
comes athimorreleasesinsideThe defend
ershou
ld hitthe
receiver's shoulder
inside if thereceiverattemptsto release Aftera
0utside
0redet€rmined number of theplayers'roles
repetitions, in0rder
arerevelsed toprovde
'both players toplayonbothoffense anddefense
theopportunity

CoachingPoints:

. Thedefendershouldc0ncentrate andthequarterback
onthereceiver
simu ly{look
ltaneous through back
t0theball)Thedefensive
thereceiver should
andthengive
togetciose
iilowthereceiver himag00d bump,withoutDB
the
lunging hisbalance.
orlosing

. back
Thedefensive nottryt0reach
should Hemayget
toofarforthe[eceiver'
defender
andlosehim.A
overextended must
be ableto read theplayisa
whether
run0rapass.

. tothedrillby;ncorporat,ng
canbeadded
Vdrietv int0thedrilland
aquanerbacK
havino aDass
himthrow who
toaleceiver' must
be "live'
defended byadelensrve
back.-

sffi
il4
 FUMBLE
RECOVERY
DRILLS

W
ils
 Drill99:FunbleRocovsry

teachdelensive
1bjective:Io theproper
backs of falling
method ona loose
football.

A lootball.
Needed:
Equipnent

A ballisplaced
Description: threetolouryards
inflontof a delendel.0n
command,
backdiv€s
thedefensive lorwardandreachesoutto theball.0n the
contact,
pulls
defender the ballto hisstomachand around
curls the lying
ball, onhisside
to
protect
himself.

CoachingPoint:

. andcompetition
Variety canbeadded oneballpertwolor
to thedrillbyusing
linesandhaving
more) golora lumble
two{ormore}players recovery
simultaneously.

A@
 Drill# 100:Looso
BallFunbleRecovery

Vaclicegoing
Abjective:Io aftera l0ose
football;
todevelop
handand€ye
coordination

Equipnent Needed: A laotball.

Desuipti1n:Ihe coachhas thedefensiv€backsformonelineab0ut20yards from

himandfacing him.When thecoach raises pass,
theiootballshowingthefirst
player
inlinesprintstoward him.
When theplayer 10yards
iswithin 0fthecoach,
thecoach shouldthrow attheground
thefootball severalyardsinfrontofthe
oncoming playerlthecoach should
tryt0make thef00tballhittheground s0it
takes
sorne wildbounces-i.e.,
release
theballsideways sothatit kn!ckles).
The
player
should concentrate onkeeping
hiseye0nthemoving balland retrieve
the
"fumble."Theplayer shouldthentosstheballback tothecoach andreturntothe
endoftheline.Thecoach thenraises
thefootballagaintostartthenextplayer in
thedrill,
andsoon.

Poi,lts.'
Coaching

ihecoach should
emphasize theimponanceofgetting
control
of thebali
:.loreattempting
t0pickit upandrunwithit.
--: coach sh0uld theplayers
instruct t0fall0ntheballtomake
.:::!,ery sufe0fthe
if theyarehavrng gaining
tr0uble c0ntr0l0ftheball.

HffiffiW
ll7
 Drill#101:
Fighr BecovsrY
lol il Fumble

leach
1bjective:Io delensive tofightforaloose
backs ball

Equipnent Needed: AI ootball.

lrbnTwodefendels
Descrir each
lineupalongside other.0n thedefensive
command,
t0uch
iallforuard,
backs t0theground,
theirchests andscramble has
aftera ballthat
thrown
been betweenthem.

CoachingPoint:

. Thecoach instluct
should t0pullthe
thedefender balltohis oncontact
stomach
it.
andcurlaround

o o
\/

@
@
 Sr.isthehead
BonDickerson lootballcoach atTemple a position
University, he
assumedinlate1992.Sinceassuming thereins program,
0fthe0wls'gridiron
hasleda concerted
Dickerson effortto turnaroundTemple's fortunes.
fo0tball Prior
hisfirsthead
t0 accepting position
atTemple, DickeISon
served
asthedefensive
coordinat0r
atClemson fortwoyears. Inhistwoseasons0ntheTigers'
staff,
helped
Dickerson Clemson boastoneofthe nation's
toughest
andbestdefensive
units.

graduate
A 1971 ofKansas State where
University hehada distinguished
football
earning
career, threeletters
asa cornerbackfoltheWildcats, began
Dickerson his
career
coaching athisalmamater in1972afteran iniury-shortened as
stint anNFI
plaver.
Heserved asKSU'Ssecondary coachforfourseasons (1972175),
before
on
moving t0 the 0f
University Louisville
for
three yearsinthe samepositi0n.
other
inoickers0ns
stops careerinclude
coaching theUniversity (1978-'80),
0fPittsbulgh
0fColorado
theUniversity underhead coach BillMcCartney and
{1982i841,
StateUniversity
Pennsylvania onJ0e staff
Paterno's (1985r901.

Bonandhiswifeof29years, have
Jeannie, twochildren-s0n
R0nJr.anddaughter
Bashawn.

James isa freelance

Ph.D.,
A.Peterson, A 1966
writer. gladuateoftheUniversity
Peterson
atBerkeley,
ofCalifornia servedonthefaculty0ftheUnitedStates
Military
AcademyatWestPoint A prolific
for16years. writer, haswlitten
Peterson
43books
0rco-authored andmore than published
150 articles.
A Fellowofthe
American 0fSports
College hehasappeared
Medicine, onsevelalnational
shows,
television ABC's
including GoodMorningAmerica, The
CBS News,
Evening
ABC'S andTheHome
Nightline, ShowHeandhiswifeof ovet 29 years, reside
Susan,
California.
inl\4onterey.

il9
 ADDITIONAL+r*+ *

FOOTBALL + GOAGHES *

RESOURCES *

FROM =GHOIGE
TITLES FROM THE I OI DRILLS SERIES
I
Ol I Ol Auarterback Drills
t-l| steve Axman
-
tooe . r2a pp . Papert lsBN r-57r67:1il-9 . lra,..ts
fl
El , ot ways to Run the oPtion
Nl Tony DeMeo
to o o ' f 4 o P P . P a P e r ls B Nl- 5 7 1 6 r - 3 6 a - 7' ,1 6 ' 1 5
sl
il t ot neceiver
orins
I Stan zweifel
. r28 pp . p6p.' ' tsBN1-57167-1el-er 516.t5
,f so"

a:.,
D
E
F
E 5 | 6.95
N
t O, Defensive Line Drilts
s
E t Paper . ISBN 1-57167-372_5. Sr6.rs

t:.1.:

TO PLACEYOURORDEROR
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 rfnrlls
BAGK
lrrrrlrslul
(( Ron Dickenson'shook of lO'1Defensive
BackDrillsis 6 valuable 6sset to assist
anycoachin deveopingthe total defen-
sive back.The variety and intensityof
eachdfillwillmakelearnngfunandenjoy
ablewhilemeetingthe lremendousneed
o f ever y defensiveback- wanting to
achievesuccesslWaiching Ron coach
w a sa joyaseachnewdnillwas anewchal-
lengethat defensivebacksleafnedlo
overccme. This bookwill be a confidence
boosterfor anycoachhavingto develop
th at specialplayer - lhe cham pionship
defensive back. ))

- Ken Hatfield
Head Football Coach
Fice University

66 There are very few coacheswho knowmore aboutthe positionof defen

siveback.This bookshouldbe a tremendoushelpto 6nybodyinterestedIn
ieachingthis positionthe wayit oughtto be taught. ),
- Joe Paterno
HeadFootballCaach
Penn State University

.,
rsBfi't,53$0112'r

GOACHE$
=cH0lGE* 1r8,95