Purpose:

Escape techniques are techniques that are used by a player to evade a player while advancing up the field. Escape techniques are primarily used by defensive players to evade the blocks of the offense, but these drills also apply to wide receivers trying to evade a “Jam” technique from a defensive player. Players use a series of these escape technique drills daily to create muscle memory in their arms while doing these drills with a partner.

Drill Set Up:

Drill should be set up on a line, the sideline or end-line. Players should partner up and stand facing each other approximately 2 feet from each other. Drill starts with one player placing his hand on the opposite player’s shoulder.

Salute Drill:

Salute drill is an “edge” rushing drill that players would use primarily in a “5” technique or wider. Defensive player starts with a hand on his shoulder, begins the drill by swinging his inside hand towards the outside of the offensive player’s wrist, knocking the O player’s hand from his shoulder. Defensive player then progresses by swinging his outside across his body towards the elbow of the O player while forward with their outside foot. This movement will serve to decrease the D player’s surface area and clear the body of the O player. Defensive player will then progress with their “Rip” move and pass the O player’s block. For the sake of the drill, players will reset with the defensive player’s hand on the offensive players shoulder thus becoming the offensive player for his partner’s turn in the drill.

Hook Drill:

The Hook Drill starts in the same position as the Salute Drill. The Hook Drill is the counter move to the Salute Drill. Defensive player starts with a hand on his shoulder, begins the drill by swinging his inside hand towards the inside of the offensive player’s wrist, knocking the O player’s hand from his shoulder. Defensive player then progresses by swinging his outside across his body towards the elbow of the O player while forward with their outside foot. This movement will serve to decrease the D player’s surface area and clear the body of the O player. Defensive player will then progress with their “Inside Swim” move and pass the O player’s block. For the sake of the drill, players will reset with the defensive player’s hand on the offensive players shoulder thus becoming the offensive player for his partner’s turn in the drill.

Club Move Drill:

The Club Move starts in the same position as the Salute Drill with the Offensive player’s hand on the Defensive player’s shoulder. The D player will swing his arm across his body, aiming for the O player’s shoulder with his hand. The D player will strike the O players hand off of his body while clearing the O player’s body by taking a step with their outside foot. The outside step will create space so that the D player will be able to progress in his pass rush with either a “Rip” or “Swim” move.

Swat Move:

The Swat Move starts in the drill start position with a player’s hand on the other player’s shoulder. The Swat Move is a variation of the Club Move. The Swat Move is a double club move. Player swings both arms up towards the O player’s arms. The D player will aim their inside arm in between the O player’s arm striking the O player’s away arm while striking the near arm with the D player’s far arm. D player’s arms will move in a circular motion together to strike the O players arms away from the D player.

Trap Move:

The Trap Move starts with the players in front of each other. One player will have both arms extended on the other player’s shoulders facing his partner. The D player will swing both of his arms around and over the O player’s arms striking the O player’s forearms thus clearing his hands from the D player’s body. The drill is finished with the D player striking the O player in the chest and obtaining inside position in their pass rush progression.

Forklift Move:

The Forklift Move starts with the players in front of each other. One player will have both arms extended on the other player’s shoulders facing his partner. The D player will swing both of his arms around and under the O player’s arms striking the O player’s elbows and lifting their arms up this will clear the o player’s hands from the D player’s body. The drill is finished with the D player striking the O player in the chest and obtaining inside position in their pass rush progression.

Hatchet:

The Hatchet Move is an “edge” rushing drill that players would use primarily in a “5” technique or wider. The players start in the drill’s start position with one players hand on the other player’s shoulder. The D player raises there arm above the outstretched arm of the O player. The D player then swings his arm down, striking the O player’s forearm and wrist with his hand. The D player then immediately swings up using his arm to clear the O players body and continue in his pass rush progression with a “rip” move.

This is Coach Stern again.

Thank you all again for the support on the website. I hope that your off-season training is coming along well. I know that most Division I colleges start Spring Football drill on or around April 8th. I personally will be visiting some of the major schools around my area including San Diego State University, University of San Diego, Sacramento State University and Fresno State University. I encourage everyone to contact the Universities and Junior Colleges in your area to visit their practices. You can pick up a lot of great information from these other coaches and the coaching staffs are usually very welcoming of other coaches visiting as long as you contact them before arriving.

Ive been thinking a lot about a certain piece of advice that I give to my players and I wanted to share it with everyone that visits the site. the saying goes

“If you are not Progressing you are Regressing. In the classroom, in the community as well as on the football field, improve yourself everyday in everything that you do.”

I tell my players this because in our sport it is very easy for the players to forget about the broad spectrum of life. Often players focus on becoming the best football players they can be and forget about other important aspects of life including school and family.

I try to hold myself to this as well. As a coach it is easy to focus only on winning football games, but it is also important to remember what you are ultimately there for which is guiding these young athletes through some important growing phases of their lives. It is important for us coaches to be not only a source of knowledge and guidance on the football field but also be there to provide support to our athletes and teach them the right way to conduct themselves as people.

I hope that this quote will be useful to you. It has been very useful to me in my career.

Please feel free to leave comments on the site or contact me via email if you have any questions.

Until the next time.

Be Well,

Coach Stern

This is Coach Matt Stern. This is my first of what hopes to be a frequent blog posting by me to the Football Done Right audience.

First of all, I would just like to thank you all for the support shown to Football Done Right. This site is a constant work in progress. I look forward to bringing you all new and exciting information the coming months.

Football Done Right is an interactive coaching website. The idea behind this entire site was to share ideas between coaches. So please if you have any questions, want to leave a comment on a post or have a great idea that you would like to share please contact me directly or post underneath the comments link under each section.

Secondly, I know that off-season conditioning programs have started and we are full steam ahead towards Spring Football 2009. I am very excited for this time of year because it provides coaches with a glance at what to expect from their team in the coming season. This time of year is a perfect time for coaches to expand their knowledge, network with other coaches and obtain new ideas for drills going into Spring Football.

I am excited to announce that we at Football Done Right have 5 special video collections that will be released within the month of April. These video series are full of ideas and drills that I will be using to improve my athletes going into the upcoming season. I have used these drills for years now and I have nothing but success with the results of integrating these drill progressions into our workouts. I will try and release some preview information for these videos to our email subscribers soon. If you haven’t signed up or confirmed your subscription to Football Done Right do it now so that you won’t miss out when the trailers are released.

Lastly, I just want to encourage all of our visitors to Football Done Right to continue with communication to the site. This site is a place for idea sharing among us coaches. I have received great feedback from many of our subscribers and look forward to answering your questions in the near future. Please keep up with the emails and comment posts.

Thank you all again!! I will be posting again soon so stay tuned.

Coach Stern

Purpose:

The Tire Push/Pull drill is a combination drill that incorporates both conditioning and technique work. The Tire Push/Pull drill is used to aerobically build strength in an athletes entire body while developing strength in their Push/Pull and escape techniques from a block of an offensive player. I use repetitions of this drill daily to develop Push/Pull skills of my athletes.

Drill Set Up:

One standard car tire is needed for this drill. This drill is to be performed over a five yard area.

Drill:

Players position themselves in front of the tire. Player positions one hand on both sides of the tire and prepares themselves to push the tire with their arms and legs. At the coaches direction, player begins to push the tire forward, keeping their arms straight, running with their feet behind them to move the tire. The coach will then give the player the direction of “Right” or “Left”. When given the direction, the player will Push/Pull the tire in the corresponding direction and “Rip” off of the tire and continue to sprint for 5 yards. Then next player should position himself in the start position of the drill and continue the drill towards the start position of the first player.

Purpose:

The 3 Cone Reaction drill is an agility drill that builds a player’s change of direction speed while in movement. I use this drill as a conditioning drill to test my athlete’s focus and change of direction speed while they are on the move and fatigued. Players must be able to react and change direction at the speed of the game while on the field. The 3 cone reaction drill prepares them for such scenarios.

Drill Set Up:

4 cones are involved in this drill. The first cone is the start and finish cone and should be set up on a line at a given point. This is the cone that the player will be starting at and also returning to in between drill directions.

There will be 3 other cones set up 5-7 yards away from the start cone in a straight line going across from each other. These cones will be labeled cones 1, 2 and 3.

Drill:

Player will start at the start cone facing the 3 positioned cones in front of them. Coach will begin the drill by instructing the player to chop their feet in rapid succession, like the player is running while in place. The coach will then call out a number; either number 1, 2 or 3. Player will sprint to the corresponding cone, break their feet down, change direction and return to the start cone. Upon the player returning to the start cone the coach will give the player another number: 1, 2 or 3 and the player will, break down their feet, and sprint to the next number cone. The drill will continue with the coach calling out numbers and the player sprinting to the directed cone and returning to the start cone. The drill ends with the coach giving the direction to “break” the drill. When the player “breaks” the drill, the player finishes by sprinting through the start cone.

Purpose:

To measure the linear and direction changing speed of an athlete over a 20 yard distance.

Drill:

Set up 2 cones that mark a 10 yard distance, for example one cone on the goal line and one cone on the 10 yard line.

Player starts at the the mid way point in between the two cones.

Player sprints in the direction of one of the cone markers, 5 yards away.

Before reaching the first cone, player should chop his feet, lower his pad level and prepare his body to change direction.

Upon reaching the first cone, player should be in a ready position to change direction. Player should change direction and sprint towards the second cone positioned 10 yards away from the first cone.

Before reaching the second cone, player should chop his feet, lower his pad level and prepare his body to change direction.

Upon reaching the second cone, player should be in a ready position to change direction. Player should change direction and sprint towards the finish line 5 yards away.

Player should finish by sprinting past the finish line.

Timing:

Coaches should time this drill for their players on a standard hand held stopwatch. Player’s time should be started at their initial movement toward the first cone and should be stopped when the player crosses the finish line of the drill.

Purpose:

This series of drills is used with the purpose of developing quickness at the hands, shoulders and power at the hips and feet while coming out of the player’s stance at the point of attack. I use repetitions of these drills everyday to develop quickness and power in the player’s arms and legs that they will be using while playing football.

Set-Up:

These drills should be performed using a blocking sled. One, two or five man sleds are appropriate for use in this drill. Players should start on their knees lined up facing the blocking bag at an arms length away from the blocking bag. Players will progress from their knees into a full3-point stance towards the completion of the drill.

Hand Explosion Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of the Hand Explosion drill is to develop quickness and power in the player’s arms in making contact with the offensive player at the point of attack of a football play.

Drill:

Player will line up on their knees in front and facing the blocking sled bag. Coaches will direct the player to strike with their hands at every movement of the football. Coaches should start off the drill by slowly moving the football and having the player strike the bag thus setting the player’s hands correctly. Coaches should progress into rapidly moving the football and having their players strike the blocker bag in rapid succession thus maximizing player’s repetitions in the drill. Players should rotate upon the coach’s direction to “break” the drill.

Hip Explosion Drill

Purpose:

The purpose of the Hip Explosion drill is develop power in a players hips while delivering a strike to the offensive player at the point of attack. The player will generate most of the power of their initial strike from the movement at their hips. I use repetitions of this drill everyday to develop power and quickness in the initial explosion of a player’s get-off from a full 3-point stance.

Drill:

Player will line up on their knees in front and facing the blocking sled bag. Coaches will direct the player to strike with their hands and explosively extend from their hips driving through the blocker bag at every movement of the football. Coaches should start off the drill by moving the football, critiquing the movement and allowing the players to reset in front of the bag. Coaches should progress into rapidly moving the football and having their players strike the blocker bag and reset in rapid succession thus maximizing player’s repetitions in the drill. Players should rotate upon the coach’s direction to “break” the drill.

Rip & Run Drill


Purpose:

The Purpose of the Rip & Run Drill is to use repetitions to develop quickness and power in the player’s get-off from a full 3-point stance. The player will develop power in their hands and hips when driving their initial step out of their stance and continue to drive their feet through contact with the blocking sled bag. Finally, the player will use a rip technique to escape the offensive player’s block in a full get-off progression.

Drill:

Player will line up in front and facing the blocking sled bag. Coaches will direct the player to forcefully explode into the blocking sled bag through their get-off progression at the movement of the football. Players will forcefully explode through their get-off progression and rip off of the bag thus escaping the block of the offensive player. Coaches allow their players to reset on the next bag and continue with the drill at the next movement off the football.

Purpose:

Develop quick hand strike in defensive players. Develop muscle memory with hand striking the medicine ball.
Translate Movements functionality to the football field.

Area:

Usa a 10yd area from yard mark to yard mark. Line up 2 players one on each side of the line in a side stance, place large medicine ball between the players. Players should be approximately 2ft from each other facing each other.

Drills:

Players shuffle 10yds, Hand strike medicine ball with palms facing forward and thumbs up. Players repeat motion for 10yds then change direction and continue the same motions back 10yds.

Purpose:

The purpose of the Broad Jump drill is to measure a players hip explosion from a given point to the completion of the Broad Jump movement.

Drill:

Player should line up at a cone or field line facing forward in an athletic position. In an athletic position, player should be lined up in correct posture with their shoulders over their hips, their hips aligned with their knees and their knees aligned with their feet. The player’s feet should be at shoulder width apart. Player should have their hips and knees slightly bent and ready for explosive movement. Coaches should ready the player and instruct him to use his arms to create momentum and explode through their first jump when the player is ready. Player should explode through the movement and settle into an athletic position at the completion of the Broad Jump. Coach should measure the jump from the start point of the jump to the landing point of the heels of the player upon the completion of the jump.

Purpose:

The purpose of the Get-Off Progression drills are to teach players proper start technique in run and pass situations. The step progressions are important for players to learn so that they can redirect and attack the offense in every situation. I use repetitions of these drills everyday to create muscle memory in the athlete’s legs, feet and hands that they will be using while playing football.

Set-up

Cone House Set-up

Position two large stand up cones or pop up bags on the line of scrimmage. Position rubber step over boards next to cones on line of scrimmage. Position two cones approximately three yards from front cones. Position one cone, one yard from second cones in between two second cones.

First cones with boards represent line of scrimmage
Second cones represent 2yd redirection box
Third cone represents QB – 5 step drop point.

Drill:

Run Get Off

Coach should position player at first cone in front of board. Player lines up in an athletic “run get off” stance. The athlete’s stance should be elongated with decreased flex at the hip for lower leverage at the point of attack.

At the movement of the football, player comes out of their stance and takes two short choppy steps. First step is a Power Step, a short, six-inch step in length. The player’s hands should be attacking from the ground into the offensive blocker with their palms facing up and grasping at the offensive blocker.

The player’s second step is called a Redirect Step. The Redirect Step is another, short, six-inch step that the player should put in the ground quickly so they are position and ready to redirect to the football carrier after completion of this step.

Player should be strong at point of attack and be balanced to redirect to the football carrier within two yards of line of the scrimmage.

Pass Get Off Drill

Coach should position player at first cone in front of board. Player lines up in an athletic “pass get-off” stance. A “pass get-off” stance should be very compact. The player should have a high flex at the hip for increased push out of their stance to propel themselves up the field at the first movement of the football.

Upon the movement of the football, player forcefully explodes out of their stance and takes one long step over board and up the field. The player should reach what I call the Hip to Shoulder Relationship, or HSR, with their first step.

Player continues with their next step to the second cone. When the player reaches the second cone, the player dips their inside shoulder, decreasing surface area, and finishes through the third cone reaching towards the quarterback with their upfield hand. The purpose of the player reaching towards the quarterback is to get the player’s hips “flipped” in the direction of the quarterback.

Redirection Drill

Coach should position player at 1st cone in front of board. Player lines up in an athletic “run get off” stance. The athlete’s stance should be elongated with decreased flex at the hip for lower leverage at the point of attack.

At the movement of the football, player forcefully explodes from their stance and takes two short choppy steps.

The coach points in a right or left direction to which the player, breaks their feet down, redirects and sprints in the direction that the coach is pointing.

Recognition Drill

Coach should position player at first cone in front of board. Player lines up in an athletic “pass get-off” stance.

Upon the movement of the football, player forcefully explodes out of their stance and takes one long step over board and up the field.

The coach give one of three directions to the player: Pass, Screen or Draw.

If the player recognizes “Pass” the coach should instruct the player to continue up the field with their Pass Rush.

If the player recognizes “Screen” the coach should instruct the player to, break their feet down, focus their eyes outside (looking for the screen) and redirect to the screen receiver.

If the player recognizes “Draw” the coach should instruct the player to, break their feet down, focus their eyes inside (to identify the ball carrier) and retrace their steps back to the line of scrimmage to tackle the ball carrier from behind.

Purpose

The purpose of the Footwork Progression drills are to develop speed and quickness in the athlete’s legs and feet. Players need to be able to change direction within one step on the football field, and these drills develop just that. I use repetitions of these drills everyday to create muscle memory within the athletes legs and feet that they will use while playing football.

Drill

Single Step

Player starts positioned in front of a series of step-over agile bags. Player starts their run progression and continues through the bags placing one step in between each bag. Upon stepping over the last agile bag player continues to sprint through a cone that is lined up 5 yards from the last agile bag.

Lateral Step Over

Player starts positioned laterally in front of the first agile bag facing the coach, with one foot next to the first agile bag. Player starts his run progression by stepping over the first agile bag and continuing to place each step in between each agile bag laterally. Upon stepping over the last agile bag player continues to sprint through a cone positioned 5 yards from the last agile bag.

Punch Drill

Player starts laterally positioned in front of the first agile bag. While shuffling in front of the bags, player drives his arms and hands down punching each bag that is in front. Upon punching the last bag player will sprint through a cone that is positioned 5 yards from the last agile bag.

Double Step

Player starts positioned in front of a series of step-over agile bags. Player starts their run progression and continues through the bags placing two steps in between each bag. Upon stepping over the last agile bag player continues to sprint through a cone that is lined up 5 yards from the last agile bag.

Hoping Drill

Player starts positioned in front of a series of step-over agile bags. Player starts their hoping progression exploding from their hips up, raising their arms over their head placing both feet in between each bag. Player will stop and compose their selves before completing their next hop over the bag. Coaches want to stress body control and explosion from the hips throughout the drill. This repetition drill is used to get players used to getting their hands up in the passing lanes of the Quarterback.

Cut Block Sprawl Drill

Player starts laterally positioned in front of the first agile bag. While shuffling in front of the bags, player drives his arms and hands down and extending their feet back behind them sprawling on each bag and pushing themselves back up into shuffling position and completing the drill through the bags that are in front of them. Upon sprawling on the last bag player will sprint through a cone that is positioned 5 yards from the last agile bag.

Sprint/Back-Lateral Shuffle

Player starts laterally positioned in front of the first agile bag. Player begins by sprinting forward to the end of the first agile bag. Player them changes direction and back-peddles through two bags through the length of the two agile bags. Player continues to change direction and alternates between sprinting and back-peddling through the bags in front of them. Upon completion of the last bag player will sprint through a cone that is positioned 5 yards from the last agile bag.

Lateral Shuffle Progression

Player starts laterally positioned in front of the first agile bag. Player begins by shuffling laterally to the end of the first agile bag. Player them changes direction and shuffles through two bags through the length of the two agile bags. Player continues to change direction and alternates between shuffling laterally through the bags in front of them. Upon completion of the last bag player will sprint through a cone that is positioned 5 yards from the last agile bag.

Purpose:

I use this warm-up progression to prepare my athletes for athletic competition. The direct purpose of using a functional and effective warm-up progression is to warm-up the athlete’s muscles before strenuous exercise during drills. I also want to have their blood flow and heart rate raised to the levels needed to sustain proper blood flow needed to supply the muscles needed during athletic competition.

Drills:

High Knees

Player is positioned on a line marker facing forward. Within a 5 yard space, player will do a progression of high knee drives. Player will alternate forcefully driving their knees up toward their chest in a running motion. Maximum repetitions should be completed through 5 yards.

High Knee Pull

Player is positioned on a line marker facing forward. Within a 5 yard space, player will do a progression of high knee pull stretches. Player will alternate pulling their knees up toward their chest, reaching with their arms and pulling their knee high to their chest. This stretch is used to stretch the player’s hamstrings, lower back, glutes and hip extensors. This stretch is dynamic in nature with the purpose of incorporating movement into the stretch in keeping the player’s blood flowing to the muscle being used.

Butt Kick Progression

Player is positioned on a line marker facing forward. Within a 5 yard space, player will do a progression of butt kick drives. Player will alternate forcefully driving their heels back toward their butt in a running motion. Maximum repetitions should be completed through 5 yards.

Butt Kick Pull

Player is positioned on a line marker facing forward. Within a 5 yard space, player will do a progression of butt kick pull stretches. Player will alternate pulling their heels back toward their butts, reaching with their arms and pulling their ankles back towards their butts. This stretch is used to stretch the player’s quadriceps, abdominals and hip flexors. This stretch is dynamic in nature with the purpose of incorporating movement into the stretch in keeping the player’s blood flowing to the muscle being used.

Lateral Shuffle

Player is positioned on a line marker facing forward laterally. Within a 5 yard space, player will do a progression of lateral shuffles. Player will shuffle their feet independently through the progression stopping at one 5 yard marker and continue to shuffle in the opposite direction back to the starting point of the drill. Maximum repetitions should be completed through 10 yard total distance.

Lateral Lunge

Player is positioned on a line marker facing forward laterally. Within a 5 yard space, player will do a progression of lateral lunge stretches. Player will step laterally bending their front leg and keeping their rear leg straight. Player will continue to step laterally with their front leg and stretch each side independently. This stretch is used to stretch the player’s quadriceps, hamstrings, hip adductors and hip abductors. This stretch is dynamic in nature with the purpose of incorporating movement into the stretch in keeping the player’s blood flowing to the muscle being used.

Tin Soldiers

Player is positioned on a line marker facing forward. Within a 5 yard space, player will do a progression of leg drives called tin soldiers. Player will alternate forcefully driving, from the hip, their toes up toward their outstretched hand in front of them keeping their legs straight throughout the motion. Maximum repetitions should be completed through 5 yards.

Front Lunge

Player is positioned on a line marker facing forward. Within a 5 yard space, player will do a progression of forward lunge stretches. Player will alternate stepping forward bending both legs and stretching in a stride stance. This stretch is used to stretch the player’s quadriceps, hamstrings, abdominals and hip flexors. This stretch is dynamic in nature with the purpose of incorporating movement into the stretch in keeping the player’s blood flowing to the muscle being used.

Reverse Lunge

Player is positioned on a line marker facing forward. Within a 5 yard space, player will do a progression of reverse lunge stretches. Player will alternate stepping backwards bending both legs and stretching in a stride stance. This stretch is used to stretch the player’s quadriceps, hamstrings, abdominals and hip flexors. This stretch is dynamic in nature with the purpose of incorporating movement into the stretch in keeping the player’s blood flowing to the muscle being used.