The form tackle drill we most often use is ball carrier and tackler approach each other at a 45 degree angle (ball in outside arm).   Tackler – breaks down, hits, wraps, lifts and drives/carries 5 yards at about 50%. The ball carrier is to stand tall and/or even jump or lift up to assist in the lift and carry.

If the player doesn’t break down and get low, they will not be able to lift.
If the kid doesn’t hit or make contact, they will not be able to wrap.
If the kid doesn’t wrap they will not be able to lift/carry.
Drive promotes running through the tackle and builds leg drive.

Note – we teach face mask on football – if the kid has their head on wrong side of the ball carrier, the ball carrier will often be upended or off balance making it tough to carry. This football drill will be very awkward or even impossible if kids are not using proper form.

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I went to the local paint shop and picked up some free 5 gallon buckets. Next, I filled the buckets with different amounts of water–about 1 gallon to 5 gallons.  I set up the buckets about 10 yards apart alternating the amount of water.

To begin the football drill/exercise I would have your player pick up the empty bucket (squat with his legs), “wrap up” the bucket, then carry it to the other end where he would squat to put it down and move to the 1 gallon bucket where he would squat, wrap up and carry the 10 yards to the other end and so on until he finished with the 5 gallons bucket.

This taught him to use his legs to explode out of his position and to tackle with great effectiveness. For little people, the diameter of the bucket is very similar to that of other children.

I also used the buckets to increase their leg power and balance by having the player to alternate 1 foot squats on the lid of the bucket. (one foot on top of the bucket, raise up, balance, both feet on top, opposite foot down… raise up…)

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The offense goes against air and runs the called football play until the whistle.  Any player who blows an assignment, uses improper technique (when blocking air they really need to concentrate on proper angles, staying low, and proper hand placement) or doesn’t go until the whistle causes the team to have a negative play and the offense backs up 5 yards.

A 5 yard gain results when all 11 team members demonstrate proper technique, assignment and effort on any play.  The  football coaches keep track of how many plays it take for the offense to go from the 40 going in to the goal line.  A perfect score would be 8 plays.

This is also a good time to practice communication from the sideline to the huddle.  It can be used vs.a defense when your scout defense is weak enough that the offense can score even when they have missed assignments, poor technique, or poor effort.

This is also a good football conditioning drill when run while practicing your no huddle offense.

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At this level, you may experience linemen standing up before making a block. This is a particular problem on run plays but also impairs pass blocking.

We use a football drill to correct this. We have players get in the wrestling position (on all 4s) and then on the snap count, reach forward to hit a blocking pad with their hands while their knees remain stationary.

This drill has worked wonders for our team. The players get used to the feel of making contact in a low position and then in live situations have much greater strength and control over their opponent.

A similar football drill can be used for backs who run straight up. This helps them get used to making low contact with their body when carrying the ball.

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Drill 1:  Defensive Backs

Set up cones to simulate drop points based on:
a. Front side Roll Out (i.e. Halfback in the flats 8 yards deep)
b. Straight Drop Back (Half Back hug seam 10 yards deep)
c: Front Side Sprint Out (Half Back attack line of Scrimmage outside Shoulder)
d: Back Side Roll Out (Half Back rolls to Safety Zone and releases Safety to Pressure Deep Flats on Roll Side)

The football coach then simulates snap and various roll out steps in sequence. DB must read the coach and go to proper cone. After 3 or 4 switches from cone to cone the coach calls ball and throws the football. The DB must then attack the flight path and intercept.

Drill 2: Linemen

Set up 3 large tackling bags in a line 12 yards apart.
In front of each bag a Offensive Lineman or Running Back is in a Pass Block Stance.  Defensive Linemen and Linebackers then must attack each bag in succession and defeat the Pass Block.  Offensive Linemen and RB’s must keep the D player from Tagging the Bag.  After the D player tags the first bag he immediately attacks the next bag.   D players have 20 or 25 seconds to tag each bag in succession.

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You set up with 3 offensive linemen, a quarterback and a running back (could also be a wide receiver). Then you make an alley 5 yards to the side. The alley is 3-5 yard wide and 15 yards deep, with cones for every 5 yards.

On the first cones you will have a defensive lineman on his back, second cone you will have a linebacker on his back and on the third cone a defensive back is on his back. On the whistle, the QB takes the snap and tosses it to the RB/WR. The offensive lineman pulls and runs into the alley blocking for the RB/WR. At the same time the 3 defensive players are coming off the ground and are attacking the run play.

This is a high intensity football drill and it fires players up!

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One way I keep them motivated is by giving them a chance to go against the coach.  The really light up when they get the chance to block me without me holding a dummy.  They hit me harder then they would ever hit a dummy or another player. They can’t wait to get back in line to hit me again.  The same thing when we are running defensive line football drills.  When I am the QB back there with the football, they go all out.

At this age, it is all about making sure they have fun and stay motivated.  Having their head coach play with them and not just tell them what to do really makes a big difference.

Another football drill that is fun for everyone, is having the team form a circle, and then have two players enter the circle. Give one player the ball and his goal is to run through the others, while they are trying to tackle the ball carrier.

I like to use trash can laying down for the kids to jump over.  It teaches them all from backs to linemen to keep their knees high when running.

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You separate into 4 groups of equal size.

On the football coach’s whistle, each group lays on their back & does leg lifts on the coaches cadence.  The players count out the # of reps (10 reps), if not they start over.  Upon 10 reps, the players will get up & run clockwise to the next cone.

On the coach’s whistle, each group gets into push up position & begins doing push ups on the coaches cadence. Again, the players count out the # of reps (10 reps).  On the coaches whistle, the players run clockwise to the next cone.

On the coach’s whistle, each group starts to chop their feet & begins doing up downs on the coach’s cadence.  Players count out # of reps (10 reps).

On the coach’s whistle, the players run clockwise to the next cone.  On the coach’s whistle, the players get into sit-up position & begin doing sit-ups on the coach’s cadence.  10 reps.

This football drill has helped our players build up their stamina especially where the # of reps increases as the season progresses.

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O-Line Heads Up
Place about 10 of the small, flat cones in a straight row on the pitch.
That is how you score this drill.
Starting at one end of the row of cones, with a football coach holding an arm bag, the O-Linemen begins drive blocking the coach; he gets a point for every cone he is able to push the coach back.

Next step is to add a linebacker. He stands at the opposite end of row of cones.
All he has to do is run straight past the O-Lineman and coach.
The O-Lineman is responsible to step out and pick up the blitzing linebacker.
(hence the heads up name of the drill)
Next step up to this drill is: Switch out the coach to D-Lineman
Final step up to this drill: Have 2 O-Lineman do this drill, (now you get a really big push up the line of cones) and the Linebacker should be picked up more easily.
Since there are 2 O-Lineman and they are looking up field for him.

I really enjoyed running this progressive football drill. While I was holding the arm bag, I was able to correct posture and stance very easily.

Whenever the team gets into a drill, they start cheering and clapping, then I know I have a winner of a drill!

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Cone off a 20 yard by 20 yard area. The football drill starts with 1-5 Tackle Monsters standing 5-10 yards from on off the sides. (The number of Tackle Monsters can vary depending on how many players are on team.)  The rest of team is ready and facing the Tackle Monsters.

When the whistle blows the Tackle Monsters must tackle at least one football player or they are out.  The non-Tackle Monster’s goal is to get to the other side without being tackled.

The one primary thing that should be maintained is that there is never more Tackle Monsters than players trying to get across field.

A variation I like to implement is:  poor tackling technique will take you out of the game.

The last player/s standing becomes the new Tackle Monster.  Kids love it!

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