Maintaining concentration on pass routes over the middle is something every coach battles with – from Pop Warner to the pros. Coaching these plays for football will hone the skills of your wide receivers.
What you need – Two lines – you can split receivers up, or you can have defensive backs in the other line if you like.Â
How this drill works – You’ve heard of the term ‘hearing footsteps’ when it comes to players dropping passes they should otherwise have. This football drill aims to eliminate that from happening.Â
The receivers will sprint across the field at an angle so they catch the pass at about the 15 yard mark (or less for younger players). The ‘footsteps’ will be barreling towards the same spot – making noise, waving their hands, and even feigning a hit on the wide receiver, but they WILL NOT actually hit the receiver.Â
The defender will just stop short of hitting the receiver coming across the middle, mainly because this is more of a concentration drill just to get a receiver used to catching the ball over the middle in traffic.Â
Result – In time, this repetition will prepare receivers to catch the ball over the middle of the field and NOT be tentative when they try to receive a pass. At some point down the road, you may consider making quarter contact, or a ‘pop’ once the receiver catches the ball – in preparation of future contact in a game situation.
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