QB Swivel Drill

Setup:
You’ll need five small round discs and a cone. Any small circular household item will do – as long as its flat and the edges won’t cause any injury hazards.

Purpose:
To teach your quarterbacks how much to pivot and open on the handoff, depending on the type of play you’re running.

Execution:
The idea here is to help the players visualize a clock, and teach them the various pivots they might use. For example for a quick dive play, you would only want your quarterback to open up to three or nine o’clock. The great part about this drill is that we have an auditory cue that lets us know if the player has stepped on the lid, allowing us to know immediately whether they executed the drill properly.

To start off, call out the times and let the players ingrain these moves into their muscle memory. Once and only once they become fully comfortable with that you can take away the lids.

Coaching Tips:

If they start to find this too easy, even without the lids, you can also try calling out play names instead of times,
allowing you to test the players knowledge of the playbook and forcing them to do a bit of critical thinking before making the
move instead of just moving to a dial on the clock.

Tips for Younger Athletes:

• When introducing the concept of the clock, start with fewer times (maybe just 3, 6, 9, and 12) to prevent overwhelming them. As they become more familiar, add in the intermediate times.
• Emphasize the importance of not just moving their feet to the designated time but also aligning their body and shoulders in the same direction. This ensures proper form for handing off the ball.
• Use the sound from stepping on the lid as positive reinforcement. Celebrate their correct moves, emphasizing the auditory cue as a sign of their successful pivot.

Tips for Older Athletes:

• Encourage older players to transition smoothly from one time to the next, mimicking real-game situations where they might need to pivot quickly.
• For those familiar with the playbook, challenge them by calling out plays. This not only tests their knowledge but also their ability to think on their feet and translate play names to pivoting actions.
• Emphasize the importance of consistent pivot angles. Even slight deviations in a real game can make the difference between a successful handoff or a fumble.