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Here is one of the [tag]youth football conditioning drills[/tag] we have to improve punch power and add some competitive fun into practice. Good inside gym exercise in the winter/rain days as well.   We call this drill “Smash Ball”.

You need:
2 or 3 10 lb. soft medicine balls placed on top of a heavy tackling dummy
4 or 6 Handheld   Shiv Pads
10 cones.

2 or 3 lines of players (head to head competition) enter the drill line at the first shiv pad held by another player or   [tag]football[/tag] coach. He works a typical punch drill set, top/bottom/diagonal corners. We concentrate on good pass blocking technique, base, body, blows, hand position, quickness and power, etc. On a 10 sec. whistle, he shuffles properly to next shiv pad and repeats.

On the final whistle, they shuffle quickly to the medicine ball and using proper technique of last two stops, deliver a powerful blow to the ball perched on the tackling dummy. The distance the ball travels is measured by the cones/markers placed behind the dummy. Whoever gets the longest roll wins and moves on.

Fun competition and good technique is rewarded with a long roll. The first two shiv pads are key to warm them up, work on proper technique and helps assure the blow to the ball is done properly. Stress hand positioning to prevent jammed wrists.

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