Gaining a few extra yards down the sideline without being pushed out is a great skill to develop when coaching your [tag]American youth football[/tag] team.
What you need – Set up a line of runners, and then set up three defenders staggered down the field.
How this drill works – This is a good [tag]football[/tag] [tag]drill[/tag] to help players learn to initiate contact and continue to make yards upfield, when they are on [tag]offense[/tag].
This drill starts with the quarterback (red) tossing the ball to the [tag]receiver[/tag] or running back on the left (or on the right for balance), and then the ball carrier moving upfield.
There are three defenders, and the ball carrier must meet each of the three defenders. The carrier initiates contact and the defender simply ”˜pops’ the ball carrier – and does NOT tackle them. This simulates the potential contact from defensive players as the ball carrier turns the corner and runs the sidelines.
Result – Your ball carriers will get practice initiating contact, but also in absorbing and bouncing off of hits that shouldn’t impede their forward progress on the field.
