Learning to [tag]strafe[/tag] (shuffle side to side) is an important tactic so the [tag]linebacker[/tag] can move with their body square to the line of scrimmage. Use these [tag]football drills for linebackers[/tag] to teach this skill.
What you need – You can have as many linebackers as you want in this [tag]football[/tag] [tag]drill[/tag], as they are all working on the same thing. You will need one [tag]coach[/tag] with a ball.
How this drill works – Linebackers are meant to keep their eye on the ball and to follow where it goes. One of the ways to do that is to strafe, which means to shuffle without crossing the feet. Crossing the feet can cause a player to trip, or to get caught up in other players.
So, for this drill, the coach will point the ball in a certain direction, and the linebackers will [tag]shuffle[/tag] in that direction. Coaches should watch that the players are in the ready position at all times while they are shuffling. When the coach points the ball behind him, the players plant and burst forth past the coach.
To make this drill more difficult, you can put tackling dummies or other debris in the way, to simulate the potential for people being in the way.
Result – Linebackers will be surer on their feet, and with their body square to the line of scrimmage, they will be ready to make tackles with RB’s coming through the line.
