For years we struggled with how to get our running backs to “run down hill”. We came up with some simple, but effective [tag]football practice drills[/tag] that we do at every practice, without fail. We do this [tag]football drill[/tag] during our position warm up (we dropped team warm ups early on).
After doing some light leg exercises and warm up (knee pumps, power skips etc.) we do the jersey pull. Each kid grabs the jersey of a teammate. On “go” the front man digs in and pulls for 30 yards. The back man applies enough pressure to make the front man get a good lean but not so much that the runner has to abandon good running technique. After 30 yards, the front man goes in back and gives resistance to his partner.
All in all each [tag]football[/tag] player will “pull” for 120 yards. While doing the jersey pull, we have them focus on: Good body lean, knee pump and good hand movement (we teach pistol to chin…hands pumping from hips to chin).
This has developed our linebackers into great down hill runners known for hitting the hole square up.
