What is Heads Up Linemen Drill?
Heads Up Linemen Drill is a free football drill on FantasyHQ’s Football Coaching hub for football coaching work. Use the setup notes and coaching cues below to add it to this week’s practice plan.
- Heads Up Linemen Drill is part of FantasyHQ’s free football drills library.
- Focus: Football Coaching.
How to run this drill
Heads Up Linemen Drill is built for youth, high-school, and volunteer coaches who need clear drill language — not a random cone circuit. Beginners can install the first progression; experienced staffs can layer competition.
- Read the purpose once, then walk the setup on air before live tempo.
- Demonstrate one clean rep so players see landmarks, pad level, and finish.
- Run short competitive periods — quality reps beat long lines.
- Close with one coaching cue players can repeat in the huddle next period.
Full drill
One drill that has worked great in the years I’ve been coaching is the Heads Up Linemen drill. I’m sure most coaches already do this or a similar drill, but here’s how we run it.
Heads Up Linemen Drill
- Place four cones on the field in a diamond shape.
- The two “points” of the diamond are about 6 yards apart, with the other two cones in the middle a few yards away from each other, serving as both boundaries and a line scrimmage.
- Two linemen lineup head to head, one on D and on on O.
- Defense’s goal is to tag the cone behind the O lineman, while the Offense’s goal is to drive the D linemen back to the cone behind the D lineman.
The two “points” can be moved horizontally to simulate different pursuit/blocking angles.
Some coaches like to insert a live RB and LB element, however I like to keep it simple to make optimal coaching time and opportunity for the two linemen to improve (less kids to watch at once).
Heads Up Linemen Drill FAQ
- What is the Heads Up Linemen Drill drill?
- Heads Up Linemen Drill is a free football drill on FantasyHQ’s Football Coaching hub for football coaching work. Use the setup notes and coaching cues below to add it to this week’s practice plan.
- Who should use this football drill?
- Heads Up Linemen Drill is built for youth, high-school, and volunteer coaches who need clear drill language — not a random cone circuit. Beginners can install the first progression; experienced staffs can layer competition.
- How do I run Heads Up Linemen Drill in practice?
- Read the purpose once, then walk the setup on air before live tempo. Demonstrate one clean rep so players see landmarks, pad level, and finish. Run short competitive periods — quality reps beat long lines.
- Is this drill free?
- Yes. Browse FantasyHQ football drills, youth plays, and coaching guides free on Football Coaching.
