Quickness on one’s feet is as essential skill to a good [tag]football[/tag] team, especially the [tag]defensive[/tag] line. The following [tag]youth football agility drills[/tag] are a great way to get your players thinking quickly on their feet and improve their [tag]dexterity[/tag] where it really counts.

The first of the youth football agility drills aims to increase your players’ ability to [tag]throw[/tag] and [tag]catch[/tag] on the fly.   Start by dividing your team into pairs.   Each pair is given a football.   Have your players stand facing each other approximately 5 yards apart.

The players are to jog sideways, always making sure to keep their feet and heads pointing at each other while throwing the ball lightly back and forth.   Have your players run the length of the field a few times before adding cones for them to maneuver around for added difficulty.

The next of the youth football agility drills also develops strength and muscle memory.   Start by dividing your team into 4 groups, and position each group at one corner of the field.

Begin by blowing a whistle, whereupon the groups in the top left and bottom right corners begin doing push-ups while the other two groups sprint around the field.   After completing their sprint, the groups then drop and begin doing push-ups while the other 2 groups sprint.   For variation try replacing push-ups with sit-ups, jumping jacks or any other exercise your players need work on.   Additionally, you can blow the whistle at any time to have the groups immediately switch tasks without having the finish their sprint which will help build quick reflexes.