What is Youth Football Blocking Drills – Helmet or Back?
Youth Football Blocking Drills – Helmet or Back is a free football drill on FantasyHQ’s Football Coaching hub for youth work. Use the setup notes and coaching cues below to add it to this week’s practice plan.
- Youth Football Blocking Drills – Helmet or Back is part of FantasyHQ’s free football drills library.
- Focus: Youth.
How to run this drill
Youth Football Blocking Drills – Helmet or Back 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
Coaching kids at the 60 pound level (5-6 year olds) I noticed that one thing the kids like to do is block in the back on a long gainer. I came up with the following ideas for [tag]youth football blocking drills[/tag] to correct this.
The goal of this [tag]football drill[/tag] is to help them remember to not block in the back.
- Line the kids up in front of a [tag]football coach[/tag] holding a dummy.
- Have another coach with a stand up dummy, that has a picture of a helmet on one side, lined up about 5-10 yards down field from the first dummy.
- On the word “go”, the player blocks the first dummy for about 3 seconds, then peels off and goes after the second dummy.
- The coach can either keep the helmet side facing the player or suddenly turn the dummy so the “back” of the dummy faces the [tag]football[/tag] player.
- If the helmet is facing the player, he blocks the dummy.
- If the helmet is not facing the player, he runs past the dummy.
- If the player hits the dummy while the helmet side is facing away from him, he has to do 5 push-ups.
After a few times through this drill, most players learn not to hit the dummy in the “back”. Our blocking in the back penalties decreased dramatically since I came up with this drill.
Youth Football Blocking Drills – Helmet or Back FAQ
- What is the Youth Football Blocking Drills – Helmet or Back drill?
- Youth Football Blocking Drills – Helmet or Back is a free football drill on FantasyHQ’s Football Coaching hub for youth work. Use the setup notes and coaching cues below to add it to this week’s practice plan.
- Who should use this football drill?
- Youth Football Blocking Drills – Helmet or Back 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 Youth Football Blocking Drills – Helmet or Back 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.
