Middle School American Football Defensive Strengths

oning: Quick step crossingEvery football team will have certain plays. It will be
Conditioning in football is meant to help you reactessential to learn your part in that play to benefit
quickly on the field moving in a variety of directions.yourself, and the whole team. Rule number one in
The point to this drill is having players practice quickstarting out a new play is following your coach's
directional changes on the field. The drill takes place ininstructions. A lot of habits can form in the first couple
small four corner area that you can draw out or useof practice plays, for this sake it is a good idea to take
the lines of the field. Then the player will proceed tothem slow at the start. As always, when learning a
jump from on area or box to another, thus forcing thenew play don't hesitate to ask for individual help to
player to jump laterally, diagonally, frontwards, andmaster the techniques needed. The last helpful hint that
backwards. Some of the variations can be on legged;we want you to learn is the power of visualization. Go
either right or left, or changing the order those playersover the plays in your mind, over and over again. Make
will perform the drill.your mind work them out and your muscles memorize
Traditional Driving Blockthem even when you sleep
When talking about the fundamentals of a greatAngle tackling
offense or defense, you have to know what a goodIt is a great idea to practice angle tackles with your
driving and blocking techniques are. The drive block isdefense because not all tackles are made with the
the most fundamental and should be practiced often.opponent right in front of you. Set up a simple drill with
When you want to remove an opponent effectivelytwo players, on as the offense with the ball running in a
you will use the drive block again and again. The firststraight line, the other as the defender running towards
step of this block is the scrimmage alignment, in orderhim at some angle. It is great to take this in slow steps
to drive to the right or left this basic block will pushto show the defender in a fluid motion how to the
your opponent in the way that they are aligned, so ifquickest angle to take towards the ball carrier, plant his
they are aligned to the right the drive will push them tocleats squarely in the middle of the ball carrier, and to
the right. Execute the drive by bolting off the line withalways remember safety and effectiveness by
your play side foot; again if the play is happening onplacing the head in front of the offensive player. A
the left side then you will use your left foot. Movegood tackle is now executed as the defender lunges
quickly and in a speed bursting motion, make solidat the opponent wrapping his arms around his
contact with your opponent to drive them off in theopponent grabbing cloth and completing the tackle by
direction that you want.pulling him down or pushing him off sides.
The importance of learning the Playbook