With pre-season a little over a month away, this is a great time to start to get your drills squared away for August camp. One thing I have found helpful in this regard is putting together a drill checklist for my position. I have included my drill checklist from the 2011 season.
I put down all the skills my position group needs to work. For example, with linebackers it is tackling, fundamentals, block protection, creating turnovers , etc. Then, under each section I list the drills I will use with the players to work that specific skill.
Across the top I will list each practice day during pre-season. Then as I prepare individual periods for practice, I will check off the drills I use each day in practice. Use your defensive installation schedule to pair up skills that will be needed that day for the defensives being installed.
The hope is by the end of pre-season to have worked all the skills with the drills listed. Don’t run drills just to run drills but run them to emphasize skills that are necessary for your position group to be successful on game day.
After the first page of my drill checklist I have also included one of my favorite drills that we call the “Swoop” drill. As always, feel free to email me if you have any questions regarding the Drill Sheet or the Swoop Drill.
