Teaching Your Quarterback How to Throw on the Run | Flash Fire Drill

When throwing roll out passes there are three critical stages. The first stage is the Apex and Approach where the Quarterback gets his depth and begins to move his body towards the target. The second stage is the Load where the Quarterback is executing his mechanics and delivering the ball. The final stage is the Finish when the Quarterback releases the ball and follows through towards the target. In order to effectively throw a roll out pass all of these elements must work together to transfer power through the throw, we use the Flash Fire Drill to isolate and work on these components.

In the Flash Fire Drill two players are lined up about 20-25 yards apart, depending on their age and development level. On the coaches command the player with the ball will start jogging slowly towards his partner. When the coach says Flash the Quarterback will get the ball into his prepass position and continue in this position until the coach says fire. On the coaches “fire” he will finish the throw and keep coming towards the target for 3-4 steps.

Related Content: What to look for in a Quarterback 

There are a few key elements of each stage of the Flash Fire Drill. The first area to focus on is the Quarterback’s body positioning during the Flash section of the drill. When the Quarterback goes to Flash he must push his opposite shoulder back and load the ball onto his throwing shoulder. We refer to this as “staring down the barrel” and we tell our Quarterbacks that their non-throwing arm, from the shoulder to the elbow, makes up their barrel. At the same time they need to shorten their steps and rise up to their toes.

When the coach yells “Fire” the players will take the ball from their prepass position and deliver it to their target. In this stage the key element is that the Quarterback gets a full range of motion and continues their path towards the target. One of the best parts of the Flash Fire Drill is that it forces the Quarterback to be moving towards their target. This allows them to get their full lower body into the throw. By using their lower body to generate momentum Quarterbacks who lack arm strength are able to throw passes like the 16 yard comeback on a line.

Related Content: QB Passing Drills and Techniques

The Flash Fire is a great way to break up the throwing mechanics of throwing on the run and to teach Quarterbacks how to translate the power their lower body is generating into their throw. When done effectively this technique can allow any level of Quarterback to throw a 16 yard Comeback to the opposite side of the field before the defender can make a break on the ball.

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What to Look for in a Quarterback

Football is a sport that is great because it requires all players working together to make the play successful. This means that each position is important but the Quarterback position stands above the others as the most important for several reason. First the Quarterback is the default leader of the offense. There are times where other players emerge as the leaders of the offense but the Quarterback is who everyone will look to at the start of the season. In addition to being the leader of the offense, the offense must flow through the Quarterback. The Quarterback and Center are the two players that will touch the ball on every play. As a result, it’s important that you are highlighting the Quarterback’s strengths and asking him to complete tasks that he is good at.

Related Content: Best Youth Football Drill for Quarterbacks 

So if you can adapt your offense to the Quarterback the natural question is what are you using to decide who will be your Quarterback. This is far from an exact science but it is normally easy to spot the Quarterback among a group of kids. For me, I am always looking for athletes who people are willing to follow, athletes that have space awareness and the ability to make decisions under pressure. Regardless of the offensive system, if a Quarterback has these three qualities they have a chance to have success.

The ability to lead a group of individuals might be one of the most important characteristics of a Quarterback. If your offense is a huddle based offense the Quarterback will be addressing the huddle directly before each play. These interactions will be the last interactions before the play starts and have a huge effect on the ability of the players to do their jobs. As teams move to no huddle offenses it actually increases the importance of the Quarterback’s leadership. He will be responsible for getting the play and communicating it to the rest of the offense. His ability to get the play to the rest of the offense is critical if they are going to have success.

The next major characteristic to look for in a Quarterback spatial awareness. This ability to understand space and how to use that space to manipulate defenders. Again this is an ability that can be hard to uncover but it is normally the difference between good and great players. One way we can see this ability is through games that force players to make passes and use their teammates.

Related Content: Teaching the QB to Audible in the Option Offense 

The final characteristic to look for in a Quarterback is the ability to make decisions under pressure. The most important part of playing Quarterback, regardless of the system, is to make decisions. In order to have an effective Quarterback it is critical that the player has the ability to make decisions in high pressure environments. Again this is a hard skill to evaluate but by putting players in tough positions and seeing how they respond to a difficult workout or conditioning you can normally determine how players will respond to pressure.

Finding the right player to play Quarterback must be the first priority for any team. Once the Quarterback is established you can build the offense to highlight his physical skills. But regardless of their physical skills, every great Quarterback must be a great leader, understand how to use space to the team’s advantage and make great decisions.

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Teaching Quarterbacks to Read Defensive Coverages

This is where a Quarterback’s ability to read the coverage can be a huge asset. If he knows what coverage the defense will be in, he has the ability to move quicker through his progression because he knows before the snap happens who will be covered. This allows him to focus on the receiver who will be open and get him the ball quickly.

Reading coverages is not as difficult as the TV analysts make it appear. There are really only a few categories of coverage and when the Quarterback understands these different coverages, and where they are weak, he can easily find the open receiver. I have always taught Quarterbacks that there are three basic coverages and everything else is a variation of them.

The major determiner when reading coverages is how the defense is going to defend the deep middle of the field. By seeing how the defense will cover the deep middle of the field, you can figure out how they will defend the rest of the field. There are essentially three different coverages in football: Middle of Field Open (MOFO), Middle of Field Closed (MOFC) and Man. When a Quarterback understands these coverages, and more importantly the strengths and weaknesses of these coverages, he is in a position to take advantage of them.

MOFO coverage means that there is no deep defender who is responsible for the middle of the field. This is the result of the defense putting two Safeties back. Once the QB has determined that the coverage is MOFO he should move on to looking at the Cornerbacks and seeing their alignment to determine who is responsible for defending the flats. If they are close to the line of scrimmage it is safe to assume they are responsible for the flats, while if they are deeper the outside linebacker is probably responsible for the flats. In these coverages the best place to attack is down the sidelines using some sort of vertical stretch. In these passing concepts one receiver will be running a deep route along the sideline and one will be running a route to the flats. The effect is that the Cornerback is put into a bind where he must either defend the deep threat or come up to the shallow route. The routes that are popular against a MOFO with the Corners up are Go-Out and Smash.

(See Also) Go-Out Passing Concept 

(See Also) The Smash Passing Concept 

MOFC coverages are normally designed to stop the run. Instead of having two Safeties back to defend the deep pass, the defense only moves one back which allows them to use another defender to stop the run. Once a Quarterback has seen that he is going against a MOFC coverage he needs to check the Cornerbacks to determine if they are in a man, zone or some sort of combination. When the Cornerbacks are playing off the line of scrimmage and have their eyes inside the Quarterback can assume it is a zone coverage. When he sees this he knows that one of the linebackers or rolled down Safeties is responsible for covering the flats. In these situations it’s best to use a horizontal stretch to force that defender to make a decision. The most popular routes to achieve this horizontal stretch are the Curl-Flat and Slant-Arrow Concepts. The other area where MOFC zone coverages are weak is downfield up the seams. This is where teams can rely on the Four Vertical Concept and the different reads off of it to exploit the weak areas of the defense.

(See Also) Four Verticals Passing Concept 

The final type of coverage is Man Coverage. The best way to determine if the defense is in a man coverage is by looking at the Cornerbacks. If the Cornerbacks are looking directly at the receiver it’s safe to say they are in a man coverage and the Quarterback will look to his man beating concepts.

The best man beating concepts are either based around a rub route or a double move. Most defenses go to man coverage when they are bringing some sort of blitz so it’s critical that the offense has the ability to get the ball out of the Quarterback’s hands quickly. This is where rub routes are particularly effective. In these routes the receivers will run some sort of crossing concept which makes coverage hard for defense.

If the Quarterback is confident that he will have time he can resort to double moves. These are routes where the receiver will fake one way before breaking the opposite way. These are very difficult to cover because when they are run effectively they force the coverage player to stop his momentum and accelerate in the opposite direction.

When having Quarterbacks look at coverages the most important part is to give them a framework and process to understand the defense. The MOFO/MOFC framework is especially effective for younger Quarterbacks because it gives them a simple either/or decision. This lets them quickly move through their decision making process and prepare for what they will see on the next play.

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When it comes to teaching and developing young QB´s on the junior level, certain intangibles are of critical importance in order to successfully play offensive football no matter the system. Lets not forget, we´re not looking for the next number 1 draft pick, we are looking for a kid who is able to be the COACHES RIGHT hand man on the field.

So what does it take to be a QB on the junior level playing good ball and how can Training be approached?

Approaching QB Training for Junior Age Groups

1.) Reliability- hey, if the kid has a cannon for an arm but doesn’t know the plays or he shows up when he wants, look for somebody else playing to play QB.

2.) Self motivation- Being a quarterback at the junior level means learning and practicing content all the time. Results are foreseeable if coach has to remind and pressure a kid to study and practice more than correct his practice.

3.) Curiosity- Football is a game of 1000 stories, so if you happen to have a kid who is new but borderline bugging you with questions about the game all the time, think of him being the one reproducing knowledge within the team and being able to give help on the field. Make him your partner.

4.) Social Skills- frankly, wouldn’t it be cool to run an offense just like the Pros or go Air Raid like Texas Tech? Yes of course. But we are coaching young kids right in the challenge of growing up and becoming adults and father figures. Lets not forget to focus on life values and appreciate social skill over velocity.

5.)  Point guard “Attitude”- you need to be the one in charge of moving the ball and also protecting it from harm. If a kid is more about scoring himself than letting his peers shine, think about a switch.- Is it fun to him to pass the ball to a teammate? QB’s cannot be selfish.

Of course there various drills specifically for the QB Position on a technical basis, but these will not give the kid the Success it is looking for if a certain mindset is not being met.  Explaining the magnitude of the position from a non-technical standpoint, but rather the above mentioned criteria has been of great help finding the ” Right” kid for me personally.

(See Also) Teaching the QB to Audible 

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Teaching the QB to Audible in the Option Offense

To best teach Quarterbacks what they are looking for each play you have to first start with a system to teach Quarterbacks how to identify defensive looks. Once they know how to identify defensive looks they can learn which plays are better vs each look. Without this understanding Quarterbacks will be guessing and not able to deal with the variety of different looks defenses can come out in.

I have always taught Quarterbacks to identify the defensive line look based on the system of bubbles. With this system every gap has a letter. The gap between Center and Guard is the A Bubble, the gap between the Guard and Tackle is the B Bubble, the Gap between the Tackle and the Wing or Tight End is the C Bubble, the Gap between the Tight End (if there is one in the formation) and the Wing is the D Bubble and the E Bubble is out towards the sideline.

When I talk to the Quarterback about defensive linemen we refer to them by what bubble they are lined up in. Many offensive line coaches use numbers to do the same thing. In my experience this is too much information for young Quarterbacks to deal with. In addition, while the difference in alignment between a shade nose and a 1 tech might be a big deal for the line, I’ve found that the Quarterback doesn’t need that much detail. Instead a Quarterback is much better served by knowing what gap the defensive linemen will be lined up in and then taking the time to determine the best play for the offense to be in.

As a general rule I tell QBs that we do not want to run a play where the ball carrier’s path goes directly into a defensive linemen. This means that when we run Midline we want to run the play at an open A Bubble while Inside Veer is best run at an open B Bubble and Outside Veer and Speed/Load Option are best to an open C Bubble. What we will normally do is tell the Quarterback to call the play but to check the bubbles. As he comes to the line he ensures that we will be running the play to an open bubble. If the bubble is closed on one side he can call “riverside” which will switch the play to the opposite side.

The other option we have is to call Option Right or Left. As the QB comes to the line he is going to check to see where the open bubble is and call the play that corresponds to the open bubble. Where he starts depends on the strengths of your offense. Many times QB’s will be told to start by checking the B gap. If the B Bubble is open he will call for Inside Veer. If the B Bubble is closed he should automatically look to the A gap. If there is an open A Bubble then he should call for Midline. If the A gap is closed he should look to the C Bubble. If the C Bubble is open he will call for Outside Veer (if the Quarterback is a more dynamic runner the other call to an open C Bubble is Speed Option).

(See Also) Bubble Screen Play 

While the looks that you want to run certain plays at can vary the most important part of this is to create a system to teach Quarterbacks how to read defenses. When talking to Quarterbacks I tell them to imagine they are playing NCAA Football and hit the trigger to see where the play is going. If the Fullback’s path is heading into a defender we want to switch sides. From there it’s important to have a systematic flow that guides the Quarterback through his decision making.

I am a total believer in giving the Quarterback the power to audible out of a bad play because I think it makes the team more dynamic. While it’s great to give him that power, as a Coach it’s important to give him the tools and a framework of how to use it. In this system it is absolutely critical that the QB has confidence that you as a Coach will back him up and support his decision making. The framework I have always used is to tell the QB that as long as he has a reason for audibling into a play he will never be wrong.

With that being said you have to acknowledge that there will be times that the QB makes the incorrect choice. It’s important to backup your QB when he makes a wrong choice. Many coaches will jump on a QB who makes a wrong choice and abandon the audible system. Instead it’s important to dive into why he made the call he did, and then explain to him why another choice may have been better. By creating a dialogue of asking him why he made a choice you make him aware of his own mental processes. The effect of this is to have a Quarterback who can analyze a situation in the same way the Coaches are looking at it.

Giving the Quarterback the power to audible the play is one of the scariest things for a coordinator to do. You are essentially taking your hands off and removing your direct control over the play calls. While this can be a terrifying moment, if you give your Quarterback a path and decision making tree to follow you will give your offense the ability to get out of a bad play.

(See Also) Optioning the 3-5-3 Stack Defense 

(See Also) Wrist Coaches for Play Calling 

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3 Golden Rules of the Two-Minute Offense

Rule # 1: Have a Second Play Ready! 

While offense can vary greatly there are a few general rules that every coach and player needs to know about 2 minute offense. The first rule is to always have a second play ready to run in case the clock is still running. The time it takes for a QB to get the play from the coach can take up to 5 seconds even if the play is signaled in. When you add the additional time that the coach take in picking a play this is a chunk of time that does not need to be wasted. Instead whenever the clock is stopped the coach should give the QB two play calls, one to run and a second play to run if the ball is stopped in bounds. Depending on the level of the rest of the team this play can be communicated to the line or receivers but at a minimum the QB should know the play so he can start communicating it as the ball is being spotted.

Rule #2: Never Throw a Check down! 

The second major rule is to never throw the check down. A two minute passing situation is different than the rest of the game. In a normal game if the QB sees that he can’t make a deep pass he should look to his shallow receivers and try to get a few yards. In the two minutes situation this is a mistake. By throwing to the short receiver he has taken time off the clock and put the receiver in danger of being tackled in bounds.

This isn’t to say that the QB should never throw the ball short in a 2 minute offense. Taking quick short passes can be a great way to move the ball into striking distance when the defense is bailing deep. These short passes that are thrown quickly to receivers who can easily catch the ball and get out of bounds are much different than check down routes.

Rule # 3: Do What Your Team Does Best ! 

The third and final rule of 2 minute passing is to do what your players do best. This is the time when players are tired and under stress. This is not the time to try a new concept or something that you rarely run. Instead you should have a list of plays that your players believe in and trust. The extra experience and trust will pay off in the long run.

Every offense is different and it’s important to acknowledge that. When you are running the two minute offense you must play to the strengths of your players with the understanding that you always want to trade a second for two to three yards. This means that if you call a play expecting it to take 4 seconds you better be planning on getting 8-12 yards. When you’re whole team understands this and how it impacts their decisions you are in a position to make the game winning drive that all players dream of.

Here are some passing concepts that work very well in youth football (Click below): 

Smash Concept 

Post-Wheel Concept 

4 Verticals 

Passing Concepts Against Zone Coverage 

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Progression for Carrying the Football

We teach ball security using the five points of pressure. With the five points of pressure the ball is completely protected from the defense. We use specific phrases for each of these five points that help illustrate the point, while also giving us coaching cues that we can use to correct poor technique quickly. The five points of pressure are eagle claw, lock the wrist, wrist above elbow, pin the ribs and double in trouble. Each of these phrases is a call to action that gives the players specific instructions and gives them a visual on how to carry the ball.

Eagle Claw

One mistake rookie players will make is to cover the tip of the ball, or even worse carry the ball upright. If a player is using the eagle claw there is no way they can make either of these mistakes. The Eagle Claw is when the ball carrier grabs the tip of the ball by not covering the tip. This prevents the ball carrier from carrying the ball vertically which eliminates the first rookie mistake players make. The Eagle Claw is effective because it does not cover the tip of the ball. By covering the tip of the ball the ball carrier is exerting pressure on a small surface area. When they spread their hand out and put pressure through all of the fingers the pressure is spread over a wider area which makes it less susceptible to a direct hit from a defender.

Lock the Wrist

Another common mistake players will make is to pin the ball directly to their chest without locking their wrist. The effect is that there is an open space between the ball carrier’s arm and the ball. This is space that can allow the ball to wiggle out in contact or for a defender’s hand to slip in to rip the ball out. Instead it’s critical that the ball carrier Locks his Wrist. The effect of this is that the ball is now tight against the forearm. This gives a wide surface area for the player to apply pressure to secure the ball and also helps to protect the ball from defender’s hands.

Wrist Above Elbow

One of the most under coached parts of ball security is the Wrist Above Elbow portion of ball carrying. The idea behind Wrist Above Elbow is that the ball carrier will keep his wrist above his elbow the whole time he has the ball. By keeping his wrist above his elbow he creates a bend in the arm. This bend allows the player’s bicep to cover the ball opposite of the forearm. Again there is a large surface area where the player can exert pressure on the ball to help secure it. The added benefit with keeping the wrist above the elbow is that is protects the back end of the ball. One of the more common causes of fumbles is when the ball carrier has the ball poked out from behind. This occurs when the ball carrier does not have his wrist higher than his elbow, this takes away his bicep as the backside protection and opens the ball up to a chasing defender

Pin the Ribs

The most underrated coaching point of ball security is to pin the ball to the ribs. By pinning the ball against his ribs the ball carrier can protect the backside of the ball. This is an excellent way to secure possession. The area where players tend to forget about pinning the ball to their ribs is when they begin to change directions. The body will naturally throw the arm out to counter the change of direction. It’s important that players drill this and work on keeping the ball in tight against their upper body to stop the body from putting the arm out automatically.

Double in Trouble

The last point of protection is the second arm across the ball. By putting the second arm across the ball the ball now has an added security that one arm alone cannot provide. It also has the added effect of narrowing the shoulder frame of the runner and making it easier to get through a narrow hole. This, combined with the body’s natural tendency to lower the shoulder level when doubling over the ball, creates a runner with a low center of gravity that can get through a narrow hole.

By doubling the ball up the runner has almost guaranteed possession of the ball but he cannot run very fast. As a result we tell our runners to only double the ball when they are going through the hole or into immediate contact, which creates the phrase double in trouble. With that being said it’s always better that the runner airs on the side of caution and securing the ball.

The turnover battle is the number one predictor of who will win any football game, regardless of the level. It’s important that players know how to properly secure possession and it is drilled on a daily basis.

Progression for Carrying the Football 

• Eagle Claw
• Lock the Wrist
• Wrist Above Elbow
• Pin the Ribs
• Double in Trouble
• High and Tight

Make it clear to your skilled position players- that if they can’t secure the football they will not be carrying the football. Fumbles cannot happen.

(See Also) Running Back Drills 

(See Also) Coaching Running Backs

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I bet there are thousands of plays across the country that are wasted because of poor handoff exchanges. Taking a handoff in football is overlooked by many youth football coaches. This is a technique that many coaches do not commit enough practice time too. Taking a handoff in football is one of the first techniques we teach our running backs. We will teach how to take a handoff in our individual position practice section. We will practice this technique throughout the entire season.

Our running back coach will put our players through conditioning drills that require the running backs and QB to give and take handoffs.  Once the kids know the technique, it becomes all about reps.  Every time you are running a play in practice, make sure the handoff exchange is perfect. If it isn’t then redo the play.  Like everyone, we will run a play again if it was executed incorrectly in anyway. If the handoff exchange between the QB and running back isn’t clean, we will run the play again with focus on executing a good hand exchange.  We don’t always run the same play again (slows tempo), but early on in the season we will.

Coaching Points for Running Backs

• Inside arm is up (arm nearest to the QB). If you are taking  a handoff to the left, your right arm needs to be up. If you are taking a handoff to the right, your left arm needs to be up. Another way to teach it-  inside arm is always up!
• The RB must come down on the ball once it is placed in his “bread basket“. You do not want to take the ball from the QB.
• You do not want the running back to belly towards the QB for the handoff. It is the QB’s job to get to the running back and hand the ball to him. If the point of attack is the 5 hole, the running back needs to run right at the 5 hole. Again, it is the QB’s job to get the RB the football.
• Running back’s eyes are always looking where he is running. You want the running back to be looking which way he has to cut.
• Once the ball is inserted into his bread basket, the RB must secure the football and maintain two hands on the football going through traffic.

Coaching Points for Quarterbacks

• The QB must insert the ball into the bread basket of the running back. The QB has to look where he is inserting the football.
• QB shouldn’t slam the ball in the bread basket, he should just insert it and the running back will come down on the ball.
• You want the QB to get the RB the football in the backfield. You don’t want the QB to give the running back the ball close to the line of scrimmage. This can be an issue because if there is penetration, the running back will have no time to adjust his path.
• It is the QB’s job to receive the snap and meet the running in the backfield and at the point of attack. QB has to move his feet.

Here are some “must do”-  Running Back Drills 

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The shotgun formation can be used in youth football with great success. Many coaches are hesitant to use the shotgun formation because of the risk of fumbled snaps. With enough practice time/reps the shotgun snap exchange will be executed fluently. If you decide to go with the shotgun make sure you practice at least 3 different centers. If one of your centers gets hurt, you will need capable backups.  Remember, practice makes perfect- reps, reps, and more reps.
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Putting your QB in the shotgun doesn’t mean you have to pass the football. There are plenty of youth football running plays that work out of the shotgun formation. When the quarterback is in the shotgun formation, he will be able to see the field easier. True pocket QBs are rare in youth football. The best way to pass the ball in youth football is to roll the QB out or to utilize the quick passing game (slants, quick outs, go routes).  Rolling your QB out will allow your QB to see the field and read the coverage easier.  Having the QB throw a corner or deep pattern from the pocket is asking a lot from a youth Quarterback. Rolling the quarterbacks out will also give the quarterback a run-pass option. The shotgun formation will give the QB additional time to throw.

Just because you are in the shotgun formation doesn’t mean you have to pass the football!  When you have an athletic QB, you can run plays to utilize his athletic ability. The quarterback trap, quarterback iso, roll out passing plays (run/pass option), and QB sweeps are probably the best plays. It is difficult for defenses to prepare for and defend a mobile QB.  Having a quarterback that is a running threat also takes away the defense’s extra defender.

Coaching Tips for the shotgun formation in youth football:

• Have multiple kids that can execute shotgun snaps.
• Hammer home that the QB’s first responsibility is to catch and secure shotgun snap.
• Practice shotgun snaps whenever you can. Practice snaps before, during, and after practice.
• You can put the quarterback in the shotgun in any offense.

Shotgun Wing T Playbook:

• Fast, deceptive, & explosive offense.
• Makes the defense defend the QB as a running  & passing threat.
• Series of plays, every play sets another play up.
• Explosive play-action passing game.
• Gives your offense an identity.
• Excellent blocking scheme that utilizes blocking angles.
• Attack the defense with run and passing plays off of jet motion.

Score points and take it to the defense with this: Shotgun Wing T Playbook.

Relevant Shotgun Formation Articles:

The Shotgun Snap (Center Snapping Technique)

Twins Formation 

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The shotgun snap in youth football is being used more than ever. Mobile QBs and spread offenses are really starting to open up on the youth football level.  If you decide to use a formation with the QB in the shotgun, it is vital that the QB-Center snap exchange is consistently clean.

Even though shotgun formations are becoming more common, there are many coaches that are scared to use the shotgun due to fumbling concerns. With sufficient practice time, your shotgun snap exchanges will be fine. If you decide to go with the shotgun make sure you practice at least 3 different centers. If one of your centers gets hurt, you will need capable backups.  Remember, practice makes perfect, reps, reps, and more reps. Get reps in before, during, and even a couple after practice.

Quick Tips for a Successful Shotgun Snap

• Shorten the youth football Quarterback’s distance from the center. The QB should not be any more than 4 yards back.  This will make for an easier snap. QB heels should be at 5 yards.
• Make sure before each snap the center looks between his legs to get a visual distance of the QB.
• Make sure your QB is at the same distance every snap, make him count his steps. This will allow the center to get comfortable with the snap distance . 
• The quarterback needs to have his hands out in a ready position.  His hands should be out in front of his body and prepared to catch a low or high snap.
• The QB must look the football into his hands. Concentrate on catching the snap above all.

Remember, repetition is crucial for clean center/QB snap exchanges.  With proper practice time the shotgun snap in youth football can be very effective. If you have an athletic QB make the defense defend the QB by putting him into a  shotgun formation.

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At least 90 % of football plays are running plays which require a running back-quarterback exchange. It is imperative that you practice this exchange often in practice. It is all about proper technique and timing.

Hand-offs

• Running back must have his inside arm up. If the play is going to the right, the ball carrier needs to have his left arm up. If the play is going  to the left, the ball carrier needs to have his right arm up. This will help deter fumbles and allow the QB to insert the ball into the running back’s belly. This is one of the most vital aspects of the running back-quarterback exchange.
• Running back must not belly towards the QB. The running back must run directly to the point of attack. Do not go to the QB for the hand-off.  It is the QB’s job to get the RB the ball.
• The RB needs to have his head up looking at the point of attack. The running back needs his head up so that he can see which way he needs to cut off the blocks.  Again, it is the quarterback’s job to get the running back the ball.
• The running back needs to be securing the ball through the line of scrimmage. The football needs to be held high and tight. Two hands need to cover the ball whenever contact arrives.
• Quarterback’s job is to get the running back the ball at the point of attack. The QB must use his eyes and feet to get to the RB. The QB must concentrate on putting the ball into the belly of the running back.
• The QB must not collide with the running. The QB needs to look where he is running.
• Quarterback must keep the ball against his chest with two hands on all fakes. This will secure the ball if the running back bumps into the quarterback, QB falls, or the defense gets penetration. The  snap and running back-quarterback exchange are the staring points of every play.

Pitch/Tosses

• The QB must secure the snap first!  Sometimes you will see young QBs try to take the snap and rush the pitch before they actually have a hold on the football. The first priority when teaching the running back-quarterback exchange is securing the snap.
• QBs needs to open their feet up to the target. If you are pitching/tossing the football to the right, the QB must square up to the target and his right foot needs to be pointed towards his target. This will allow the QB to have free motion on the pitch. If the QB is pitching left, his left foot needs to pointed towards the target and his chest & hips needs to be square to the target.
• The quarterback must follow through on all pitches. Pitches need to be crisp and directly to the ball carrier. No floating pitches!

Here is how we teach our rocket sweep toss:

Again it is crucial that the running back-quarterback exchange is smooth. You cannot afford to lose a play or a possession because of a botched snap, hand-off, or ugly pitch. Practice hand-off and pitches every single practice. You can even do it before practice when the kids are waiting to start practice.

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One of the biggest lies I hear young coaches tell players is that you can’t teach speed. To me, speed is like any other muscle, if you train it right, you can improve on it. For example, I have seen college football athletes come out of school and participate in CFL (Canadian Football League) tryouts that don’t know the basic techniques of running.

Just knowing and doing the basic techniques will make you a tenth of a second faster. This is not just technique used by track and field athletes but they can be used on the gridiron as well. This technique is now being taught at the collegiate level because of the number of athletes that do not know the basics of running.

The first thing to understand is that the shoulders move the legs. The faster you move the shoulders, the faster you will move the legs. Have your athletes start in a standing position with their arms in an “L” position where their elbows are at a 90 degree angle. First teach them the movements in a simulated stance. By swinging their arms back and forth and never breaking the 90 degree angle. The hands should swing from the chin to the waist in a very fluid manner with the elbows close to the body.

Coaching Note: Do not allow the athletes break the 90 degree angle with their arms or swing their arms away from their body. This will cause a wasted motion and will slow them down.

Once you feel that the athletes have this motion down while standing still, have them now put it together in a slow walk. As the front foot steps, the opposite arm should be up and the hand at their chin and back hand is at their waist. Walk 10-15 yards doing this so they can see what it looks and feels like while going slow.

Coaching Note: This is the most critical stage, if they don’t see how it is supposed to look and feel like, then they will never pick up the motion.

Finally, you speed things up. Have the athletes do high knees while swinging their arms in the correct manner for 5-10 yards, then do a burst and sprint for another 5-10 yards. You can also have them run in place then burst and sprint for 5-10 yards. The point is to get the athletes to work this drill as much as possible.

Coaching Note: This drill can be also used while teaching wide receivers the shuffle step then burst past the Defensive Backs. This drill also helps all Defensive players on their explosion drills.

Like I said before, this is the most basic concept for youth football speed training. If this drill is taught correctly, it could pay off huge dividends in the athlete’s future. It is said that if you practice something 1000 times, then it becomes a habit. At the youth level, if you teach this drill every day for 3-5 minutes, you will see a huge difference in the way the athletes play.

By Coach Andy Bryson

Coach Andy was an intern coach at LSU and was an assistant defensive line coach for SLU.

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