How to Run Block in Football

In the game of football nothing is more crucial to any offense's success than its offensive line's ability to block effectively. And, between pass blocking and run blocking, run blocking is by far the more important skill. If a team can gain 5 yards per carry all game long, they've won the football game before it even starts. How can you run block effectively? Read on for details:

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time to practice
• Determination
• Mental Toughness

How to Run Block in Football

1. Begin by practicing your techniques over and over again, even outside of team practice, until you feel comfortable with everything. If it helps then ask your fellow offensive lineman to get together on your own time and do some practice blocking.

2. Approach the line and set up in a 3-point stance when blocking during a real football game.

3. Examine the defense and determine which man you're supposed to block while the quarterback is calling the play at the line of scrimmage. Focus all your attention on thinking about the snap count and about how you're going to get to your block and help the runner gain yardage.

4. Fire out of your stance as the ball is snapped, keeping as low to the ground as possible, and make contact with the opposing player you're supposed to block.

5. Drive through the player, in a controlled fashion, and generate force by keeping a low center of gravity and getting underneath the defensive player that you're blocking.

6. Keep your eyes open for the ball carrier and try to read the defense to see if something unexpected has happened. If so, adjust your blocking accordingly.

7. Follow the runner and try to get down field and provide another block. Coaches love to see this kind of effort on game tape.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay low, especially if the man you're try to run block is bigger than you. While strength and weight have a lot to do with effective offensive line play, good strategy can overcome a lot.
• If you're going to hold onto the opponent's jersey or pads, in any way shape or form, then remember to keep your hands in close to your body while you do it. Officials call holding when they see an offensive lineman's arms extended and grasping, not when they're close in to your body.
• While in your 3-point stance put slightly more weight on your down hand, when run blocking, than you would on a pass play. This will allow you to stay low and to explode out of your stance with more power. When you're in the proper run blocking 3-point stance you should feel like you'll almost fall to the ground, but not quite.
• Even though you need to put more weight forward in your 3-point stance while run blocking, don't be too obvious about it. Linebackers are notorious for doing things like looking at an offensive lineman's knuckles and gauging how white they are, all to figure out whether a run play or pass play is coming.

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