How to Run the Team Pursuit Drill Defense and Conditioning Drill for Youth Football
The key to a successful youth football season is all in the practice and preparation. This drill at the end of practice works on the team's defense and conditioning. The goal is to remind defensive players of their assignments. It includes the full defense, but just the center, quarterback and a running back on offense.
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Instructions
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Have the middle linebacker or defensive captain call out a defense. The defensive players must line up in their respective positions. The quarterback must call an option run to the wide side of the field.
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The outside player assigned to contain must come up and force the running back to the middle of the field. The other players must pursue down the line in the direction of the runner. No player is allowed to follow in the footsteps of another player, and each defensive player without an assignment must take a deep angle away from the line.
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The backside player with the reverse and bootleg responsibility must come up the field and get in position for a possible reverse or bootleg. Any defensive backs must stay back until the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage.
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If the ball is thrown, a defender must catch it and return it up the nearest sideline. The other defensive players need to run with the interceptor and form a blocking wall.
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When the ball does cross the line of scrimmage, all of the players must keep running until they have touched the ball carrier. All of the players then run into the end zone as part of the conditioning exercise.
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Tips & Warnings
This drill is a great team conditioning drill as well as a great way to reinforce defensive player assignments.
References
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
