How to Set Up a Football Training Camp
The tone for a football season is set in training camp. Players often dread the idea of going to camp in the heat of summer, going through brutal workouts and having little energy but to lie on the bed at the conclusion of yet another double session. However, the work of summer can translate into success in the fall if training camp has a direction, focus and flow.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Let your players know what they can expect when they get to training camp. Football players should report to camp in shape, because they have been doing offseason workouts. Let them know ahead of time what you will expect them to do in a typical training camp practice. Staples of your practice session should include calisthenics, cardiovascular training, position workout, scrimmages, scrimmages against other opponents and practice games.
-
2
Start your practice with running sessions. You don't have to make excuses for making your players run. You are not trying to punish them. What you are trying to do is make sure they have the stamina and toughness to finish the fourth quarters of games. Start them off at the goal line. Have them run to the 15-yard line and back to the goal line. Then they run to the 25-yard line and back, then finally to the 50-yard line and back. Give them a two-minute break and have them repeat this drill.
-
-
3
Have players perform calisthenics. These are a must. Pushups, stretches, up-downs and sit-ups should be a part of the routine. Push them hard for 10 to 15 minutes.
-
4
Break your players into groups by position. Take your offensive linemen and go over all the blocks that they will need to perform in games. The No. 1 left tackle will go up against the No. 2 right tackle to perfect his technique. This is where your position coaches are put to the test. Have them correct mistakes immediately. The best coaches are on the field teaching the game to the players. Have every player go up against a live opponent throughout the session.
-
5
Scrimmage your offense against your defense in the afternoon practice session. This is with full contact and full hitting. In recent years, training camps have backed off on the hitting in practice because coaches may fear injuries. The negative part of that is that players who don't block and tackle in training camp can't block and tackle in games later on during the season. Don't back off. Push hard until technique is excellent.
-
6
Schedule a scrimmage with an opposing team. Your players have been hitting each other in the first week of training camp. It's time to see how they do against live opponents. A scrimmage is not a game. Each side will get to work on plays and coaches will evaluate their own team after each play. Again, if you see mistakes, correct them right there and then so they are not made in the future.
-
1
