Breaking in a new center...

gov, as a former center and now OL coach, one of the most important things that a center must be able to do is move his feet (at least his first step) while snapping the ball, otherwise he is a sitting duck. It sounds easy but is extremely difficult to do, however, when he becomes confident is his snaps this should become much easier. Make sure he knows his blocking rules and if you desire the rules of those around him if he needs to communicate pick-ups and whatnot. You got the most important part down "get the ball back there"!

Good Luck Coach!

As posted above, moving on the snap as the center delivers the ball to QB is paramount to success. On the HS level though, I was always adamant about making sure the QB had the ball, THEN MOVE! Stepping to a backside 3 for example takes an EXPERIENCED center, not a novice, and this technique takes a GREAT DEAL OF TRAINING AND PRACTICE. I know we are discussing the Center here, but your QB HAS TO BE VERY ADEPT AT TAKING A SNAP FROM A MOVING CENTER AS WELL.

Coach Easton

A drill I picked up from Purdue is simply having your centers snap the ball (without a qb) and go through the footwork that you use. I have my guys step straight ahead, at a 45 and then flat down the line. For some guys this still doesn't help but it is a start. I like to do this drill before practice starts.

As joboo59 said it is crucial for your center to snap the ball while performing the steps needed for him to be successful. In our OL bag that has all of our tools for OL practice we have 3 footballs. Those 3 footballs are for my 3 centers. When we get to indy our centers go to the bag and grab a ball. Every drill we do the centers will use the ball and practice snapping the ball.

JD

kw, Your right on, getting that off hand up quickly is crucial.

gov, I have come across some info while preparing for the summer's workouts. Some of the material I found has to do exclusively with breaking in a new center....here it is.

1. Get the new center into a basic 4pt stance. Weight evenly distrubuted with a flat back. Once in the proper stance have him fire out straight ahead, at angles to both sides and set back if you use such a pass pro tech.

2. Have the center lift his dominate hand off the ground and you place a ball exactly where his hand was and the player replaces his hand only this time on the ball.

3. Remove the ball and bring in a qb. Have the qb place his hands under center. Then the center should reach back and shake hands with the qb's top hand, giving the center his needed range of motion.

4. Replace the ball and snap it without either player moving. Once the exchange is clean for a number of reps have both players begin to move.

I may recommend for the first few reps of #4 rather than immediatley reintroducing the ball, have the qb and center slap hands (similar to the shake in #3). Fumbling the ball is mentally a bad thing and if the qb and center touch hands successfully then they surely wouldn't miss with the ball.

I believe the 4 pt stance as mentioned above is for training purposes only...it train the center to become comfortable with his non dominate hand on the ground. This style, in all reality is a three point stance with the dominate hand (the fourth point of the four point) taking care of the ball. I am a true believer in this stance, I feel a two handed or nondominate hand off the ground creates a center who is either flat footed or wobbly requiring a check step.

I my coaching experience I have never coached a center to take a drop step in pass pro. The drill says to set back for pass pro, I interperet that as setting back on your feet not drop stepping. In my experience a center that drop steps will likely step on the qb's toes and that's just not good.

Do what you do!

joboo