receiver drills

We use a lot of the above mentioned drills as well as a few others. I could use any blocking drills you have as we are an option team but I don't feel like I have enough blocking techniques or drills.

1. Line up facing sideline about 10 yards away. QB lines up parallel to sideline about 5 yards from line and 10 yards from receivers. Receiver runs right at the sidleline and QB throws to just "in-bounds". Receivers work on always catching then dragging the toes. Emphasize the catch cause the Ref never has to make a decision if the catch ain't made.

2. Same idea but a over the shoulder ball into the corner of the endzone.

3. Receivers about 10 yds from QB with back towards QB. QB starts the throwing motion and just before releasing yells hit. On hit the receiver snaps the head and body around/locates the ball/ and makes the catch. Practice spinning both directions.

4. Place a WR facing a Defender and also place a second defender just behind the WR. In essence making a WR sandwich. QB lines up 8-10 away but in-line with the other facing the WR. ( QB --------------D--WR--D).
On sound the WR gets one move then must break left or right, sprinting to the sideline. QB tries to complete the pass to the WR. This is a good drill for getting open against a tight man situation and a good drill for QB's threading the needle.

5. Same alignment as 4 above but the QB tries to throw the rainbow over the first level D and in front of the second level D. This creates a Jump Ball situation as well as teaching the WR to play defense if necessary and knock the ball out of D's hand if they are making the pick.

6. QB faces WR about 15 yards apart. WR starts laying on his stomache. Coach or player kneels next to the WR and places palm on the small of the WR's back. On hit the WR must press up to get on his feet (apply enough resistance to make him work but not enough to throw him off balance or prevent him from getting up.) Once to his feet the WR runs full speed at the QB. On the WR's 3rd step the QB delivers the ball as hard as possible at the WR. Make the catch without breaking stride and continue through the QB. This works on fighting to get up after being knocked off route as well as keeping concentration if you slip down. Also making the catch while continue to drive back to the ball. Can variation this to have them drive at the ball then after making the catch quickly spinning and attacking the other direction.

7. WR in Squat position. QB facing about 10 yards away. QB starts throwing motion, just before delivery WR must fully sell out and dive forwards towards the QB. QB is throwing the ball out in front of WR. If the ball is eye level or above use the standard palms out window frame catch, if it is below then get the elbows together and cradle it, be sure they try and roll to their back and not reach out to catch themselves.

8. WR lines up about 1 yard in front of a fence (if possible just to reduce having to chase missed balls). QB lines up 10 yards away. WR will run full speed to a spot 10 yards to their side - plant and run back to where they began. In between the 10 yard sprints the QB is delivering balls. WR must make the catch in stride if possible, make a quick tuck then throw the ball out of the drill. Usually 4 sprint intervals is a good amount so you need 4 footballs to keep the drill moving smooth. It is a quick way to get 4 running catches in for your WR's. Think of it as a 1 qb 1 WR firing squad but the WR is running back and forth 10 yard sprints.

8. Find a good brick wall and have the WR face the wall at about 3 yards away. Stand just to the side of the WR and about 3 yards behind them. Throw a tennis ball off of the wall so that it bounces back within a reasonable catching position to the WR. Make it bounce so they do have to move at least a step. It usually takes a few for them to get the timing down but they will get the hang of it. This is great for increasing muscle reaction and soft hands catching tennis balls.

I hope some of these help.

THIS IS A DRILL I LEARNED AT A TENNESSEE FOOTBALL CLINIC. ITS CALLED GAUNTLET OR SIDELINE DRILL AND IT HAS HELPED US ALOT. IT TEACHES TO CATCH, TUCK AND GET UP THE SIDELINES. I USE IT FOR ALL OUT BREAKING ROUTES. LINE UP 2-3 BAGS OR CONES ABOUT 5 YARDS FROM THE SIDELINES AND ABOUT 8 YARDS OFF THE RECEIVER(DEPENDING ON HOW LONG YOUR STEM IS) AND HAVE OUR RECEIVERS TO:
1. TAKE A PROPER SPLIT
2. PICK OUT A LANDMARK WHEN YOU COME TO THE LOS, TO MAKE YOUR BREAK
3. RUN THE PROPER ROUTE(ALWAYS SELLING STREAK WHEN YOU COME OFF THE LOS)
4. LOOK THE FOOTBALL ALL THE WAY IN CATCH AND TUCK.
5. GET UP THE SIDLINES QUICKLY.

RECEIVERS WILL TURN UP THE SIDELINES BETWEEN CONES/BAGS AND SIDELINES.

This will kind of be a mix of drills and ways for guys to get comfortable with having a ball in thier hands.

1. Hot potato. It sounds childish and simple, but have the guys get in a circle on their knees. Play hot potato with one football. Make sure they actually catch the ball and aren't just tipping it to each other. A drop and they're out. The ball will be coming at odd angles and in odd positions and sometimes from someone not looking at them. It helps with alertness and catching bad balls. Plus, it's fun.

2. Distraction. There are many ways to run this, some of which where already covered. You can do it with crossing routes, long balls, coming toward the thrower. I like throwing hand held blocking pads up in front of the receiver as the ball is coming, so they lose sight for just a split second. Waving arms works too.

3. Catching while getting hit. This also involves the use of blocking pads or even the big dummies if the small ones aren't available. Have the Qb throw the ball high so the receiver has to jump and extend thier arms to get to it, as the receiver is catching the ball, jolt them with the pad or dummy. You can do this from only one side or if you like from both sides.

4. Ball familiarity. If you have enough old footballs, give one to your receivers so they can do this stuff in thier spare time, watching tv, riding in a car, etc. If you don't have enough, encourage them to buy a football for themselves so they have one.
- Sleep with a football in the position you would be carrying it. Yes, I know it seems odd and a very played out idea, but I did it in high school and got to the point where my football was at my side when I woke up in the morning. A few times I actually had it the perfect position for carrying a football when I woke up.
- Start with football in hand towards the point and hand on top of ball wrapped around the ball so there is a V between the thumb and first finger. Roll the ball up through that V to the back of your hand, then back down and grab the ball again so it doesn't fall out. Do this over and over and over again. See how many times in a row you can do it without dropping it. Do this with both dominant and non-dominant hand.
- Hold ball at about hip level by fingertips on end of ball. Lift slightly and drop ball. Cath ball with fingertips. Repeat. Try not to let ball fall. Try to maintain level. Do with both hands.

The final thing I have to say about catching is that concentration is the most important factor. Drills are nice. Big, strong hands are nice. But all that is lost if the concentration isn't there. Catching is about 25% technique, 25% want, and 50% concentration. Bad technique can be overcome by great concentration. Watch the ball all the way in. I know most of this post is old, but I just saw it and, I hope this stuff helps out someone.

here is an idea when running hitch. I don't know if it has any other applicability.

Instead of snapping the head around try planting the outside foot while still looking upfield. While planting point the inside arm back at the qb. then follow the hand with the head and body back to the ball. I believe this eliminates the drifting stop and turn you often get with the snap head method which leads the body into a graceful curved stop turn rather than the desired "no drift" stop. It also gets the hands up for the ball thrown on timing. The straight head may decieve the defender for a moment longer also.

This should be as helpful as keeping a basketballer's hands by his chest instead of his side when standing around waiting for a pass.