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Post by joboo59 on Jun 16, 2008 6:28:15 GMT -6
Coaches,
I am looking for some ideas for drills some may have used for a combine or skills evaluation session. I have taken over a program that is fed by a youth program that limits the athletes who can play "skilled" positions. Because of this all the kids believe they are running backs or receivers. 56 kids sign up, 11 have volunteered to play the line (total - both ways)!
I am an offensive and defensive line coach, so my experience in "skilled" position drills is limited. I need some help! What ideas can you share with me in finding the proper athletes for a wing-t offense and a 3-4 defense?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Nate
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Post by hsrose on Jun 16, 2008 7:05:39 GMT -6
When I took over a youth team my biggest fear, not having coached football before, was the parents getting in my face about little Johnny not playing here or there. I was also very concerned about finding the players to play. So, I went with a mini-combine at our tryouts and then a full day of testing on our first day of practice. My age group was 8-12's.
The tryouts were run by the league. All the players went through a line-up and interview thing where the coaches would ask questions of each player. Then they did a warm up, and then a 40. The 40 was followed by a 4-corner drill with backpedal, shuffle, etc. After that the players were divided into groups and sent to meet each team. This was where I had the mini-combine.
I split the players into 4 groups. 1 went and jumped dots, another for 10-yd sprints, another to 20-yd sprints, and the last went for photo in front of a board that gave me their height, like in a mug shot. We'd then rotate so I got numbers on everyone.
That gave me enough information to formulate a draft strategy.
Once they got to the team practice we did a PPK-type of thing so that every player got a chance to show their skills. Found that when standing in front of everyone and having to perform most of the players started realizing where they should be (line/RB) and just followed. We also did our combine tests for any player that we didn't draft (hat picks done a the end of the draft). We did a tag thing where the RB tried to get through a 15x10 yd. corridor against a defender, which showed us who could move. At that age group we also played tag a few times, faster, more agile players made quick work of the others. We also did the 5-10-5 shuttle run.
Everything was recorded into Excel, which then did all the rankings and calculations. The calculations ended with an overall ranking of the players which we then used as a guide in making assignments. top 6 were initial candidates for backs, next 4 were receivers or LB's, that type of thing.
All in all we hit speed, agility, elusiveness, and skills. The kids knew what was happening. I found that I really didn't have to force a kid to play line once they, and the parents, saw what everyone else was doing. Making everything in the open made it clear why Johnny was playing where he was.
Casey
IHS Vikings
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