side arm passer

do you know "Darin Slack"?

Coach, I will be glad to help you in any way I can. fbdoc is right, change is only possible, when the QB sees it is necessary. Here is the best drill you can do with him, in my opinion. One thing that may help is to begin by getting your QB to see himself from the front and back on video, throwing. This "reality check" for the QB will bring meaning to your observations, and then I would begin to talk with him about why he feels he needs to have his arm go that way. "I don't Know" is not an answer, get him to say it, "Baseball", "That is how it feels good", "That is all I know," etc. whatever. Get him to say it. Next, you need to ask him if he struggles at all with the idea that he is sidearm? Does it hurt? Do you feel it leaves you frustrated at all? You have to find a weak link in his belief about it, because that is where the breakdown is happening in the motion. Throwing motions that are confident, are supremely connected to understanding proper feel and a strong belief in one's self to do it. The absence of that in mechanics, or pressure induced fear, will show up as inconsistency. This is not about the arm, it is in the head. Well, now are you suggesting we make everyone a head case by thinking, Coach Slack? No, I am suggesting that thinking precedes real ownership of change. It sets the course for awareness of breakdowns, redirection of bad thought patterns, and the confidence that while he isn't finished - he is SAFE to keep changing! Why? Because, he knows what he did wrong and knows how to fix it. He can Self-Correct.

Ask the questions, get the answers, study his beliefs, find the weakness, coach it up to your expectation on the video, and then just tell him to start slowly elevating and accelerating his elbow through the motion faster, and work the wrist higher than normal as he pronates through on the finish. This is truly over-simplified, and you won't get Drew Brees, but he will try to get the move higher...Why? Because, you are taking an interest in him, and that motivates him. Truth is, you probably already know the drills, you know what you want him to do, you are just struggling with where to start.

In my opinion, you just need to do the hard work first, before you do the drills. Get him to believe he needs to change.

BTW, If it doesn't motivate him that you are trying to help when you talk, no drill in heaven, or on earth will change him. Leave it be, and scheme around it, and start fresh next offseason.


If you can be more specific about what you are seeing, I can get more practical about a practice drill or two that can help. Don't want to seem too "out there" on this thread.

if you post a clip of his throw on a PM, I will give you feedback if you want. Just an offer