Hitting in practice

what do you mean by live? as in taking the ball carrier to the ground in a team period? We go 100% live on the line always. we have a pretty quick whistle during offensive team and a bit slower whistle during team D.

I think the experience and natural toughness of your kids have to be weighed in the equation. Usually in the first few practices of just thudding and "incidental" contact, we can gauge the level of our players. Last year, we went full go a ton. But we needed too. The kids had no idea how to play at a high level. They were inexperienced and needed to introduced to the violence of the game before game night. This year we Thud all the time and quick whistles all the time. We have some good players but depth is an issue so we can't take the chance of banging up our starters. It has worked well this year.

Exactly what we do...

Also, I've almost completely eliminated "tackling" drills as I feel it doesn't simulate game situations...but just lets the good hitters beat the crap out of each other or hurt the weaker hitters.

I use to think this too...until no matter how much I hit, the same kids would be the hitters, and the same kids would be soft.

I think teaching technique of tackling and rep'ing that...even at half speed and without shoulderpads/helmets, is more important than letting the kids hit each other.

not enough and it showed in our last game. we couldnt tackle anyone.

There is a way to coach toughness and physical play without killing each other in practice.

I am a huge believer in proper tackling fundamentals and always review those every week in defense indies.

We go high wrap and quick whistle in group and team. We will lose three to six starters a year for two or more games because of contact related injuries. I'm not going to risk going full hit in practice because it's the "way to make us tougher". I don't buy that. I also agree that the tough hitters on your team are going to be tough anyways and they are always at higher risk for injury.

The best way to promote toughness is to recognize it when it happens, practices and games. We overemphasis tough hitting and physical play, we call them out during film and go crazy in games when some lights someone up. We see a pancake in film, we slow it down and show everyone, we emphasize the footwork, form, and desire it takes to lay that hit. We talk about the impact it had on the game. We had a huge gang tackle in the second qtr last week that total swung momentum and we dominated the other team from that point. We spent 3 to 5 minutes talking to our kids about that hit and what it did - how it change the game.

We ask the kids before every game " who is going to make the hit - that sets the tone" " the hit that puts doubt or fear in the heart of our opponent'. 50-60 kids raise their hand

We do not have to beat the tar outta of each other to teach and demand physical play. I hope our opponents are doing that, we'll be fresh and healthy, ready to tear their head off and they'll be limping and sore. We had a lineman go down yesterday in team, who'll miss at least this week and a couple years back on the last play of team, the last day of fall camp, we lost a DIV 1 kid for the year.

IF we can string a few wins together we will be playing a team in week 7 that is decimated with injuries. It may have playoff implications, if they are at full health, they would beat us, now we have a chance, IF we stay healthy.