Hold The Runner Drill

Hold The Runner Drill

The purpose of this drill is to teach and practice proper fundamentals of carrying the football. The drill places special emphasis on body lean and protecting the football while in the grasp of a defender.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS

Coach should stress power running, body lean, leg drive, free arm movement.

The defender should make the RB work hard to help the RB improve, not to prove who is stronger. Alternate players as runners and holders.

SETUP 

Split players into multiple two-man groups matching up players by size. One player  is the running back and the other player is the holder/defender.

• 1. The RB aligns 10 yards from the goal line with shoulders square to the goal line and the ball tucked under one arm.

  2. The RB’s partner (defender) straddles the ball carrier from behind with legs spread, hands on the runner’s hips and with head back.

  3. On the coach’s command, ball carrier attempts to accelerate to full speed for 10 yards keeping the shoulders square to the goal line. The defender provides 80-90% resistance to the RB by leaning back and pulling on the RB’s hips. The defender should give grudgingly. At 8 yards, the defender lets go of runner and attempts to strip the football.

EXECUTION

EXAMPLE

SKILL PROGRESSION MATRIX

DRILL PARAMETERS

EQUIPMENT

COMMENTS