The 3-point stance is not complicated, but young linemen need to feel correct positioning before they can explode out of it. This drill builds the habit.
Equipment needed: 6 cones, no ball.
Setup: Line up 6 kids in a row, 2 yards apart. Place a cone 1 yard in front of each player to mark their position. No defenders, no contact yet.
How to run it:
- Players take a 3-point stance: feet shoulder-width apart, one hand (inside hand for off-linemen) on the ground, knees slightly bent, head up, eyes forward.
- Call a direction: “Go left” or “Go right.” Players explode off the line, stay low, drive their legs, and plant their far foot in a direction change.
- No contact yet. They should move 5 yards in that direction, maintaining low pads.
- Bring them back, reset. Do 12 reps total.
- Correct hand position, head angle, and foot drive. If a kid is standing up, their stance is broken.
What to look for:
The hand on the ground should be just ahead of the shoulders, not out in front like a kickstand. If the hand is too far forward, the player will tip forward. Feet should be staggered, not parallel. Head and eyes should stay level, not dip down or pop up on movement. If you see standing up on contact, the stance was wrong from the start.
Variation: For the older end of this age, add a bag to pad. Lineman takes the stance, explodes forward on command, and drives the bag backward 3 yards. This teaches pad level and leg drive without live contact.