At 11-12, defenders face blocks on every snap. This drill teaches them to recognize contact, shed off, and flow to the ball. All three have to happen fast.
Equipment needed: 1 heavy bag, 4 cones, 2 balls.
Setup: Mark a 10-yard by 5-yard box with cones. One defender stands in the middle. One blocker lines up 1 yard away. A runner is 3 yards behind the blocker with the ball.
How to run it:
- On snap, the blocker engages the defender, trying to knock them offline. The defender’s job is to feel the contact and shed away from it.
- As soon as the defender sheds (uses hands to push the blocker away), they pursue the runner toward a cone 5 yards downfield.
- The blocker is not trying to pancake them, just slow them down. The defender should shed in one movement.
- Do 4 reps per defender, alternating blocker direction (left, right, middle).
What to look for:
If a defender is dancing backward, they’re being pushed. They should step into the blocker, feel the pressure, and shed through it. Shedding means violent hands and a short, quick step away. If the defender is following the blocker around instead of fighting off the block, they’re moving laterally without power. The shed has to look angry and abrupt.
Variation: Add a second blocker at a different angle (coming from the side). Now the defender has to shed one block and be ready for another. This teaches awareness and quick feet.