RECEIVER DRILLS

• AROUND THE CLOCK DRILL

• FOOTFIRE CONES
• 45 DEGREE CONE DRILL
• 90 DEGREE CONE DRILL
• PARTNER BALL SECURITY
• PARTNER RELEASE DRILL
• PARTNER STEM DRILL
• PARTNER LEAN
• PARTNER PUSH BY
• FINISH & SCORE DRILL
• STRAIGHT LINE PAD LEVEL DRILL
• 45 DEGREE PAD LEVEL DRILL
• RUN FIT DRILL
• MAIN MENU
 AROUND THE CLOCK DRILL

PURPOSE:
Pre-Practice drill designed for receivers to catch footballs from different angles
and at different positions of their body. Goal is to catch a high number of
balls in a short amount of time with a high level of concentration.
TEMPO:
Slow, March in place
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
Partner-up and align about 5-8 yards apart
COACHING POINTS:
1. Exaggerate catch and tuck
2. Emphasize proper catching technique at different body positions
3. Move arms and feet – Do not stand still
4. Catch balls front and side.
• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS
 FOOTFIRE CONES
PURPOSE:
Pre-Practice drill used to work first stage of a single stick release. drill
emphasizes fast feet, fast hands, and sticking a release.
TEMPO:
Full speed footfire
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
Align cones about 1 to 1 ½ yards apart at a 45 degree angle
COACHING POINTS:
1. Emphasize low stance with hands up
2. Fast Feet & Fast Hands – Stress pumping arms
3. Keep shoulders square
4. Stick hard at each cone, use head nod
5. Quick burst at final cone
• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS
 45 DEGREE CONE DRILL
PURPOSE:
Pre-Practice drill designed to work on sticking routes and getting out of breaks.
Used to improve routes, such as: post, slant, and corner.
TEMPO:
50% to 75%
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
Align cones 5 to 8 yards apart at 45 degree angle
Dummy down & work release
COACHING POINTS:
1. Coach release technique
2. Stick your foot in ground hard - Exaggerate
3. Don’t over stride when sticking
4. Sink hips and get chest over toes when sticking
5. Throw your opposite elbow to get out of break
6. Accelerate for a step or two out of break
7. Use good form running technique
8. Keep eyes up – Don’t look at ground
• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS
 90 DEGREE CONE DRILL
PURPOSE:
Pre-Practice drill designed to work on sticking routes and getting out of breaks.
Used to improve out and dig routes.
TEMPO:
50% to 75%
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
Align cones 5 to 8 yards apart at 90 degree angle
Dummy down to work a release
COACHING POINTS:
1. Coach release technique
2. Stick foot in ground
3. Don’t over stride when sticking
4. Sink hips and get chest over toes when sticking
5. Throw elbow to get out of break
6. Accelerate for a step or two out of break
7. Keep exit angle flat – Don’t round it
8. Use good form running technique
9. Keep eyes up – Don’t look at ground
• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS
 PARTNER STEM DRILL
PURPOSE:
Post Practice drill designed to work basic stem fundamentals vs. inside or outside
coverage
TEMPO:
50%
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
Partner up
Set drill off sideline
Have defender play about 10 yards off receiver
Align defender with either inside or outside leverage
COACHING POINTS:
1. Run last 7 or 8 yards of route
2. Win head-up or on defender’s shoulder to which you are breaking (For example,
on a post route win on inside shoulder. On an out route, win on outside
shoulder)
3. Stem immediately off ball
4. Never stem for more than 3 steps
• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS
 PARTNER LEAN
PURPOSE:
Post Practice drill used to work technique on last 10 yards of a go route.
TEMPO:
50% to 75%
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
Partner Up
Dummy down to work release
Align at top of #’s
Coach defense to attempt to put hands on receiver
COACHING POINTS:
1. Coach release technique
2. Keep defender’s hands off – Don’t let DB touch you
3. Stay on #’s – Don’t get squeezed
4. Get pads under defender and lean on to create space
5. Use flipper to create separation
6. Catch ball over outside shoulder – High point ball if behind
7. Ball security
• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS
 PARTNER PUSH BY
PURPOSE:
Post practice drill designed to work last 5 yards of a dig or curl route versus man
coverage.
TEMPO:
50% to 75%
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
Partner up
Have defender align on inside
COACHING POINTS:
1. Lean on defender
2. Pump arms – Don’t run with hand on defender’s back
3. Sink your hips & Be low at break point
4. Push on defender’s butt, not on his back
5. Rip arm thru
6. Be physical
7. Dig route – Get on Downhill angle
Curl route – Comeback to QB
8. Finish & Score
• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS
 PARTNER RELEASE DRILL
PURPOSE:
Individual period drill designed to work basic fundamentals of press man releases. Used to
work single stick, diamond, and just go release methods.
TEMPO:
Full or 75%
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
•Partner up
•Work off sideline
•Have each pair align 5 yards apart (ex. 25, 30, 35, etc.)
•Offensive player starts out of bounds, defensive player is in field of play
•Always announce where QB is located and whether to take an inside or outside release
•Players start footfire on your “Go” call, make release move on your “release” call
COACHING POINTS:
1. Coach defense to be physical and jam receiver’s chest – Give good effort
2. Low stance with hands up
3. Stay low on footfire
4. Clean arms at elbow
5. Use rip or punch technique
6. Keep pads low and don’t give ground
7. Always finish on line
8. Be Physical
*** Can use drill for Diamond & Just Go releases also
•RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS
 PARTNER BALL SECURITY
PURPOSE:
Post practice drill used to teach basic fundamentals and stress importance of
ball security.
TEMPO:
Walking
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
• Partner up
• Go 10 yards with ball in each hand
• Make sure defender is giving good effort in an attempt to get ball loose
• Coach should also try to get ball
COACHING POINTS:
1. Keep ball high and tight
2. Cover nose of ball
3. Pump your arms

• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS

 FINISH & SCORE DRILL
PURPOSE:
Individual period drill designed to emphasize finishing a run. Helps improve run
after catch skills.
TEMPO:
Full or 75%
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
• Have another coach or player use a dummy
• Run last 5 yards of a route
• Have dummy holder stand on goal line
COACHING POINTS:
1. Coach route principles
2. Emphasize getting pads lower than defenders
3. Throw forearm into defender’s throat
4. Be violent!

• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS

 STRAIGHT LINE PAD LEVEL
DRILL
PURPOSE:
Individual period drill designed to work against a collisioning linebacker or a hard
cover 2 corner
TEMPO:
50% to 75%
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
• Use stand up dummies or players
• Conduct drill on sideline
• Align dummies/players 7 to 10 yards apart on sideline
COACHING POINTS:
1. Stay arms reach away from dummy/player
2. Jab opposite
3. Get pads low and rip thru dummy/player
4. Be physical
5. Always finish on line

• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS

 45 DEGREE PAD LEVEL DRILL

PURPOSE:
Individual period drill designed to work on getting around a collisioning linebacker
on a dig or curl route.
TEMPO: ½ to ¾
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
• Use stand-up dummies or trash cans
• Align dummies/cans 10 yards apart at a 45 degree angle off sideline
COACHING POINTS:
1. At each dummy/can get fast feet and fast hands
2. Drop hips and use rip technique
3. Hug tight to dummy/can
4. Look over inside shoulder for ball

• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS

 CURL DRILL
PURPOSE:
Post-Practice drill designed to work on curl route.
TEMPO:
Full
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
• Run last 5 yards of curl route
• Align cones in this manner
• Throw a ball
COACHING POINTS:
1. Sink hips at top of route
2. Throw elbow
3. Come downhill to QB
4. Catch and turn up field

• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS

 SPEEDCUT DRILL
PURPOSE:
Post-Practice drill designed to work on speed cut associated with out
and dig routes
TEMPO:
Full
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
Run last 5 yards of dig or out route
Align cones in this manner
Throw a ball
COACHING POINTS:
1. Sink hips at top of route
2. Throw elbow
3. Get on negative angle
4. Catch and get up field

• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS

 RUN FIT DRILL
PURPOSE:
Individual period drill designed to work engagement aspect of stalk block.
TEMPO:
Full
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP:
Partner Up
Shoot Hands
COACHING POINTS:
1. Shoot hands with authority
2. Bring hips when you shoot hands
3. Keep head out
4. Take short, choppy steps with a wide base – Don’t slide or shuffle

• RECEIVER DRILLS TABLE OF CONTENTS

 TEAM DRILLS
• NOOSE DRILL
• PAT-N-GO SHORT
• PAT-N-GO HOT THROW
• PAT-N-GO LONG
• PAT-N-GO SCREENS
• MESH DRILL
• QUICK GAME DRILL
• ROUTES ON AIR DRILL
• PASS SKELLY DRILL
• SCREEN DRILL
• RUN GAME DRILL
• PASS UNDER PRESSURE DRILL
• TEAM SCRIPTS DRILL
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 NOOSE DRILL
PURPOSE: Most important drill of the day – done in early stages of
practice and sets tempo and focus. Emphasizes stance,
release, getting over top, sticking cuts, noose, exaggerating R1 R2
look and tuck, dipping and turning straight down field. QB will
work on drop, reads, slides, fast feet, and accuracy of throw.

TEMPO: ¼ - ½ MAX

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Set two cones on sideline three yards from

a yard line. QB aligns on yard line, can use center to work on Q
exchange. WR align as shown – R1 is on offense, R2 is defender
and next in line. R2 tries to jam R1. R1 works release, gets back
over top, sticks 2-3 times, settles closer to one cone or the other,
forms noose, and works slightly back to QB. On catch, exaggerates
look, tuck, and turns straight downfield, ball high and tight. QB
works a drop and a play read, slides in pocket on 3rd read, waits for
R1 to settle, places throw away from the nearest cone on R1’s
shoulder, which simulates a defender.

COACHING POINTS:
1. Coach with tremendous detail and intensity in this drill
2. Emphasize developing perfect techniques and habits
3. Everything must be perfect!!!
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 PAT N GO: SHORT
PURPOSE: Fundamentals drill where QB R4
and other skill players perfect techniques R3
at less than full speed as they continue to
Q R1
loosen up. Catches over shoulder.
TEMPO: 1/2 R2
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Basically a

20

20
circular drill with two groups. Player will
align on either the right or left numbers (1
side a day). QB will align just inside the
player line. Players will dummy down to

30
30
work release as in noose drill. On QB
command, player will execute outside
release and get back over top (which is
the top of #s). QB will take one-step drop,
fire feet, and make a short throw with

40

40
slight air over outside shoulder of receiver.
Receiver runs ball to other line, careful to
stay out of QB’s way.
COACHING POINTS: Emphasize all
details of receiving as in noose (stance, R2
release, noose, exaggerate look & tuck). R1 Q
Do not allow QB to over throw receiver or R3
leave ball inside numbers. Drill should R4
move quickly with little down time. BACK TO TEAM DRILLS MENU
 PAT N GO: HOT THROW R4
R3
PURPOSE: Same as “Short” phase of
Q R1
Pat N Go, but now receivers work
R2
inside release and run inside slant as if

20

20
they were the “hot” receiver.

TEMPO: ½ to ¾ (a little faster than short

phase)

30
30
ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Same as
before, QB moves farther in towards
hash. QB takes one-step drop and fires
feet.

40

40
COACHING POINTS: Receiver should
stay low, dip on catch, prepare for
contact, and get straight up field.
R2
Throw should be low and quick,
R1 Q
receiver should not cross QB’s position R3
(center). R4
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 PAT N GO: LONG
R4
PURPOSE: To practice catching Q R3
ball over outside shoulder on Go R1
route. R2

20

20
TEMPO: ¾ to Full

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Same
as other Pat N Go phases, QB

30
30
now moves in to hash. Incoming
receivers will now snap to QB
who aligns in gun. Alternate
inside or outside release.

40

40
COACHING POINTS: No
overthrows. Ball must be
outside of numbers, with air.
Receivers must get back over R2
top – QB will wait to throw for R1
receiver to get over top. QB will R3
R4 Q
now take a 3-step drop.
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 PAT N GO: SCREENS
Q R4
R3
PURPOSE: To perfect screen route R2
R1
techniques and throws.

20

20
TEMPO: ¾ to Full

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Last phase

of Pat N Go. QB will move farther
inside. Receivers will continue to

30
30
snap to QB in shotgun. Receiver
will run screen route of the day: fast,
solid, jail, bubble, etc. QB will
execute perfect screen footwork

40

40
and throw. RB can run swing
screens if needed. No dummy
defender in this phase.

COACHING POINTS: Perfect snap

R1
needed from snapper. Emphasize R2
R3 Q
tempo of drill and proper timing. R4

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 MESH DRILL
PURPOSE: To perfect timing, routes, and throws of mesh play.

TEMPO: Full

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: All skill players align in called formation and all QB align
together side by side behind center in shotgun. A snapper from each position will come
snap to the QB. Starting QB will determine who will throw to each position. Receivers will
run routes, make catch, and score every time. Throws should come out on time and in
proper progression. As receivers return from scoring they become next snappers. QB
rotate in line in order to make all five throws for each play call. Drill is usually a red zone
drill – vary yard line and hash position daily.

COACHING POINTS:
1. QB should read all five receivers in order regardless of who they throw to.
2. Keep QB close together to simulate tight pocket.
3. RB should show imagination and then finish run as they cross goal line.
4. Can set cone 6 yds deep over center to simulate mesh point.
5. Predetermine if coverage is man or zone so meshers know if they should settle.
6. If available, use trash cans or dummies to simulate LBers so meshers must look for grass.
7. Continue to coach position details and demand perfection.
8. If limited number of QB, have coaches throw or alternate reps from play side to back side.
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 QUICK GAME DRILL
PURPOSE: To perfect Quick Game (60s) timing, routes, and, throws.

TEMPO: Full

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Same basic set up as Mesh Drill. Usually from the +25 to
+35 yard line.

COACHING POINTS:
1. QB should read all five receivers in order regardless of which one they throw to.
2. Keep QB close together to simulate tight pocket.
3. RB should show imagination and then finish run as they cross goal line.
4. Continue to coach position details and demand perfection.
5. If limited number of QB, have coaches throw or alternate reps from play side to
back side.
6. Alert players to coverage or have backups assume position as defenders.
7. Remind players aiming point on corner routes is back pylon outside +25 yard line

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 ROUTES ON AIR DRILL
PURPOSE: To perfect timing, routes, and throws of 90 series passing game.

TEMPO: Full

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Same as Mesh Drill and Quick Game Drill, ball is

moved back to the 35 or 40 (depending on how much far you want players
to run).

COACHING POINTS:
1. QB should read all five receivers in order regardless of target/order
2. Keep QB close together to simulate tight pocket.
3. RB should show imagination and then finish run as they cross goal line.
4. Continue to coach position details and demand perfection.
5. If limited number of QB, have coaches throw or alternate reps from play side
to back side.
6. Alert players to coverage or have backups assume position as defenders.
7. Remind players aiming point on corner routes is back pylon outside +25 yard
line

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 PASS SKELLY DRILL
PURPOSE: Passing drill featuring offensive skill players as a unit against
defensive back seven

TEMPO: Full – high level of competition and intensity

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Place ball at desired yard line. Coordinate with

defensive coaches prior to get proper look/coverage and also determine
contact level (whiz, thud, etc.). Receivers will score every time, ball should
be moved from hash to hash according to script.

COACHING POINTS:
1. Insert screens and outside runs periodically to keep defense honest
2. Coaches should move to sideline now and simulate game conditions
3. Practice NASCAR, subs, and specific zone or down & distance plays.
4. Continue to coach details hard, but keep drill moving to maximize reps.

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 SCREEN DRILL

PURPOSE: To perfect timing and execution of screen game

TEMPO: Full

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Team offense versus defense. Determine the type

of screen to drill on the given day or if you will utilize a script. Similar to Pass
Skelly in that you need to coordinate with defensive staff to get proper look.

COACHING POINTS:
1. Keep defense honest
2. Move ball from hash to hash
3. Change personnel and make calls as usual
4. Emphasize tempo and details as with other drills

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 RUN GAME
PURPOSE: To perfect timing and execution of run game and to develop physical
mindset.

TEMPO: Full

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Team offense versus defense. Determine the type of

runs (inside or outside, specials or base runs, etc.) to drill on the given day or if
you will utilize a script. Similar to Pass Skelly in that you need to coordinate with
defensive staff to get proper look.

COACHING POINTS:
1. Keep defense honest – insert play action or screens from time to time
2. Move ball from hash to hash
3. Change personnel and make calls as usual from sideline
4. Emphasize tempo and details as with other drills
5. Physical drill with high intensity – emphasize pad level and blocking
technique/angles
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 PASS UNDER PRESSURE
PURPOSE: To develop confidence and skill in recognizing and picking up
blitzes by OL and RB, and for QB and WR to work against man coverage in
a pressure situation.

TEMPO: Full

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Team drill – defense will blitz/stunt.

COACHING POINTS:
1. Coordinate type of pressure looks from defense
2. Alternate formations regularly – empty sets, one-back, two-back sets
3. Ensure proper communication of front calls and hot calls
4. Maintain game-like conditions and quick tempo.
5. Mix in screens and runs to keep defense honest

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 TEAM SCRIPTS

PURPOSE: To practice specific field zone and down and distance situations as
a team.

TEMPO: Full

ORGANIZATION/SET-UP: Team period versus air or scout defense. Based on

practice planning for week, run zone or distance/situation scripts for that day
from specific areas and against expected looks from defense.

COACHING POINTS:
1. Must be high intensity and focus and as realistic to game as possible
2. Coach from sideline – force players to keep quick tempo and make
substitutions based on calls/situations.

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