Four downs from the ten
Why it works
Ten yards from the goal line is where small teams lose games, because routes that work at midfield run out of field. Four downs and a tally turns that into a contest, and five a side means every player is in the play on every snap rather than watching from the line.
Run it
10 MINTen minutes, about four series each way. End on a series that counts for both sides, and stop early if the defence stops lining up, which is a sign the game has gone flat.
Say this
“Break it off before the end line.”
The back of the end zone is a defender; a route that runs into it is covered by the field.
“Quarterback, throw it on the break.”
Short field means short windows, and a ball that arrives late arrives to a defender.
“Defence, stay between him and the goal line.”
In the red zone the defender's back is the goal line, so leverage matters more than speed.
Good looks like
- Every route breaks before the end line.
- The quarterback releases the ball by a count of four.
- The defence calls out each receiver before the snap.
- Both teams know the score after every series.
The mistakes
Receivers running full-depth routes and catching the ball out of bounds. Put a cone two yards short of the end line and make every break happen before it.
Say: “Break it off before the end line.”
Holding the ball waiting for someone to come wide open. Count four out loud and make the throw or the run happen by four.
Say: “Quarterback, throw it on the break.”
Defenders playing tight and getting beaten over the top. Line them up two yards deep and score a point for every rep they keep the receiver in front.
Say: “Defence, stay between him and the goal line.”
Run it three on two with the coach as quarterback, and move the ball to the 15 so the routes have more room. That is how the drill this is built from runs it.
Start each series on a random yard line between the 5 and the 15 and give the offence one timeout to talk. Add a two-point try after every touchdown.