Three lane reaction
Why it works
A juke is only worth anything if it comes late, and in the open field kids have no reason to wait. Three gates and one move gives them a reason: commit early and the defender is simply standing in the gate you picked.
Run it
10 MINFour each as the runner, then rotate everybody through defending. Ten minutes.
Say this
“Late, then fast.”
The whole drill. The move happens inside the last two yards.
“Defender, feet quiet and square.”
A defender who is already moving has already chosen a gate.
“One move. Not two.”
A second move in flag is usually a lost yard and a pulled flag.
Good looks like
- The runner is still square to all three gates two yards out.
- The defender's feet are moving sideways, never forwards.
- The move and the gate happen in the same stride.
- About half the reps get through. If it is every rep, the defender is too far back.
The mistakes
Choosing the gate from the start line, which makes it a race rather than a decision.
Say: “Late, then fast.”
Leaning or stepping at the first fake. Make him lose the rep so he feels it.
Say: “Defender, feet quiet and square.”
Dancing. Cap it at one and mean it.
Say: “One move. Not two.”
Two gates instead of three, and put the defender a yard closer so the decision is smaller.
Coach calls a gate out loud after the runner starts, so he has to change his mind on the move.