A blocking technique in which offensive linemen, and sometimes other blockers, block legally below the waist (i.e., from the front of the defensive player) in an attempt to bring the defenders to ground, making them unable to pursue a running back for the short time needed for the back to find a gap in the…
Category Archives: Blocking
Blocking Sled
A heavy piece of practice equipment, usually a padded angular frame on metal skids, used for developing strength and blocking techniques
Football Blocking
When a player obstructs another player’s path with his body. Examples: Cut block, Zone block, Trap block, Pull block, Screen block, Pass block, Double-team block.
Blocking Back
Early name for quarterback and the current name for the third back in the youth single wing set.
Sumo Blocking
Sumo Blocking is one on one head-to-head drive blocking. Each player starts facing each other in a three-point stance and on the blow of the whistle; they push and block each other like two sumo wrestlers. I introduce sump blocking during tryouts and use it throughout the entire year.
Sumo Blocking can be done with or…
Duck Walking
Duck Walking is done in offensive line stations. It is important to have the players stay low and learn to use their legs as power. Duck Walking does both, building strength in the legs and teaching the players how to stay low.
Each player is to squat, like a duck, and walk towards the coach from…
Form Blocking
I am a believer that at every age level you need to practice the proper form for blocking and tackling. One of the local high schools in our area that has won three of the last 5 state championships believes in this as well. Each practice they take the time to make sure all the…
Blocking Drills
No matter what age, level or experience football team you coach, blocking is the key to offensive success. It does not matter what type of offense you run, if you do not block, it will not succeed. I have had numerous coaches, over the years, show me their “unstoppable” offense with diagrams looked like an…
Line Calls Offensive Blocking
I have used many different line calls over the years. The purpose behind the line calls is to make sure your offensive line picks up every blocking assignment. Knowing whom to block is the most important, yet most over-looked area of game week preparation. I am amazed how many coaches spend no time preparing their…
Counter Gap Blocking
The counter gap, or counter trey can be one of the most devastating plays in all of football. The Washington Redskins made this play famous, winning Super Bowls in the early eighties under Joe Gibbs. If you have a talented, mature offensive line, you can incorporate variations of this power play.
I must warn you that…
