Pop Warner is a youth football organization that gives opportunities for young people from ages 8 through 14 to play tackle football. Pop Warner football makes sure players compete against others in their own age group and weight class, that they have the proper equipment and are led by trained coaches. Players participate in conditioning and skill-building drills to ensure they are ready to play in competitive games.
Conditioning Ladders
At the start of training camp, and throughout the season, football players participate in conditioning drills to get and stay in top shape. Conditioning ladders help build speed, quickness and endurance. Have each player start at the goal line and sprint to the 10-yard line and back. Then, sprint to the 20-yard line and back, and follow that by sprinting to the 30- and 40-yard lines. Take a one-minute break and repeat the drill.
Combination Drills
These are traditionally done at the start or end of practice and they can be grueling. Have all players start at the goal line and sprint to the 20. Once they get to the 20, they must do 10 push-ups. Then they sprint back to the goal line and do 10 sit-ups. Sprint back to the 20 and do 10 jumping jacks. Then sprint back to the goal line and do 10 squat thrusts. Finally, sprint 40 yards to finish the drill.
Tackling Drill
Many young players need to be taught how to tackle correctly. In this drill, the running back gets the ball 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The running back runs to the right as if he is running a sweep or stretch play. At the same time, a linebacker is stationed 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage. He sprints to a point where he will meet the running back. The tackler must drive his shoulder into the running back's midsection and wrap his arms around him and drive him to the ground. The tackler cannot lead with his helmet. If he does, he is removed from the drill immediately.
Oklahoma Drill
In the Oklahoma drill, an offensive lineman and defensive lineman line up opposite each other between two cones set up 8 yards apart. A running back lines up behind the offensive lineman, and a linebacker lines up behind the defensive lineman. On the coach's signal, the offensive lineman tries to block the defensive lineman left or right, and the running back runs in the opposite direction into the hole. He then tries to run over or through the linebacker. This drill teaches young players the importance of blocking, tackling and carrying the ball securely.
Concerns
When leading these drills, a coach must take a hands-on approach and make corrections immediately. If a player with the ball is carrying it loosely, show him how to carry it securely by placing it in the crook of the elbow and carrying it high and tight against his upper chest. If a player is turning sideways to block, he must face his opponent squarely and drive his shoulder into his midsection. Tackling needs to be done by placing the shoulder in the midsection and driving, not reaching with the hands.
Warning
Football is a contact and collision game. Injuries can and will happen. However, you can keep practices and drills safer by demanding that players never use their helmets as a weapon when it comes to blocking and tackling. A 2009 University of North Carolina study revealed that the majority of catastrophic injuries suffered by football players occurred as a result of improper tackling technique.
