Runningback

Coaching Manual
1
TRAINING THE COMPLETE RUNNING BACK
"LEAD, OLLO! OR GET OUT O THE !A"#"
PHILO$OPH"
Perfect execution of the fundamentals of football is the difference between
winning and losing.
1. In order to win you must have a balanced attack that includes six areas:
a. Power running game
b. Zone running game
c. Perimeter running game
d. Play action passing game
e. Drop back passing game
f. pecial plays !creens" Delays" #everses and $alf %ack Passes&.
'. (he running back must be an integral part of every segment of your
offensive attack.
). $ow much of each phase in your total offensive package you use is based on
the abilities of you athletes to mentally absorb their assignments and
physically execute their techni*ues.
+. ,xpectations - (he running back must be a total player at his position. $e
must master all the necessary skills in order for him to reach his full
potential.
RB $KILL$
1. #unning
'. %locking
). .atching
+. Playing without the ball " carrying out fakes and running precise routes.
RUNNING BACK % D&$ 'INTANGIBLE$(
1. Dedicated
'. Dependable
). Durable
+. Disciplined
2
RUNNNING BACK$ BIG )
1. tay /ocused !know what to do and how to do it&
'. %all ecurity !no fumbles&
). #un with your eyes !find the running lanes&
+. #un north and south. (ry to gain 0 yards first. (he longer yardage will come.
0. %12% !%e 1our 2wn %locker&.
RB MOTTO* "Al+a,- b. /h. ha00.1, no/ /h. nail# D.li2.1 /h. blo+, 3o no/
acc.4/ 4uni-h0.n/5"
AREA$ TO E6ALUATE A RUNNING BACK IN
RUNNING $KILL$
1. %urst to the hole
'. .hange of direction at 3ine of crimmage
). 4bility to make defender miss at the hole
+. %urst to the second level
0. 4bility to make 3% miss
5. 4bility to run over 3%
6. 4bility to make secondary miss
7. 4bility to run over secondary
8. (oughness !yards after contact&
19. /inishing speed
11. Pad level
1'. %alance
1). %all ecurity
RUN BLOCKING $KILL$
1. 4bility to get through line to block assignment
'. 4bility to knock defender back on initial contact
). 4bility to sustain block on defender
+. %lock on 3%:s
0. %lock on support
5. .ut %lock
6. Pass blocking skills
1. %locking bkit;ing 3%
'. %locking D,
). %locking secondary blit;
3
7. Playmaker
PA$$ CATCHING $KILL$
1. %ody
'. .atching kills
). Deep ball
+. top route
0. /lat route
5. <ide route
6. 4ngle route
7. %urst route
8. 2ption route
19. #oute running
11. 1ardage after catch
1'. creen pass
1). Playmaker
=TRAINING THE COMPLETE RUNNING BACK=
#unning back fundamentals should be practiced during every scheduled period.
/undamentals >enu: !check list&
$/anc.-
(wo point
(hree point
#eceiver stance
$/.4-
3ead
3ateral .rossover lead
2pen crossover
Drop step opposite foot
lide
.ounter step
Ball Han3ling +i/h 7ua1/.1back
2ver the top
?nderneath
(oss or flip
4
hovel pass
oo/+o1k
$igh knees
.utting of outside foot !#t& and !3t&
In and backing out of a hole drill
@ump cuts from one hole to adAacent hole
.ut back behind 3.2.. !inside ;one or I2&
.ut up behind 3.2.. !outside ;one or toss sweeps&

Agili/, an3 Ball $.cu1i/,
$igh knee crossover
huffle
.arioca
ingle .uts !#t&" !3t&" !#t&" !3t&
Double .uts !#t-3t& !3t-#t& !#t-3t& !3t-#t&" !#t-3t& !3t-#t&
triders
$and Down Pop-up - #egain balance drill
Run Blocking D1ill-
houlder %lock !#t&B!3t& !ame shoulder same foot techni*ue&
Cick out %lock !#t&B!3t& !ame shoulder same foot techni*ue&
Punch and .limb
.ut %lock
talk
Pa-- Blocking D1ill- - Progression
Punch
4pproach
4pproach - Punch
4pproach Punch /inish !4.P./.&
Pass Pro 3ead Drill !%lit; Pickup cenarios&
O4.n i.l3 A2oi3 D1ill !etting up a defender&
Deek drill
Double Deek Drill
5
!.a4on- D1ill
Dip and #ip Drill
traight 4rm Drill
.lub Down Drill
Design your drills in a format that will enable your running backs to work several
fundamentals during the course of a drill. !D1 - ,xample& (wo Point tance" 3ateral
.rossover 3ead tep over 4gile %ags !/ootwork& ! 3ow Pad 3evel&. .oach tries to
strip ball as #% goes over the bags !%all ecurity& once he clears the agile bags"
the #% cuts off a defenders !or coaches:& movement. !#ead DrillB2utside /oot
.utting /undamental&.
%e inventive when designing your drill work. Eive your #%:s a 2a1i./, o8 /ool- in his
/ool bo9. (hat will get the Aob doneF
"R.0.0b.1, i/ i- a -/u4i3 0ou-. /ha/ ha- onl, on. hol. /o .-ca4.#"
6
:5 $/anc.
A5 ; Poin/ $/anc.
(he #% must be comfortable in his stance. $e must be able to move in any direction
with relative ease.
(he feet should be shoulder width apart with the toes pointed straight
ahead.
(he feet may be staggered. (he toe of the back foot in the staggered
stance should not be further back than the instep of the front foot.
(he heels should be raised no more that one inch.
(he back should be flat with shoulders parallel to the ground. !$ips at same
height as shoulders.&
(he head should be raised high enough to see the line of scrimmage.
(he down hand should be open and the back should be able to pick it up with
out losing his balance.
.oaching Points
If lateral movement is difficult or slow" the player may be leaning on the
down hand and has his weight too far forward or his feet may be set too
wide.
If the player is having difficulty seeing the line of scrimmage" his back is not
parallel to the ground. $e may not have enough flex in his knees which sets
his hips too high.
%. ' Point tance
(he player must be comfortable and must work on stance that he can move from
without taking false steps.
(he feet should be shoulder width apart with the toes pointed straight
ahead.
(he feet should be flat on the ground.
(he player should have a slight forward lean so that his weight is on the
balls of the feet. $is legs should be bent at the knee. /rom the side you
should be able to see the player:s shoulders over his knees and his knees
over his toes.
(he player:s back should be arched with the head up.
(he player:s hands should be placed on the front of his thighs open with the
fingers pointing down.
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.oaching Points
If lateral movement is difficult or slow" the player has his feet be set too
wide.
If the player is false stepping" his stance is too upright. $e may not have
enough bend in the knees or he may be leaning on his hands.
'. teps
4. Dive and (rap tep ?se: Dive and *uick trap type plays
(he player should step straight at the aiming point with the playside foot and be in
a position to read the hole on the third step.
%. 2pen tep
?se: 3ead" belly and ;one type plays.
(he open step is a lateral step with the playside foot parallel to the line of
scrimmage. (he step should be slow and under control. It should be no longer that
1' inches. (he shoulders should also be parallel to the line of scrimmage. (he
weight should be placed on the backside foot. (he head should be focussed on the
key.
.. .rossover tep ?se: $andoff sweep and outside trap plays.
(urn shoulders and perpendicular to line of scrimmage. imultaneous with the hip
and shoulder turn" the #% should pivot and push off his playside foot. (he
movement is similar to a pull by an offensive lineman. (he #%:s eyes should be
focussed on the ball or line of scrimmage. (he plant foot for attacking the line is
the back foot.
8
D. 1 tep .ounter
?se: Guick hitting counter and mis-direction plays.
2pen step" *uickly turn head and shoulders in direction of open step then drive
back opposite the open step. (he #%:s feet should be pointed straight ahead.
,. huffle teps
?se: Draw plays" play action passes" slow developing counter and tackle trap plays
2pen step" slide backside foot to playside" open step with playside foot and plant
for break.
/. #ead teps
?se: ?sed for check release on man dropback pass protection.
hort open step with outside foot toward the man to be blocked and read his
movement. (he #% should always maintain an inside position if the man rushes. If
the man drops off into coverage the #% releases on the route desired.
). %locking (echni*ues: In all the blocking techni*ues discussed below except pass
protection" the #% uses a dive step as his initial movement.
4. 3ead %lock
%. ?se: ituations where the #% must control the outside of a
defender:s body.
2ut of the stance" the #% must attack the line of scrimmage with speed. (he #%
must stay low with back flat and head up. (he aiming point is the bottom of the of
the playside number. 2n contact the #% should have his inside foot in the middle of
defender:s body. (he #% should roll the hips into the block on contact and drive
feet on the follow through.
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%. Cick 2ut %lock
?se: ituations where the #% must control the inside of a defender:s body.
(he movement up to contact is similar to the lead block. (here are two key points
the #% must execute properly. /irst" the #%:s head and shoulders must be lower
that the defender:s head and shoulders on contact. econd" the #%:s approach
must be as flat a possible from the inside. (he aiming point is the bottom of the
defender:s inside number.
C5 Cu/ Block
?se: %reak contain type plays where the point of attack is outside the end.
(he cut block is also referred to as a log or hook block.
(he initial movement is similar to the lead block. (he aiming point is the outside
thigh of the defender. 2n contact the #% must work to get his head outside the
defender. (he #%:s obAective is to drive the defender:s outside thigh backwards.
If the defender tries to skate outside and the #% can not get his head outside" he
should roll the biggest part of his back into the defender to tie him up. (he #%
must stop the defender:s upfield rush as a minimum obAective.
D5 i1. Block
?se: ) step drop protection
2ut of the stance" the #% must attack the line of scrimmage with speed. (he #%
must stay low with back flat and head up. (he aiming point is the defender:s inside
thigh. 2n contact the #% should roll the hips into the block and drive the feet on
the follow through. (he obAective is to get the defender:s hands down so the G%
can throw *uick perimeter type passes.
E5 Pa-- P1o/.c/ion < ?se: Dropback pass protection.
(he initial movement for Pass protection is a read step. (he aiming point and
techni*ue for pass protection is similar to a kick out block. (he #% should hit the
defender hard enough to stop defender and force him to restart his rush. If the
#% can force the defender to restart within 1 - ' yards of the line of scrimmage
the #% has won the battle in most instances.
4fter the initial contact the back must be taught to recoil" gain his balance and
strike a second blow.
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)5 $kill- an3 D1ill-
A5 Han3o88 an3 M.-h Poin/-
$andoffs and mesh points must be practiced daily with the *uarterbacks. (he
drills should practice the steps of the plays in your offence.
Points to ,mphasi;e
#%:s Inside elbow is on top
3et the *uarterback place the ball in the pocket. Do not let the #% reach for
it.
#%:s eyes are focussed on his key not the ball.
(wo hands on the ball until the #% passes through the line of scrimmage.
B5 E,. ocu- D1ill
2bAective: (o have the #% focussing on the his key during the mesh.
,*uipment: /ootballs and cones
et ?p: et up the cones so that they have the same spacing as the aiming
points of the running plays in your offence.
,xecution: $ave the #%:s and G%:s run the plays of your offense. 1ou will play
the role of the #%:s key. <atch the #%:s eyes" they should be on you before"
during and after the mesh.

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C5 Ro4.-
2bAective: (o develop a high knee lift.
,*uipment: #ope set
,very hole
,very-other hole
.rossovers
,xplosion @umps
Zig-Zags
ide shuffles
(he last four + drills above can be done without a rope set. I use crossovers"
explosion Aumps" ;ig-;ags and side shuffles without ropes as agility drills for #%:s
and <#:s.
D5 Lin. Touch.-
2bAective: (o develop good balance while running.
,*uipment: /ootballs" + cones
etup: et up a line of cones 0 yards apart. If you have a lined field the cones are
not needed.
,xecution: 2ne line of #%:s on each side of the line cones.
$ave the #%:s touch the ground every cone with their free hand as they run down
line of cones. %e sure to the #%:s switch the ball from one side to the other after
every touch.
E5 = Poin/ !a2.
2bAective: (o develop *uickness and reaction.
,*uipment: Hone
etup: (wo lines of #%:s facing the coach 0 yards apart. (he coach should be 19 to
10 yards away from the front of the line.
,xecution: 2n a verbal signal" the two #%:s at the front of the line run toward the
coach reacting to the coach:s hand signals.. #ight" 3eft and straight ahead signals
are all you need to run the drill.
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/. 3ateral .ut Drill
2bAective: (o develop *uick feet and cutting off the proper foot.
,*uipment: /ootballs and two bags or cones.
etup: hown in diagram below
,xecution: 4fter handoff as *uickly as possible change direction and re-accelerate
forward. >ake cuts in both directions.
,mphasi;e breaking off inside foot.
<ork both left and right sides.
E. $it and pin Drill
2bAective: (o develop skill in escaping a tackler.
,*uipment: /ootballs and a hand shield or stand up dummy.
etup: hown in diagram below
,xecution: 4fter handoff lower the shoulder and deliver a blow" *uickly spin off
and re-accelerate forward. (he blow must be delivered with the shoulder opposite
the ball.
,mphasi;e spinning on the foot opposite the ball.
<ork both left and right sides.
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$. %ounce Drill
2bAective: (o develop skill in escaping a tackler.
,*uipment: /ootballs and a hand shield or stand up dummy.
etup: hown in diagram below
,xecution: 4fter handoff" lower the shoulder and deliver a blow with the shoulder
and forearm" bounce laterally and re-accelerate forward. (he blow must be
delivered with the shoulder opposite the ball.
I. ideline Drill
2bAective: (o develop balance and skill in keeping in bounds after contact.
,*uipment: /ootballs and hand shields !and cones if the practice filed is not lined.&
etup: hown in diagram below
,xecution: 4fter handoff" lower the shoulder and deliver a blow with the shoulder
and forearm" bounce laterally and re-accelerate forward. (he blow must be
delivered with the inside shoulder. (he obAect is stay in bounds.
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@. Eauntlet Drill
2bAective: (o develop balance and skill in protecting the ball in traffic.
,*uipment: /ootballs and hand shields
et ?p: et up as shown below.
,xecution: (he #% accelerates through the gauntlet protecting the ball. (he
players with the hand shields should try to deliver a forward blow.
C. Pass Protection Drill
2bAective: (o develop skill in pass protection.
,*uipment: (ackling dummy ' cones
et ?p: et up as shown below. 3inebackers or other #%:s can be used as pass
rushers.
,xecution: 2n a snap count from the coach" the #% sets up for pass protection and
attempts to keep the defender away from the bag representing the G%.
,mphasis is on proper angle of attack and exploding into the defender on initial
contact. (his drill can also include situations where the pass rusher drops into
coverage and the #% check releases.
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3. Pass #outes and %all Drills for #unning %acks
(he drills for pass receiving and routes should the same as those you use for your
receivers.
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