Common Blocks Against the D-Line
As we all prepare for training camp and put together our technique boards and drill menus, we must stay conscious of the different types of blocking patterns that our front people will see given our schemes. This is the next…
Coach Russell’s Ruminations – July
For college football coaches, and many high school coaches, the summer means one thing: camps. Summer football camps are not only a good way to supplement your income, but they’re also valuable for the opportunity to be exposed to high…
Crossing Paths with a Giant…..The Impact of Great People……Coach Arnsparger
23 years ago it was the summer of 1992. I was a first year head football coach at Paris High School (KY). My wife Stephanie and I had just been married that May. Our summer days were to get up…
I Found a Drill…. At the Beach
I was watching a father and son throw a football in the ocean yesterday. Both threw the ball well. The dad’s release was one I preferred….he brought the ball straight back and then out of his hand. The son, on…
American Football in Sweden
Here is an American football game in Sweden! Boyle County Football Coach, Chuck Smith, is in Sweden right now, working at a football camp. He said the kids try hard and have a desire to be good players. American…
Coach Russell’s Ruminations – June
Over the course of the last few months, we’ve been deep into the season of coaches moving to other schools, hirings, firings, etc. Usually, football coaches handle the process the right way. Unfortunately, sometimes they don’t. The entire process is something…
Summer Evaluation Camps
It’s that time of year of course and whether we are high school or college coaches if we are attempting to constantly raise the water level of the talent in our Programs, then we usually have a plan for the…
Make Big Decisions Now, Coach When It is Time to Coach
In my book, Black Shoes & White Shoestrings , I talk about Bill Walsh’s impact on how we run our program and the level of organization we try to incorporate. We use play scripts, job descriptions, and any necessary planning…
Effectively Disguising Coverages (Part I)
This past off-season I spent more time than normal listening to offensive coaches discuss their strategies. Not just at clinics, but also in our office because this year we had an offensive coordinator to hire. This gave me a great…
Linebacker Change of Direction Drills
The first day we taught the fundamentals of linebacker play. In building a base, we stressed playing great technique – stance, read steps, playing low, angles, reading the triangle, reacting to flow for run or pass, gap responsibilities, option responsibilities…