The Challenge: Get Up and Go Drill for Dynamic Tacklers
The Get Up and Go Drill is a dynamic drill designed to refine a crucial aspect of defensive play – getting up quickly and into position to make a play. This drill emphasizes explosiveness, proper tackling form, and maintaining leverage throughout the tackle. By incorporating a starting position on the ground and requiring linemen to get up quickly, the drill simulates real-game scenarios where they might need to react to a sudden shift in the play or overcome a blocker to get to the ball carrier.
Purpose
- Explosive Getting Up: The drill trains defensive linemen to explode off the ground with quickness and power. This initial burst of speed is critical for getting into position even from an unfavorable situation and disrupting the play before it gains momentum.
- Proper Tackling Form: While explosiveness is important, the drill also emphasizes maintaining proper tackling form. This includes keeping a low center of gravity, staying square to the ball carrier, and driving through the hips to generate power for the tackle.
- Leverage and Control: The drill encourages linemen to maintain leverage throughout the tackle by staying low and driving through their legs. This ensures they gain control over the ball carrier and bring them to the ground securely.
Description
Drill Setup
- Head-to-Head Positioning: Divide defensive linemen into pairs and have them lie down on their backs facing each other, with their heads approximately 2 yards apart.
- Boundary Markers: Place cones or large step-over bags on either side of the linemen, creating a designated channel for the ball carrier to run through. These markers help maintain a consistent drill area and ensure the ball carrier runs in a straight line.
Drill Execution
- On Your Mark: The coach positions themself at a designated starting point and signals for the linemen to assume their starting position.
- Explode Off the Ground: On the coach’s command (whistle blow, clap, or verbal cue), both linemen simultaneously explode off the ground, using a powerful hip extension and leg drive to get to their feet as quickly as possible.
- Ball Carrier Run: A designated ball carrier (optional, can be another coach or player) sprints through the designated channel between the cones or bags.
- Form Tackling: As the ball carrier enters the designated area, the linemen must react quickly and execute a proper form tackle. This involves staying low, keeping their heads up with eyes focused on the ball carrier’s chest or belt buckle, wrapping their arms securely around the ball carrier’s midsection, driving through their hips to bring the ball carrier to the ground, and finishing the tackle by bringing their feet together.
Variations
These are some variations you can introduce to the Get Up and Go Drill to keep it challenging and target specific skills for your defensive linemen:
- Ball Carrier Delay (Early Stages – Advantage for the Tackler): In the initial stages of the drill, consider giving the tackler a slight advantage by having the ball carrier hold the football over their chest and drop it to the ground on the coach’s command. This creates a brief delay as the ball carrier needs to catch the ball before sprinting through the designated channel. This variation allows linemen to focus on their explosiveness off the ground and reacting quickly to initiate the tackle.
- Increased Ball Carrier Reaction Time (Later Stages – Challenge for the Tackler): As linemen become more proficient, introduce a variation that increases the challenge for the tackler. Place the football approximately 3 feet away from the tackler’s head while they are lying on the ground. Position the ball carrier another 3 feet behind the football, facing away from it. On the coach’s command, the tackler explodes off the ground, ready to make the tackle. Simultaneously, the ball carrier pivots around, picks up the football, and sprints through the designated channel. This variation simulates a situation where the ball carrier might fumble or hesitate momentarily before picking up the ball and running, requiring the defensive lineman to react quickly and adjust their approach to the tackle.
By incorporating these variations, you can tailor the Get Up and Go Drill to target specific aspects of tackling. The first variation provides the tackler with an edge to focus on their initial burst of speed, while the second variation challenges their reaction time and ability to adapt to a changing situation.
Progressions
Here are some ways to add challenge and variety to the Get Up and Go Drill as your defensive linemen improve their technique:
Graduated Contact
- Start Controlled: Initially, begin with controlled tackling drills where linemen focus on proper form and bringing the ball carrier to the ground safely. This allows them to solidify their technique before progressing to full-force tackling.
- Increase Intensity: As linemen demonstrate mastery of the drill, gradually increase the intensity of the tackling. This can involve incorporating thud tackling or controlled tackling drills with pads.
- Full-Force Tackling: Once linemen are confident in their technique and demonstrate proper control, progress to full-force tackling drills. This should always be done in a controlled environment with appropriate safety gear.
Competition and Game-like Scenarios
- Win Line Challenge: Introduce a designated line (marked with cones or tape) that the ball carrier must reach to “win” the drill. This line should be a reasonable distance based on the skill level of the linemen. If the ball carrier reaches the line before the tackle is completed, they win. This injects a competitive element and simulates the pressure of a game situation.
- Head-to-Head Battles: Pair defensive linemen up and have them compete against each other multiple times (e.g., 3 or 5 repetitions). Players alternate between being the tackler and the ball carrier. Track the results and declare a winner based on who “wins” the most 1v1 battles. This fosters competition and motivates linemen to refine their skills.
- Vary Ball Carrier Speed: As linemen improve, adjust the speed of the ball carrier. Start with a moderate pace and gradually increase the speed to challenge linemen’s reaction time and ability to close the gap quickly. This can also involve incorporating change-of-direction drills for the ball carrier to simulate jukes or cuts.
By incorporating these progression techniques, you can keep the Get Up and Go Drill challenging and engaging for your defensive linemen. This allows them to progressively develop their explosiveness, tackling form, and game-like instincts, ultimately transforming them into a dominant force on the defensive line.
Coaching Points
- Footwork Emphasis: Remind linemen to focus on proper footwork throughout the drill. Their feet should be shoulder-width apart for stability, and they should drive off the balls of their feet as they explode off the ground.
- Stay Low and Square: Stress the importance of staying low throughout the drill, keeping their center of gravity low to maintain leverage and power. They should also focus on staying square to the ball carrier as they move to make the tackle.
- Head Up, Eyes Focused: Reinforce the concept of keeping their heads up with eyes focused on the chest or belt buckle of the ball carrier. This allows them to maintain awareness of the runner’s movements and avoid leading with the head.
- Solid Contact: Emphasize the importance of making solid contact with the top of the ball carrier’s shoulder. This ensures they disrupt the runner’s momentum and effectively bring them to the ground.
- Finish the Tackle: Instruct linemen to finish the tackle by wrapping their arms securely around the ball carrier, driving them to the ground, and bringing their feet together. This ensures a complete tackle and minimizes the risk of the ball carrier regaining their footing.
Equipment
- Cones or Large Step-Over Bags (to mark boundaries)
- Optional: Football (for ball carrier)
The Get Up and Go Drill is a valuable tool for developing explosive and effective defensive linemen. By incorporating this drill into your training program, you equip linemen with the skills they need to react quickly, close the gap to the ball carrier, and execute secure tackles. The focus on explosiveness, proper form, and leverage translates into improved on-field performance, allowing your defensive line to disrupt plays and contribute to a successful defensive unit.
Originally contributed in 2007 by Coach Leon Criner (✝️ Nov. 14, 2014), at the time Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator and Jimmy Sims, at the time Assistant Professor of Health & Physical Education / Head Football Coach at Los Angeles Valley College – The Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs played then in the Western States Conference, now in the SCFA, Southern California Football Association.
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