RUNNINGBACK TEACHING PROGRESSIONS:

PHASE 1

  • Stance / Back Pedal
  • Shuffle Tech
  • Agility
  • Footwork
  • Speed Turn
  • Change of Direction
  • Body Control
  • Hand-Eye Coordination
  • Ball Drills

PHASE 2

  • Base Tackling Fundamentals
  • Eyes & Leverage
  • Aiming Points / Safety
  • POA & Finish Drills
  • Situational Tackling & Turnovers

PHASE 3

  • Man Cover Work
  • Eyes & Footwork
  • Press Technique
  • OFF Technique
  • Route Reading & Leverage
  • Switch Man Technique
    • Communication
  • Lock Man Technique
    • Leverage
  • Defending the Deep Ball
    • Look, Lean, Locate

PHASE 4

  • Zone / Match Cover Defense
  • Zone Drops / Wall Drops
  • Basic Zone / Man / Match Cover Concepts
  • Live Half Skelly Execution & Coaching Points
  • Off The Line Blitz Game
  • Cover Zero Blitz Tech

DEFENSIVE LINE TEACHING PROGRESSIONS:

RECEIVERS TEACHING PROGRESSIONS:


PHASE 1

  • Stance
  • Agility
  • Footwork 1st & 2nd steps
  • Posture
  • Hand/ eye placement
  • Duck progression
  • Run blocking - technique/ fundamentals hand/ hips
  • Man concept - base/ reach/ cut/ off/ down block

PHASE 2

  • Run concept - man, zone inside/ outside
  • Run game progression frontside vs backside
  • Double teams - post man / drive man
  • POA and finish drills vs LB's
  • Gap scheme (drills for each)
  • Zone scheme (drills for each)

PHASE 3

  • Pass Protection Intro
  • Understanding alignment
  • Pass sets - inside/ outside vs alignments
  • Hand placement/ targeting/ striking
  • Angle A & B
  • Picking up the blitz
  • Agility drills - power/ kick steps
  • Agility drill progression

PHASE 4

  • Slide protection - half/ full line
  • 5/6/7 man defender concepts
  • Stunt & blitz pickup vs concepts landmarks
  • Pass rush counter techniques
  • Twist games and reading the LB in pass
  • One on one pass rush drills

Introducing the newest addition to our Winter Academy* - Position Specific Phases

*Phases are for Burlington, Waterloo & York Region Academies only


PHASE 1

  • Stance
  • Agility
  • Footwork
  • Change of Direction
  • Body Control
  • Hand-Eye Coordination
  • Ball Drills

PHASE 2

  • Base Tackling Fundamentals
  • Eyes & Leverage
  • Aiming Points / Safety
  • POA & Finish Drills
  • Situational Tackling & Turnovers

PHASE 3

  • Run Reads
  • Run Game Play Progressions
  • Gap Scheme
  • Zone Scheme
  • Shuffle / Chase Technique
    • 50/50 or Gap Eliminate
  • Post Hand & Attacking the Double Team 

PHASE 4

  • Pass Game Defense
  • Zone Drops / Wall Drops
    • Man Technique
  • Basic Zone / Man / Match Cover Concepts
  • Live Half Skelly Execution & Coaching Points
  • Blitz / Pass Rush Technique & Fundamentals
  • Off the Line Blitz Game
  • Mugged Up Blitz Tech
  • Cover Zero Blitz Tech

PHASE 1

  • Stance
  • Agility
  • Footwork
  • Change of Direction
  • Body Control
  • Hand-Eye Coordination
  • Ball Drills

PHASE 2

  • Base Tackling Fundamentals
  • Eyes & Leverage
  • Aiming Points / Safety
  • POA & Finish Drills
  • Situational Tackling & Turnovers

PHASE 3

  • Run Game Keys
  • Proper Footwork & Hands
  • Different Run Concepts
    • Zone, Counter, Zone Read
  • Taking on The Double Team
  • Shuffle / Chase Technique
    • 50/50 or Gap Eliminate
  • Pull / Sub Game
    • Spill Tech or Box Tech

PHASE 4

  • Pass Rush Fundamentals
  • Stance / Width for Different Concepts
  • Get Offs and Cross Keying the Waggle
  • Inside Hand With Rip & Reach
  • Long Arm, Spin Move & Counters
  • Zone or Wall Drops 
    • Defensive Ends
  • Cover Zero Blitz Tech

OFFENSIVE LINE TEACHING PROGRESSIONS:


PHASE 1

  • Stance
  • Agility
  • Footwork
  • Change of Direction
  • Body Control
  • Ball Security Work / Ball Drills

PHASE 2

  • Mesh Work With QB's
    • Proper Hand Placement
  • Footwork for Different Run Plays
    • Various Backfield Sets
  • Run Reads for Different Run Plays
    • Zone, Counter, Toss, Lead
  • Eyes & Vision Through Drills
    • Reaction / Cut Drills
  • More Ball Security With Drills for Breaking Tackles (Stiff Arm, Etc)

PHASE 3

  • Pass Protection Work
  • Keys
    • Coverage Rotation
  • Technique
    • Hand Placement & Footwork
  • Run Blocking Drills (For Fullbacks)
    • Work With O-Line at Times
  • Teach Different Blitz Options With O-Line
    • Improve Vision & Communication

PHASE 4

  • Passing Game Work
  • Ball Drills
    • Deep & Shallow
  • Route Concepts With Technique Improvement
  • Coverage Reads
  • Ball Security 
    • Catch, Tuck, Stiff Arm

DEFENSIVE BACK TEACHING PROGRESSIONS:

LINEBACKER TEACHING PROGRESSIONS:

What: Phases are a set of teaching regiments designed for optimal coach-to-athlete retention

Why:Breaking the lessons down into planned phases increases the athletes understanding and well-rounded improvement

When: Over the entire course of the winter academy

Where: Our Burlington, York Region & Waterloo Region academies

How: Our coaches have had success at the highest level of Canadian football and they have planned their phases accordingly to resonate most with members of the academy


PHASE 1

  • Stance/ First steps
  • Agility
  • Footwork
  • Change of direction
  • Stance/ first steps
  • How to properly catch a football

PHASE 2

  • Blocking Fundamentals
  • Eyes and hand placement
  • Route Tree (quick game) teach stemming
  • Catching on the move/ body control tracking football

PHASE 3

  • Route Tree (5 step)
  • Eyes & footwork
  • Working against press technique
  • Running routes vs off man
  • Tracking ball with a defender present
  • How to break a DB leverage

PHASE 4

  • 2 man route concepts (switch release)
  • Reading zone (finding holes/ pulling defenders to create space)
  • Working as a unit in half skelly with the QB
  • Man and zone running
  • Attacking the football once it's in the air


PHASE 1

  • Basic Passing Fundamentals
  • Footwork

PHASE 2

  • 3 Step Drops, Plant, Throw
  • 5 Step Drops, Plant Throw
  • Hitch & Throw
  • Under Centre & Shotgun 

PHASE 3

  • Pre-Snap/Post Snap Recognition
  • Understanding the Philosophy
  • Timing & Anticipation

PHASE 4

  • Play Action & Movement
  • Throwing on the Run
  • Pocket Presence & Awareness
  • Movement Within the Pocket
  • Extending the Play Outside the Pocket

PHASE 5

  • Understanding Concepts in the Passing Game
  • Attacking the Defense
  • Coverage Recognition & How to Exploit the Weaknesses

QUARTERBACK TEACHING PROGRESSIONS: