Ladder Drills

There are a ton of exercises you can do with the Ladder for linemen and skill players. By using the ladder, you can work on and perfect motion mechanics, cardio, hand and foot speed, and agility to just name a few. The key to success with using the ladder lies solely in the execution of technique. It does not matter how fast you can move through the ladder if it is done improperly; performance will REMAIN poor on the field. Key is to make sure you focus on the coaching points before each drill, have athletes go through each drill slowly 1 to 2 times before allowing them to pick up speed. During the drills you need to enforce technique…don’t just point out areas that need improvement, also remember to compliment good technique and performance. If something is done wrong, make them do it again.

Resources, Resources and More Resources.

There is an enormous supply of resources online regarding the speed-agility ladder. However, there are very few that go through proper technique or a give a good explanation of why the drill is helpful in terms as how it relates to performance on the field. The good thing is, once you have an understanding of how the mechanics and techniques work, you will be able to pick-up the purpose of those videos that do not provide any instruction.

Performance

As with any drill or exercise, you will only capitalize benefits from them by being a stickler for execution. Failure to correct an athletes poor performance, whether your athletes poor performance is a conscious or choice or not, undermines you as a coach. Do not be afraid to ask or instruct an athlete to repeat a drill. Make sure that, before he or she begins the drill again, you explain in detail and or demonstration why they are being required to do it. And as always, do so with kind words; no need to belittle or berate an athlete.

Written Resources

I have not found too many written resources and even fewer of them I would be willing to share or recommend to others. It is not because they are poorly written or anything; its just that most resources written for speed and agility go way beyond what we as football coaches need to be concerned with. I could find only one written document with some illustration worth sharing. This document was found at: http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/ladder-agility-drills.html Please note that this document is no substitute for the videos which I have listed below.

Video Resources

There are a number of videos online for you to review, but in my honest opinion, the best are those produced and demonstrated with a Athletic Trainer. Here are a few videos from stacktv.com:

Here are a few that I suggest you watch on Youtube.com. I would have posted them here, however, there is no means of turning the auto start and rather than annoy you and other visitors, I choose to post links instead.