Three Wide Receiver Drills

Evan Loring - Wide Receivers Coach at Harvard

As a senior manager for Congruity, Evan Loring has grown the information technology company's business portfolio by over 500 percent. Prior to joining the Pembroke, Massachusetts-based firm, Evan Loring spent time as a receivers coach with Harvard University's football team. 

Wide receivers on a football team are tasked with catching passes from the quarterback, but there's more to the position than simply running and catching. Receivers need to be quick and agile, as well as have the ability to block opposing players when necessary. Below are three practice drills to help improve a receiver's all-around ability. 

1. Side to side: Two players face each other about five yards apart near the goal line and, on command, begin running sideways and passing the football back and forth until reaching the opposite end zone. 

2. Tap dance: Receivers begin sprinting toward the sideline and when they're within five yards a coach will throw the ball, forcing them to make a sideline catch with both of their feet in bounds.

3. Resisted sprints: A player lines up in a two-point stance with a teammate who braces the first player’s shoulders, keeping his arms straight. On command, the first player runs as fast as possible for five yards with the teammate providing resistance.