The backyard is the most under-utilized playground for kids today. To further promote passing and catching fundamentals while encouraging creative free play, here are two fun football-centric games to play before sundown.
Duck Hunt
A game that improves offensive and defensive skills, "Duck Hunt" promotes a receiver's ability to ditch one-on-one coverage while a quarterback must quickly fire the ball into closing spaces.
Equipment: A few footballs, approximately 25 cones or markers, one stopwatch
Set-up: The game requires a flat area approximately 15 to 20 yards long by 15 yards wide. Place five markers equally across the playing field designating a 5-yard separation between four downfield zones.
How to Play: The game can be played with seven players. If you have more, have them rotate in after each game. Start the game by placing two quarterbacks beyond the first 5-yard zone, place two receivers in the second 5-yard zone with two defenders and place a third defender in the third 5-yard zone.
The objective is to complete and catch three balls as quickly as possible while avoiding defenders in three separate zones.
Start the game with each quarterback having three footballs 5 yards from the first zone where two receivers attempt to get open from their two defenders. Once a receiver catches a ball from either quarterback, they advance downfield to the next grid, where the next defender is waiting. The first defender can follow into the next 5-yard grid only when both receivers have caught their balls in that area.
Once a receiver has caught a pass in the second zone, he or she advances to the third and final zone. At that point, all defenders can defend both receivers in the third and final 5-yard grid. The game ends when one receiver is the first to catch a third and final ball in the third grid. A maximum amount of time can be designated for each game.
Note: Players should toss all balls back to the quarterback after each pass.
Throwing on the Run
During a football game, a quarterback must throw while avoiding oncoming defenders. "Throwing on the Run" places a passer in that situation in a fun and challenging way.
Equipment: One bounce-back rebounder/target (found in sporting goods stores), some type of bull's-eye (i.e. paper plate) attached to the rebounder, several appropriately-sized footballs, six small cones or rubber flat dots
Set-Up: Place the rebounder/target 10 yards downfield from the first dot or cone and set up the remaining dots/cones as seen in the diagram. For an advanced drill, move all dots/cones 5 yards further away from the rebounder/target.
How to Play: The objective is to drop back to pass and successfully hit the rebounder/target with the football from all five designated spots on the field. Two points are awarded for each successful thrown ball that hits the target. Six points are awarded for each ball that hits the bull's-eye.
For advanced play, add a defender that rushes the quarterback. The defender begins by standing 7 yards from any dot/cone. When the quarterback begins to drop back, the defender can leave his position and immediately run to touch the quarterback. If the quarterback is touched with two hands prior to throwing the ball from one of the five dots/cones, he is considered down and the throw does not count.
