On every down, guards and tackles must know the
play, the snap count, and which defensive player they
are responsible for blocking. The center has all these
responsibilities, plus he has the added job of getting
the ball to the quarterback.
Teaching an offensive lineman to be a center is not
difficult. It does, however, require a great deal of
practice in order for the center-quarterback exchange to
be successful every play.
One of the easiest ways to introduce a young player to
the center position is to have him get into a basic
four-point stance. In this stance, the player's weight
should be distributed evenly on the balls of both feet,
his feet need to be parallel and spread about the width
of his shoulders, and his back should be straight with
his head up. The center's hands should be placed on the
ground slightly ahead and inside of the outside points
of his shoulders.
The coach should make certain that the player's
shoulders are level and that the player's weight is
distributed evenly on the balls of both feet and the
fingers of both hands. Once the stance is correct, the
coach should have the player charge straight ahead a few
times, angle charge to his right and left a few plays,
and set back as if he were pass protecting for the
quarterback.
The next step is to have the offensive lineman, in his
four-point stance, lift one of his hands off the ground.
The coach then can place the ball on the ex-act spot
where the player's hand had been. The player replaces
his hand, only now he will be grasping the ball, rather
than touching his hand to the ground. Eventually, with
practice, the center will begin to feel comfortable with
the ball as a normal part of his stance, an extension of
his arm and hand.
It is important that when the coach places the ball on
the ground, he does so with the laces pointing to the
side away from the snapping hand, at the exact spot
where the center's hand previously had been resting. As
the center becomes more comfortable and proficient, the
ball can be moved more into the center of his body in a
position directly in front of his nose. With the ball in
this location, the center can execute the snap with one
or both hands on the ball. In either case, only one hand
actually will grip and snap the ball. The other hand
will merely rest comfortably on top of the ball to
balance the center, or his non-snapping arm may rest on
the inside of his thigh. These adjustments can come
later; in the beginning it is easier to have success
from a four-point stance.
As the center grasps the ball, his hand should be on the
forward half of the ball, with the first knuckle of his
thumb placed over the laces. The palm of the snapping
hand would then rest on the outside of the ball and the
four fingers of the center's hand should be spread,
en-circling the underneath portion of the football. The
center should feel that he has complete control of the
ball.
The next step is to remove the ball again in order to
show the center the manner in which the ball should be
exchanged with the quarterback. If the quarterback is
not available, the coach or another center can play the
quarter-back calling signals and reaching under the
center's buttocks so that the back of the top hand
exerts slight upward pressure. Without any forward
movement, the center should then reach back between his
legs and shake hands with the top hand of the
quarterback. This is the manner that the center should
bring the ball up to the quarterback when he actu-ally
is making the exchange of the ball.
When the center has a feel for the proper path needed to
bring his snapping hand up to shake hands with the top
hand of the quarterback, the ball I can be replaced
under the center's snapping hand.
Using the ball, this simple drill can be repeated with
the center actually placing the ball in the hands of the
quarterback. Initially, because the emphasis must be on
the actual exchange of the ball, neither the quarterback
nor the center should move. The center should
concentrate completely on making certain that he has
brought the ball up correctly and that it is placed
securely in the hands of the quarterback.
Once the snap and exchange are oc-curring without
hesitation or a fumble between the center and the
quarterback, movement should be added to the drill. Both
the center and the quarterback will quickly feet the
difference in the exchange when they actually are moving
on a play.
In practicing this, the center should either drive
straight ahead, to his right or left, or set up in pass
protection. For all the running plays, where the center
is moving forward, the movement of the quarterback
should be down the line of scrimmage to his right or
left, executing a reverse pivot to the right or left, or
pulling away from the line of scrimmage to his right or
left. When the center is executing a pass protection
set, the quarter-back should take a five-step drop and
set up to pass.
The first few snaps incorporating movement can be done
without the ball, thus enabling the center and
quarterback to get a feel of actually moving off the
line of scrimmage together in the same direction or,
more difficult, of the center going in one direction and
quarterback moving in the opposite direction or moving
away from the line of scrimmage.
As quickly as possible, the ball should be reintroduced
as part of the drill. There may be a tendency for
beginning centers to shift their concentration to moving
into their block and they may forget that the first -
and most important - job that they have to do is to
place the ball securely in the quarterback's hands.
Once the center is secure in his snapping motion, the
actual quarterback (and not a coach or another lineman)
always should be involved in the drill. The more these
two players can work together and the greater the number
of snaps that they practice as one unit, the less chance
there will be in a game situation for the snap to be
lost.
**************
Play Football The NFL Way is the ultimate football
manual for coaches and beginning players who want to
learn the basics of football correctly. Author Tom Bass
is a former NFL coach with more than 20 years of
experience with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego
Chargers, and Tampa Bay Buccaners.
For a personalized autographed copy of Play Football the
NFL Way, plus information on the new Coach Bass Sport
Maps - football guides that aid in watching and enjoying
college and professional football, please visit
http://www.CoachBass.com.
For information on Coach Bass' In-Depth Coaching Clinics
go to http://www.Takeaknee.com. |
