One of the most important skills every defender must have is the ability to shed blockers.

If a defense allows its opponents to successfully maintain their blocks, the unit will never get off the field, and greatly reduce the chance of victory. Players must master this skill before they can make tackles on a consistent basis.

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Here are four skills coaches can work on with their players to improve block shedding:

1. Push-pull

At the snap, the defender aligns their feet with the shoulders of the blocker. With knees bent and leverage, the defender drives the opponent back while pulling one shoulder with one hand and pushing with another.

In quick succession, the defender swims over the top with the push arm, and thrusts their body through the gap while maintaining leverage on the opponent. In football, no matter the level, the low man normally wins.

2. Punch-slap

If a defensive lineman only has one move to get off blocks, their opponent will quickly adapt. That's why it’s important to develop multiple techniques.

In this technique, the defender punches with an open hand into the breastplate of the opponent, and slaps the outside upper arm with the other while maintaining leverage. The defender has to slide the slap-side hip into the gap as quickly as possible.

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Again, low man normally wins, and this done with speed will increase those odds.

3. Defensive lineman get-off drills

If you use tacking drills in practice that utilize single-man tackling sleds and dummies, here's a simple drill for both the push-pull and punch-slap.

Have a player hold a dummy or shield in front of a defensive lineman, then have the defender perform one of the above techniques before moving to tackle a single-man sled placed five yards deep. Have one coach watch the get-off technique and another grade the ability to tackle.

When players become proficient with these techniques, replace the dummy or shield with an offensive lineman.

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Run at thud speed, coaches can now grade the offensive lineman’s blocking skills, the defensive lineman’s block-shedding ability and the defender's tackle form.

If you have the Shadowman system, you can also work on pursuit skills.

Done properly and in a player’s natural skill progression, coaches can work on three skills in one drill.

4. Linebackers, defensive blocks and high blocks

When successfully taking on a high block, the following must occur:

• Make sure the feet are aligned with the shoulders of the blocker.
• The defender’s arms must be locked out, with thumbs pointing skyward, after striking the blocker in the shoulders.
• Maintain the lockout of the arms and leverage, and don’t let the blocker get to the body.
• Read the play and disengage the arm away from the runner. Push the blocker across the body, perform a rip move with the free arm at hip level of the blocker, maintain leverage and attack the ball carrier.

As coaches, we must remember the ability to get off blocks is just as important as the ability to tackle. We need to teach and evaluate all of our players and plan our practices accordingly.

Chris Booth is the head coach at Peterstown Middle School in West Virginia. He has multiple books and videos published by Coaches Choice.

This is an updated version of a blog that originally published March 13, 2016.