Coaches don’t need to have their players run laps to build endurance. Maximize practice time by combining offensive repetitions and conditioning with the no-huddle drill.

Here’s one way to accomplish that on the youth level utilizing a series of offensive plays. The offense is operating against air to best maintain flow and pace.

• Stage the offensive unit on its own goal line with a coach serving as the umpire.
• The coach verbally calls a play, and the offense executes the play.
• When the coach whistles the play dead (usually after 10 yards or a completed pass), he verbally calls out the next play.
• The offense has seven seconds to line up and execute the next play.
• Repeat this process until the offense reaches the goal line on the opposite end of the field 100 yards away

Coaching points:

• Control each repetition based on the offense’s execution of the called play.
• If the play is executed properly, allow the players to run for a longer distance.
• If the play is not executed properly, stop the play quickly and call the next play.
• The first team will execute this drill for 200 yards. (one trip down the field and back)
• The second team will execute this drill for 200 yards. (one trip down the field and back)
• Continue this process for a duration of 15 minutes.

Demiko Suggs is a coach, father, husband and blogger. He is devoted to providing youth football coaches with age-appropriate information. Check out his Coaching for Coaches youth football blog.