Your Players Success Starts with This 👇🏾
Mar 28, 2022 5:41 pm
Coach ,
It’s not “sexy.” We’d rather get into the things that are bigger conceptually, but everything needs a starting point. For every position on the field, it all starts with the stance.
On day one, in the first minutes of the individual, the first thing taught at every position is stance. It’s easy to take for granted, but every stance should have a purpose and it should be clear to why it fits specifically into how you do things within your schemes.
What's interesting is the stance is not a one size fits all proposition for every position in every offense or defense. The best coaches understand how to tweak stance to fit their schemes and concepts.
The detailed coaching is evident within each of these videos. Please note that these may or may not fit the specifics of your schemes and philosophy, but the thought process and coaching points behind the stance certainly are something we can use as examples to put together our own coaching points for the stance.
Offensive Line
Bryant OL Coach Steve Ciocci believes in using a two-point stance, and it certainly fits the philosophy of how he does things. He does note in this video where and when the three point stance is appropriate (click on image for video):
For Ohio OL Coach Allen Rudolph, his philosophy dictates more of a 3 point stance, though he notes when two point is appropriate (click on image for video):
For former Georgia Tech OL Coach Mike Sewak, a different type of stance was used for his option offense. Again, you see that the rationale behind every stance should fit the scheme that it is used within. (click on image for video):
Running Back
Retired coach Steve Axman is a wealth of knowledge on the game, and the detail that he puts into teaching the running back stance from both two point and three point makes a ton of sense plus it even takes into consideration the biggest core fundamental for every running back coach - ball security (click on image for video):
Wide Receiver
Southern Illinois WR Coach Mark Watson believes having a good stance and threatening and attacking defensive backs are very important. Having a great stance allows them to start every play with their attack mentality. Here’s his drill progression for stance (click on image for video):
At Alabama, the smallest details are coached in every aspect of the game which is why the Crimson Tide are perennial favorites to win it all. WR Coach Holmon Wiggings explains the stance here (click on image for video):
Kansas assistant Rob Ianello begins each practice with the stance and start. In this video he explains the progression (click on image for video):
Quarterback
As mentioned, Steve Axman is a wealth of knowledge on the game and in this video he shares the coaching points and rationale behind a good quarterback stance. (click on image for video):
Defensive Line
Former 3x Pro Bowler, defensive tackle Tommie Harris has a stance and start that helped set himself up for success. He explains it here (click on image for video):
Illinois DL Coach Terrance Jameson teaches two types of stances for his defensive line, the power stance and the speed stance. Each has a purpose and a place for it to be utilized within their defense (click on image for video):
Linebacker
Kyle Cogan has made appearances at a number of clinics, and his detailed teaching is why. Here he shares the specifics he is looking for in a good linebacker stance (click on image for video):
Defensive Back
Washington University's former head coach and current DB coach Larry Kindbom has been doing this for decades, and it still starts with stance. For defensive backs, the stance will vary based on the type of coverage and leverage you wish to use. Coach explains the stance he teaches here (click on image for video):
Yes, the stance is basic. As you can see in the videos we highlighted, these coaches have put a lot of thought into their stance because they want every play to start with their players in a position to win.
What coaching points do you need to emphasize as you begin to teach your players from square one this spring?
Always be growing!
Coach Grabowski