7 Running Back Fundamentals for the Youth Football Player

A youth football running back must be a "jack-of-all-trades" to play the position completely. He must be able to run, receive, block, and have a high level of physical and mental toughness. A talented and hardworking running back can break a game wide open by finding the right hole or securely running the ball to "eat up the clock" and protect the lead.

In order to meet the needs of this challenging position, future running backs must practice every day through a variety of football skills & drills to develop the fundamentals in each area of the position, particularly those they are weakest in. They should constantly be looking for ways to improve their football skills and can even find free tips from football pros online at sites like Weplay.com. Let's look at some of the attributes an aspiring youth football running back should work on to improve their skills:

Position Training & Conditioning

• The physical attributes of a running back can vary somewhat. What good running backs do have in common is overpowering speed, a low center of gravity, total body strength, and exceptional balance. A strength training program is highly recommended for a running back in youth football.
  
  
• A running back needs quick reactions to locate holes in the defense and to exploit them. He must be able to change direction quickly while keeping his balance and protecting the ball.
  
  
• A youth football running back should learn how to break tackles. He must keep his legs moving, driving them into the ground with forward momentum. An effective running back will be able to throw off larger tacklers with his arms and shoulders through sheer strength and balance.
  
  
• A youth football running back must have good blocking skills. On passing plays, the running back must protect the quarterback. He is often the last line of protection and, if effective, can provide the quarterback with a couple of seconds to complete the pass. On plays with two running backs, he is called upon to block for his partner.

Mental Approach

• The running back in youth football should learn how to read defensive positions and understand the blocking schemes of his offensive lineman. This will prepare him to spot the openings quickly during the heat of the play.
  
  
• To be a quality running back, he must obtain mental toughness. He is hit hard and often throughout the game and must be able to shake it off. He must develop the ability to "never give up on the play" in order to get those extra inches that may result in a first down.

Receiving

• He must know how to catch a football. The running back is often the target of an outlet pass when there are no other options. He must learn how to catch, tuck the ball, and run.

Drills for the Youth Running Back

• Ball Protection Drill - This drill teaches youth running backs to run and protect the ball while maintaining balance. Have your running backs line up to receive a handoff. A running back carries the ball through a two-sided wall of defenders trying to strip the ball. As a running back, get down low, protect the ball and focus on four points of security. Each player then takes a turn.
  
  
• Running Back Handoff Drill - This running back drill teaches the technical aspects of receiving a handoff. The player should create a pocket with the arms, the inside one on top and the lower arm cradling the ball. Line up players in two lines about 10 yards apart and facing each other. The first player takes the football and hands off to the player opposite him. That player then hands off to the running back coming from the other direction and so on. Speed is not important; it is the technical aspects that are essential. As the players become more adept you can speed up the tempo.