Watch This To NEVER DROP A PASS

Summary

In this video, Coach Grant from First Down Training breaks down essential techniques to help wide receivers avoid dropping passes. He covers key catches including low passes, diving catches, over-the-shoulder catches, catches in traffic, bullet passes, and one-handed catches. Emphasizing mechanics like hand positioning, grip strength, and ball security, Coach Grant provides practical advice and drills to build consistency and improve receiving skills. Whether it's adjusting to a low ball or catching in tight coverage, this video is packed with actionable tips to help wide receivers improve their performance on the field.

Takeaways

• 😀 Low passes and diving catches: When catching a low pass, keep your pinkies connected to maintain soft hands and avoid the ball bouncing off your palms. For diving catches, protect the ball by using your body to shield it from the ground.
• 😀 Webbing your hands: To improve your catching ability, focus on using the webbing of your hands, not the fingertips, which helps prevent jams and drop-offs.
• 😀 Grip strength: Exercises like fingertip push-ups, pull-ups, and farmer's carries will help build hand and grip strength, which is crucial for catching both low and high passes.
• 😀 Over-the-shoulder catches: For over-the-shoulder catches, be late with your hands to avoid tipping off the DB, and practice a trigger phrase like 'taking a photo' or calling out 'laces' vs 'no laces' to focus on tracking the ball.
• 😀 Catching in traffic: When catching in traffic, especially with a DB on your hip, avoid extending your arms too early, keep your hands relaxed, and tuck the ball immediately after securing the catch.
• 😀 Protecting the ball: In traffic or tight coverage, always put the ball away securely by tucking it as soon as you catch it, especially after making a catch over a defender.
• 😀 Bullet passes: For passes with high velocity, catch the ball in front of your face and focus on the middle third or four quadrants of the football to prevent drops.
• 😀 One-handed catches: While one-handed catches shouldn't be the goal, practicing them can improve hand-eye coordination and grip strength, helping when a catch requires just one hand due to bad throws or tight coverage.
• 😀 Practice makes perfect: Repetition and drills in practice are key to mastering various types of catches and ensuring they become second nature during games.
• 😀 Finish the play: No matter how well you run your route, the most important part of being a wide receiver is finishing the play by securing the catch and avoiding drops.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video focuses on teaching wide receivers how to avoid dropping passes by breaking down different types of catches and the mechanics behind them.

What is the recommended technique for catching low passes?

The technique involves connecting the pinkies of your hands instead of forming a diamond shape, which helps keep the ball in the webbing of the hands, preventing it from bouncing off the palms.

What exercises help improve grip strength for wide receivers?

Exercises like fingertip push-ups, pull-ups, hanging from a pull-up bar, and farmer's carries with heavy dumbbells can help improve grip strength, which is essential for catching low, high, and regular passes.

Why is protecting the ball important when making a diving catch?

Protecting the ball with your body during a diving catch prevents it from hitting the ground and ensures that the catch is secure, especially when replay is involved to confirm the catch.

What key principle helps improve consistency in catching over-the-shoulder passes?

One key principle is to avoid showing your hands too early, which can slow you down and alert the defender. Instead, the hands should be late, and the focus should be on keeping the eyes on the ball, using trigger phrases like 'laces' or 'no laces' to maintain focus.

What should you do when catching passes in traffic?

When catching passes in traffic, avoid extending your arms too early as it makes it easier for defenders to disrupt the catch. Instead, be late with your hands, stay relaxed, and focus on tucking the ball immediately after securing the catch.

How can wide receivers improve their ability to catch bullet passes?

Wide receivers should catch the ball in front of their face and focus on the middle or front third of the football. Additionally, looking for the four points or numbering the football can help maintain focus on the ball, preventing drops.

Why is practicing one-handed catches important, even if they aren't often necessary?

Practicing one-handed catches helps improve hand-eye coordination and grip strength, and it prepares receivers for situations where a one-handed catch is required due to bad throws or tight coverage.

What is the significance of a one-handed catch in a game?

A one-handed catch is significant because it can create a highlight play, showing skill and resilience, especially when a defender is holding or the ball is thrown badly.

What should wide receivers focus on during practice to become more consistent in catching passes?

Wide receivers should focus on looking the ball into their hands, avoiding premature hand movements, using trigger phrases, and practicing with different types of throws to improve their catching mechanics in real-game situations.