AFCA's Defensive Football Drills

In this day of explosive scoring and rules changes that favor the offense, fielding a competitive defense is more difficult than ever. AFCA's Defensive Football Drills tries to level the playing field by providing the defense with practice activities that teach defenders the skills they need to excel. The book's 70 drills are divided into four sections:

- Defensive Line drills
- Linebacker drills
- Defensive Back drills
- Team Defense drills

Developed in cooperation with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)—the leading football coaching organization with more than 8,000 members—this book features drills and insights from many of the country's best college and high school defensive coaches.

AFCA's Defensive Football Drills develops the fundamental skills every defender needs to compete in today's game—an aggressive style of play and an understanding of complex defensive strategies.

All of the drills in the book are presented in a standardized two-page format and are accompanied by a list of key coaching points and an illustration, making them easy to understand and teach. Many of the drills can be performed by players without a coach's supervision.

AFCA's Defensive Football Drills—it's the best defensive read a coach or player can make!

Since its establishment 1922, the American Football Coaches Association has strived to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football and coaching" and to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the coaching profession." These objectives, first declared by founders Alonzo Stagg, John Heisman, and others have been instrumental in the AFCA's becoming the effective and highly respected organization it is today.

The AFCA now has more than 10,000 members, including coaches from Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, and Russia. Through three annual publications and several newsletters the Association keeps members informed of the most current rules changes and proposals, proper coaching methods, innovations in techniques, insights in coaching philosophy, and business conducted by the Board of Trustees and AFCA committees. A convention held each January gives members a special opportunity to exchange ideas and recognize outstanding achievement.

The Association promotes safety in the sport and sets forth strong ethical and moral codes that govern all aspects of football coaching. In addition, the AFCA is involved in numerous programs that ensure the integrity of the coaching profession and enhance the development of the game. It works closely with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the National Football League, the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, Pop Warner, and other organizations involved in the game of football. Indeed, one of the many goals of the Association is to build a strong coalition—TEAM AFCA—of football coaches who will speak out with a unified voice on issues that affect the sport and profession.

The AFCA is the team of the football coaching profession. All current and former football coaches or administrators involved with football are encouraged to join. To become a member of the American Football Coaches Association, please write or call

American Football Coaches Association
100 Legends Lane
Waco, TX 76706
(254) 754-9900

Dee Hawkes began his coaching career assisting former Stanford coach Jack Elway at Port Angeles High School in Washington. Over the next 29 years, he held four head coaching positions—at Department of Defense schools in Japan and Germany, at Davis High School in Yakima, Washington, and at Bothell High School in Bothell, Washington.

Hawkes has extensive experience as a football camp director and motivational speaker. Now a newspaper and magazine columnist, a book review editor, and an analyst for cable TV and radio, he remains committed to football.

"The AFCA membership has a wealth of knowledge to share, and that's evident in this drill book. Some of the very finest defensive coaches in the country give you their very best practice drills. Don't pass it up! This defensive drill book is loaded with practice activities that are sure to improve players' performance on the defensive side of the ball. A great collection of drills to make your defense tough at every position."
Lou Tepper
Head Football Coach
University of Illinois