How To Coach Quarterbacks: Footwork, Reads & Throwing Mechanics
Great quarterbacks make the difference between average and elite teams. If your quarterback is underdeveloped, confused, or sloppy with their mechanics, it will be evident on game day.
Below you'll find all the resources you need to coach any quarterback in any system. We'll show you proper footwork, pocket presence, throwing mechanics, and how to build confidence.
If you're looking for more in-depth resources, see the full quarterback install inside vIQtory Pro.
Core Quarterback Skills
Below, we're going to detail the four core quarterback skills that you should teach, in order. It doesn't matter if you're a youth coach or a high school coach - these fundamentals will apply to every quarterback.
Footwork
To start, the quarterback's footwork is the most important fundamental once the play begins. Everything runs through the quarterback, and timing is everything. If the quarterback is too slow to hand the ball off, then the defense will collapse on the ball carrier. If the quarterback is too fast to hand off, then the timing of the running back hitting the hole will be messed up.
The quarterback's feet should coincide with the timing of both run and pass plays. If the quarterback is doing a quick drop for quick game, he should take 1 step and throw.
If the quarterback is throwing the ball down the field, the 3 step footwork should be utilized. Footwork is severely under-coached, and it's one of the main reasons balls are intercepted due to mistiming.
Pocket Presence
Next is pocket presence. What is pocket presence? It's the ability to stand tall in the pocket while it's collapsing and still deliver the football. It's telling your quarterback to be confident even though there is ensuing chaos around you. It's one of the hardest things to learn as a quarterback.
To teach it properly, you need to introduce it properly. Yelling "stay in the pocket" unfortunately doesn't work. The players need to be introduced to the environment. This means introducing the pocket in 3 phases:
Phase 1: Have a player throw to a receiver while a 1v1 is taking place in front of him. He should ignore the rush and throw to the downfield receiver. This is just to introduce him to the chaos around him.
Phase 2: Add a 3v3. Now the quarterback can start to feel a pocket forming, while his linemen are fighting in front of him.
Phase 3: Now we add him to the pocket with 5v5. If you just skip directly to 5v5, this is where the body freaks out and thinks it's under pressure, when it's not (this is often known as "seeing ghosts").
Throwing Mechanics
Next is one of the hardest things (in my opinion) to coach: throwing mechanics. There are so many biomechanical elements to throwing a football. There are also a lot of myths circulating around throwing a football, such as "keep the ball high" or "throw over the top." In the video below, I break down popular throwing myths with Coach Danny Schaechter and how to actually throw a football.
This video will help you understand how to generate torque from your hips and allow the kinematic sequence to begin to throw the ball correctly.
We've also built this guide for you that will help you step by step.
Building Confidence
Confidence is built by you, the quarterback coach, and the offensive line. If your quarterback is not standing in the pocket, then it's a pocket issue, or he doesn't trust his offensive line.
If the quarterback isn't throwing the ball to the right receiver, it's a read issue. Quarterbacks aren't born; they are developed. You can teach a quiet quarterback how to command a huddle or to speak loudly when he's yelling out his cadence.
Most coaches don't put in the extra work with kids, thinking that they either have it or they don't. Confidence and clarity in the scheme come from your entire offensive staff. The offensive line coach protects them, the offensive coordinator brings clarity to the scheme, and the quarterback builds pocket presence. It's a team effort to get exactly what you want in a confident quarterback.
Quarterback Coaching Progression
Below is the tested order we install with each of our quarterbacks to ensure they are field generals who can command a huddle and operate an offense at a high level.
Steps To Install | Coaching Points | Player Progression |
|---|---|---|
Step 1: Footwork | Map out exactly each step the quarterback should take and hold them to that standard. Timing is everything for the operation to run smoothly. | Once the quarterback gets into rhythm, sit with them and watch film back on how they can optimize each step. |
Step 2: Pocket Presence | Slowly introduce your quarterback to the pocket so he can start to build confidence with blockers around him. | Once the quarterback feels comfortable with a 5v4 rush, start adding blitzes and 6-man pressures. Then layer in route concepts to simulate a real game. |
Step 3: Throwing Mechanics | If your quarterback is already accurate and doesn't have elbow pain, then keep at it. If they have elbow pain or are missing on every throw, then adjust. | Slowly start to introduce new mechanics to your quarterback, starting from the ground up. Don't throw all of it at him at once. Slower is better. |
Step 4: Building Confidence | It takes every coach to help build confidence in your quarterback. Make sure your quarterback and offensive play caller are on the same page and that he knows why the plays are being called. | Once your quarterback starts to gain confidence on the field, the next step is to command the huddle and actively motivate his teammates. A great quarterback makes everyone around him better in a positive way. |
Common Mistakes Quarterback Coaches Make
Introducing The Pocket Too Quickly
Too often quarterbacks are thrown into a live 11v11 period and wonder why the quarterback can't stay in the pocket. Break it down to micro environments (3v3 then 5v4) so the quarterback can gain confidence that his offensive line will block for him. Then once you feel his confidence is there, then introduce him to a live environment.
Overcoaching Mechanics
The rule we have when working with quarterback coaches at vIQtory is if the player's elbow doesn't hurt and they are getting the ball to the receiver on time, then we don't critique much. We'll slowly introduce mechanics one piece at a time, but to do a complete overhaul does more damage than it does good. Fix one piece at a time and start from the ground up.
Blaming The Quarterback For Poor Decisions
Good offensive coordinators work with their quarterbacks so they know exactly when and why they are throwing the routes they are. If your quarterback holds on to the football too long, or doesn't know how to read a defense, it's the fault of the offensive coordinator. When running routes in practice, put your wide receivers up against the look you're going to get in the next game and have them simulate their defense. This way you and the quarterback can see exactly what he's seeing.
Not Developing Your Quarterback
There are some quarterbacks that are natural-born leaders. They come from a great household, and the dad or mom taught them leadership skills. There are other players who come from single-parent households and don't have that guidance at home. It doesn't mean they can't be a quarterback; it just means you need to put a little bit more work into them.
This goes for physical mechanics as well as the mental makeup of your quarterback. Everything ultimately falls on you as the coach. You just need to decide if you're going to spend the time and patience to develop them.
Get More Drills & Video Instruction Inside vIQtory Pro
The Full Quarterback Install: Get drills and video instruction on how to coach quarterbacks. Inside you'll find a library of drills, progression on how to coach your position and game plan tools to put it all together on game day. Built for youth and high school coaches.
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