Sleds, Chutes, Etc...What do you use and why?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Matthew Graham on April 2, 2010 at 7:08pm

Over here we don't have access to sleds or chutes. Mostly due to funding really. However, does anyone have some good pictures of a sled? I've got mates that are metal fabricators. With some good photos i'd be able to get one knocked up.

Permalink Reply by LeCharles Bentley on April 2, 2010 at 9:39pm

This is a great thread, im glad you started it! The 2 man "pan sled" by Rae Crowther is the best thing going for oline. As far as developing proper contact points and leverage its an unbelievable tool. I firmly believe that sled can make a lineman immediately better,when used properly. There is a difference between players that use it and others that dont, it shows up on film.

Permalink Reply by LeCharles Bentley on April 2, 2010 at 9:39pm

I will take a few pics and get them to you.

Matthew Graham said:

Over here we don't have access to sleds or chutes. Mostly due to funding really. However, does anyone have some good pictures of a sled? I've got mates that are metal fabricators. With some good photos i'd be able to get one knocked up.

Permalink Reply by Tim Kepple on April 3, 2010 at 9:18am

Truthfully, I personally am not a big user of equipment. If I were to buy a sled at all it would be the 2 man Crowther sled. This is the only sled on the market that does not move in a linear fashion and if hit wrong will not give you proper blocking angles. I will on occasion, usually during the beginning of camp use a 5 man sled that is pinned against a fence to teach the proper strike on the punch, and for the correct feel of contact on a skip pull. I would rather work the fit to drive versus a human body to keep perspective on the non-linear motion of the human body. This keeps the bio-mechanics of the block intact.

Permalink Reply by Coach Welch on May 12, 2010 at 8:14pm

For conditioning and hip strength I have found the wooden ram sled to be great. I also like a low to the ground hip sled. The low to the ground hip sled can be fabricated for pushing and pulling with a harness.

Permalink Reply by Ross Grall on May 14, 2010 at 2:42pm

I tell you what, i think football equipment has become over rated. I spent the past three years will zero budget numbers and we were able to get a hell of a lot done with a sled, a few bags, a chute, and a variety of home made products that we built or made for cheap! My favorite tools are long and short boards, which were 8 x 6 boards that we beveled the edge with a power saw. Another cheap trick is to get some tires by visiting local tire and junk yards. We never paid for one tire and even got some innertubes and used this like bands. Another good tool is concrete cinder blocks. They are usually cheap or free and can do the same thing as sandbags. Plus they add a little mental toughness to the drill cuz they are uncomfortable. Lastly, I made individual bands for the players foot work, placing them around the lower part of the knee and work base drills. I got a box of surgical tubing for free from our trainer and one free from the local hospital. I love finding ways to save a little money even though we have a big budget now. That way I can buy cool things for the guys like t shirts, dog tags, awards, etc. Hope this helped.

Permalink Reply by Coach Welch on May 14, 2010 at 2:54pm

Coach Grall tell me more about the long and short boards please.

Ross Grall said:

I tell you what, i think football equipment has become over rated. I spent the past three years will zero budget numbers and we were able to get a hell of a lot done with a sled, a few bags, a chute, and a variety of home made products that we built or made for cheap! My favorite tools are long and short boards, which were 8 x 6 boards that we beveled the edge with a power saw. Another cheap trick is to get some tires by visiting local tire and junk yards. We never paid for one tire and even got some innertubes and used this like bands. Another good tool is concrete cinder blocks. They are usually cheap or free and can do the same thing as sandbags. Plus they add a little mental toughness to the drill cuz they are uncomfortable. Lastly, I made individual bands for the players foot work, placing them around the lower part of the knee and work base drills. I got a box of surgical tubing for free from our trainer and one free from the local hospital. I love finding ways to save a little money even though we have a big budget now. That way I can buy cool things for the guys like t shirts, dog tags, awards, etc. Hope this helped.

Permalink Reply by Ross Grall on May 16, 2010 at 9:50pm

Jim the boards are used in a variety of ways. They are made with 2 x 4 x 6. I used a power saw and bevel all the edges by adjusting the angle of the blade to 45 degrees and cut the length of the edges. I use long boards and short boards, the short boards are just 3 foot version of the long boards. They sell them often as steppers but this is by far the cheaper route and it only takes a trip to a lowe's and five minutes to cut them. They are great for working on keeping a base while blocking, angles for zone, etc. The short boards can be used for down blocking, outside and inside zone work, pulling, and even kick sets. HOpe this helps and let me know if you need more. I am planning on posting some drill videos after this week of spring ball.

Jimmie Welch said:

Coach Grall tell me more about the long and short boards please.

Ross Grall said:

I tell you what, i think football equipment has become over rated. I spent the past three years will zero budget numbers and we were able to get a hell of a lot done with a sled, a few bags, a chute, and a variety of home made products that we built or made for cheap! My favorite tools are long and short boards, which were 8 x 6 boards that we beveled the edge with a power saw. Another cheap trick is to get some tires by visiting local tire and junk yards. We never paid for one tire and even got some innertubes and used this like bands. Another good tool is concrete cinder blocks. They are usually cheap or free and can do the same thing as sandbags. Plus they add a little mental toughness to the drill cuz they are uncomfortable. Lastly, I made individual bands for the players foot work, placing them around the lower part of the knee and work base drills. I got a box of surgical tubing for free from our trainer and one free from the local hospital. I love finding ways to save a little money even though we have a big budget now. That way I can buy cool things for the guys like t shirts, dog tags, awards, etc. Hope this helped.

Permalink Reply by Coach Welch on May 21, 2010 at 8:58am

I got you we cal them T-boards at my school, I did not know if this was some new drill. I appreciate your response.

Ross Grall said:

Jim the boards are used in a variety of ways. They are made with 2 x 4 x 6. I used a power saw and bevel all the edges by adjusting the angle of the blade to 45 degrees and cut the length of the edges. I use long boards and short boards, the short boards are just 3 foot version of the long boards. They sell them often as steppers but this is by far the cheaper route and it only takes a trip to a lowe's and five minutes to cut them. They are great for working on keeping a base while blocking, angles for zone, etc. The short boards can be used for down blocking, outside and inside zone work, pulling, and even kick sets. HOpe this helps and let me know if you need more. I am planning on posting some drill videos after this week of spring ball.

Jimmie Welch said:

Coach Grall tell me more about the long and short boards please.

Ross Grall said:

I tell you what, i think football equipment has become over rated. I spent the past three years will zero budget numbers and we were able to get a hell of a lot done with a sled, a few bags, a chute, and a variety of home made products that we built or made for cheap! My favorite tools are long and short boards, which were 8 x 6 boards that we beveled the edge with a power saw. Another cheap trick is to get some tires by visiting local tire and junk yards. We never paid for one tire and even got some innertubes and used this like bands. Another good tool is concrete cinder blocks. They are usually cheap or free and can do the same thing as sandbags. Plus they add a little mental toughness to the drill cuz they are uncomfortable. Lastly, I made individual bands for the players foot work, placing them around the lower part of the knee and work base drills. I got a box of surgical tubing for free from our trainer and one free from the local hospital. I love finding ways to save a little money even though we have a big budget now. That way I can buy cool things for the guys like t shirts, dog tags, awards, etc. Hope this helped.

Permalink Reply by o_line_coach on May 27, 2010 at 9:47pm

We have 5 man mod sled by Rogers mounted with T-Pads, we have 5 man powerline sled by Rogers mounted with "Big Bruiser" pads and finally the Pop-Up tackle sled by Rogers. I feel lucky we have access to that much equipment. If i were to have a new piece of equipment, i would probably go for Rogers' Lev Sled which is a newly designed sled that doesn't allow you to "lift" the dummy until proper force is applied., I love the mechanics of the sled and think it would be a good teaching tool.
Prior to coaching my present team, we had nothing....and still managed to put a great football team on the field. We just need to use our imagination a bit more!