Top 10 Drills to Increase Acceleration for Football
Acceleration wins games.
Whether you're a running back hitting a hole, a receiver breaking off the line, or a linebacker attacking downhill - your first 5-10 yards determine everything.
These are the top 10 drills recommended by Houston speed coaches to build elite acceleration for football players.
1. Wall Drill Series
The foundation of acceleration mechanics.
This drill teaches:
- Forward shin angles
- Proper body lean
- Core tension
- Arm action positioning
Most young athletes accelerate too uprights.
Wall drills fix that fast.
2. Falling Starts
This drill teaches athletes how to "fall" into acceleration with the correct forward lean instead of stepping backward or standing tall on the first step.
Great for all positions.
3. Push-Up Starts
Explosive from a dead stop.
Athletes must produce instant power to drive forward.
This improves:
- First-step quickness
- Horizontal projection
- Game-like acceleration
4. Three-Point Starts
A football essential.
Perfect for:
- Linemen
- RBs
- LBs
- Any athletes who starts low
Teaches position-specific acceleration mechanics.
5. A-Skips (and A-March Progressions)
These drills build:
- Rhythm
- Timing
- Knee drive
- Front-side mechanics
Most athletes overstride. These fix that by reinforcing correct limb movement patterns.
6. Sled Pushes (Light + Fast)
One of the best tools for building acceleration power.
Benefits:
- Increases force production
- Teaches forward lean
- Builds strong drive phase mechanics
Light loads (10-25% bodyweight) are ideal for speed, not grinding.
7. Split-Stance Starts
This drill improves positional explosiveness and teaches athletes how to push through the ground with power.
Great for RBs, DBs, WRs, and QBs.
8. Low Box Step-Offs
An underrated acceleration drill.
Athletes step off a low box, land, and immediately push into a sprint.
This trains:
- Reactive strength
- Ground contact power
- First-step aggression
9. Bound -> Skip -> Sprint Progressions
These teach athletes to feel the right mechanics.
Progressions build:
- Elastic power
- Hip projection
- Sprint rhythm
Perfect for middle school and high school athletes.
10. Short Sprints (5-15 Yards)
The most game-specific acceleration drill.
These distances improve:
- Drive phase timing
- First-step power
- Game-speed explosiveness
Football is a sport of repeated short bursts - this drill replicated that exactly.
How to Use These Drills in a Weekly Program
For best results, athletes should train acceleration 2-3 times per week, focusing on:
- Quality over quantity
- Full recovery between sprints
- Proper coaching on mechanics
Poor form -> slower athletes.
Proper mechanics -> faster game speed.
Final Thoughts: Acceleration Is a Trainable Skill
Your athlete can get significantly faster with the right approach.
Acceleration improves when athletes learn:
- Better technique
- Stronger movement patterns
- More explosive force production
These drills build all three.
FAQ
Q: How often should football players train acceleration?
A: Two to three sessions per week is ideal depending on age and season.
Q: What's the best drill for the first step in football?
A: Push-up starts and split-stance starts create excellent first-step explosiveness.
Q: Do sled pushes help with acceleration?
A: Yes - the light, fast sled pushes are one of the most proven methods for improving drive phase power.
Related Training Resources
The Best Football Training in Houston
Speed Training in Houston: What Actually Works
Strength Training for Teen Athletes
Youth Sports Training in Houston (2026)
If your athlete needs to improve acceleration for football, BreakAway Speed offers mechanics-based speed training backed by sports science.
We train athletes across Houston to master their first step, drive phase, and explosive power.
Train with the leaders in football speed development.