X-RAE ANGLE BLOCKING SLED

X-RAE ANGLE AND DOWN BLOCKING SLED

• The X-RAE is a purpose built angle and down blocking sled and is the only sled of its kind.  The sled very much helps players to understand angles and lines of force.
• The sled is purposefully built to be driven at an angle.  With a great majority of schemes utilizing angle blocking this sled should be on everyone’s practice field.
• The sled might look strange, but it allows a never before range of drills for multiple positions.  Gives direct feedback to the player and allows them to self correct. Every rep on the sled is a learning experience for the player.
• Please scroll down and watch the videos below to better understand the sled.
• Perfect for Wide Zone team.  Simulates the ability to block on angles within zone concepts.  Drill man reach and trail blocks in zone combinations.
• Allows you to simulate a variety of angles at which the defender may be aligned.
• Enables the coach and player to emphasize specific points of technique, for example, in man reach you can work puncturing the aim point, the catch hand, line of force, and blocking the man on the angle you find him.  Or another example, use the sled for running off the ball with a narrow base and maintaining that base for the entire block, through the finish.
• Here is an example of how to use the sled for Down Blocks / Wipe Blocks: With the sled to your players inside and spacing far enough away (and spacing is crucial,  without the proper spacing your player won’t be able to get their feet down in time or have enough force to drive).  This is the only block in the NFL that you actually step at your defender, thus making this one of the hardest blocks to execute.  The player should step directly at him (the sled) with the aiming point being the “V” of the neck. If the player is too flat in a game the defender will cross their face and if they are too high (on the defenders hip) he will cut under the block. The aiming point is CRUCIAL. Just as in blocking the sled, the second foot is where we get the power to drive the sled and with the second step we MUST get our hands on the defender. The inside hand going on the breast plate while the outside hand lands on the outside shoulder of the defender (since the sled pad has shoulder pads and a jersey the aim points are highly realistic).  Remember to drive FORCE thru the sled, DO NOT take your force up or it will spin on you. Constant force will allow for controlled driving.
• Here is an example of how to use the sled for Deuce Block / Doom Block” – DRIVER ONLY : This block becomes more “VERTICAL” and we aren’t so much thinking we want to “Cut” the defender, as we want to set the TEMPO with this block and remind them we can take the fight to them. Unlike the “Down/Wipe” block we want to stay more vertical on this block and not pin the defender. We start with what we call a “Gather Step,”  it’s a 4” to 6” step LATERALLY that allows us to.. GATHER.. Time, Information, and Hips!  As our player moves laterally they are getting ready to drive their second step vertically to bring the force. On this block player 1 would be the “Driver.”  Player 2 must try and stay square so player 1 can come off on the LB.  If player 1 turns too much inside they will not be able to work back out. The gather step allows the player to stay more square so they can react and if the defender spikes out or in, at the snap, they can adjust because they are square.
• Weighting the sled with plates is critical.  You have 2 choices of weight horns.  You can use the weight horn near the pad or the weight horn on the wing, or use them simultaneously.  By weighting the sled you can achieve the proper dynamics that simulate defenders reactions.  For example; on a trail block in a wide zone combo, it enables a player to take a three step course and simulate an overtake situation on the defender
• The “Wing” can be flipped from the right side to the left side of the sled with the pull of a pin, so that the sled can be driven right or left.
• On the Wing is painted 3 colors.  The player drives the sled in the direction of the chosen color.  Driving the sled to a similar colored cone is the ideal teaching progression.
• The sled utilizes the new H1 Pad.  The H1 pad has shoulder pads and a jersey mounted on a foam torso. The feel and fit is realistic and is designed to train all aspects of hand placement.
• The X-RAE utilize our HPST system (Hip Power Spring Tech).   When the pad(s) is leveraged the HPST engages and provides resistance.  The amount of resistance is adjustable to your level of play.
• The angle (body lean) of the pads can be adjusted from 0, 12, or 20 degrees.  This allows the drill to match the distance to contact.  No tools, just pull a pin.
• Use on turf or grass.
• Pad colors:  black, navy, royal, red, gold.
• Note: Because the H1 Pad utilizes a real jersey and shoulder pads it is not recommend they be left outside w/o being covered, thus each pad comes with a outdoor protective cover with cinch string closure at bottom.   Of course you can always take the pads off and store inside.