Already banned in the NFL & NCAA

…. Being discussed/Got a Phone call this morning …

Never was a fan of bull in the ring, the other two I don’t mind at all. Oklahoma is the easiest way to get some pads popping.

Bull in the ring is the only one that should be banned IMO. 

Bull in the ring is the only one that should be banned. Board drills and Oklahoma drills actually represent things that happen in a game situation. 

I thought bull in the ring was banned?

6 hours ago, BigTuna6 said:

Bull in the ring is the only one that should be banned. Board drills and Oklahoma drills actually represent things that happen in a game situation. 

This. The only redeeming quality of bull in the ring is developing/discovering toughness without any other correlation to actually playing football. The other two happen on each and every running play during a game, don't know how you can/why you would ban those when they have such a direct crossover.

Didn’t play organized football but was on the HS wrestling team.  Shark’s bait was the most demanding drill.  Six guys per pod, first one gets each of the other five for a minute each with no break. Then you get each of the other five for a minute each when it was your turn. If you were a real hard rock you’d volunteer to go last and you’d also pick a pod with bigger guys. 
 

But then again everybody knows that wrestlers are tougher than football players. 

2 hours ago, mcpapa said:

Didn’t play organized football but was on the HS wrestling team.  Shark’s bait was the most demanding drill.  Six guys per pod, first one gets each of the other five for a minute each with no break. Then you get each of the other five for a minute each when it was your turn. If you were a real hard rock you’d volunteer to go last and you’d also pick a pod with bigger guys. 
 

But then again everybody knows that wrestlers are tougher than football players. 

That’s cool, bull in the ring you have one player in the middle of a circle surrounded by the entire team. Coach calls a number and that means somebody is coming full speed from any direction to knock em out. Then back to the feet they go, get em chopping again before Coach calls another number or puts a different player in the middle. Pretty egregious looking back on it. 

Had no luck with google.... has anyone heard anything about the NFHS potentially banning Oklahoma Drill, Bull in the Ring & Board Drills?

 

 

Board Drills and Oklahoma in my mind are reasonable and have a place in High School football....as long as you are making sure you careful with who is matching up with who. Bad matchups are injuries waiting to happen.

I remember doing Bull in the Ring in Peewees........... Oh, how the times have changed LOL!

I have a close family member who has been around high-level D1 NCAAF & NFL as well as high school sports from a medical personnel position. Teams do not do any of these drills anymore due to the banning but most didn’t before then either. 
 

The myth that kids needs to do these drills at full speed, full contact to “get used to hitting” is a complete farce and there are other ways of doing that in a more health-centered fashion. Gone are the “old days” where getting your head knocked off built better football players. Don’t blame me, that’s just what it is. 
 

On a local level, programs in the NKY area I’m familiar with don’t do these drills and the only omission to that is a 1/2 or maybe 3/4 speed at most in the Oklahoma drill. These programs (Ryle & Highlands) prove that the “more contact the better” doesn’t equate to winning. Health & longevity throughout the offseason and season is what will get you far. 

I did Bull in the ring one time. First kid up got knocked out cold. I never did it again. 

On 4/7/2025 at 11:11 PM, Coach Preston said:

I did Bull in the ring one time. First kid up got knocked out cold. I never did it again. 

Played for Coach French, early 80's... don't think we ever did Bull in the Ring.

Don't believe we have ever put it on the practice schedule the last 40 plus years, either. 

I don’t see how board drills would be an issue unless you’re still using boards. The reason I mention boards is because you can slip on them. Teams have gone to basically stall mats. I don’t see how board drills are any more dangerous than 1 on 1s which teams from HS to pro do. 
 

Oklahoma because an issue when either there is a mismatch (size or skill wise) or the distance is to great. You might not see old school Oklahoma much anymore. You certainly see similar drills. There is the cone version with players at different depth. OL/DL, RB/LB and then WR/DB. A ball carrier runs the cone. At different depths the position matchups work on blocks and block destruction. The other one that is typical is millennial Oklahoma which is the fast screen version. Colleges for sure run different versions of it. 
 

Where drills get dangerous in any form is when space is increased or there are mismatches. 7 on 7 can be just as dangerous if not more than Oklahoma and definitely board drills.