Dr. Cella’s Triple Option Practice Methodology: Part One
June 9, 2016
Nothing is more distinctive in the Dr. Cella-lead program than the practices, which are fast and uniquely structured into alternating individual and team periods. Loud music blares throughout so that players get a taste of the excitement and confusion of a game, and so they don’t get used to communicating with their voice—which is non-vital in game situations.
Everything is done to mirror the way the game is to happen. The team runs as many plays as possible. Each Offensive starter runs 96 live concepts in 32 minutes. Many of the practices, especially during training camp involve the second and third teamers executing 96 live concepts in 32 minutes.
We do not condition at the end of practice as we functionally condition during practice. In an eight-minute individual period we get 48 live repetitions among the first, second, and third team.
| Period | Drill |
| 1 | Specialists/Ball Security Dynamic |
| 2 | Skill 1 |
| 3 | Skill 2 |
| 4 | Line 1 |
| 5 | Line 2 |
| 6 | Special Teams |
| 7 | Bullets 1/Team O1 |
| 8 | Bullets 2/Team O2 |
| 9 | Team D1 |
| 10 | Team D2 |
All periods are eight (8)-minutes in length. When skill position players are on offense, offensive linemen are on defense and vice versa. This is so the Offensive Coordinator can coach all 11 positions during individual time.
Answering Commonly-Asked Questions
Question 1: Design in detail your practice plan for the 9th day (Wednesday) (4th day of Full Contact) of practices. Your 1st contest will be a four-way scrimmage on the on the 12th day (Saturday). This practice should be design as a double session workout.
Answer:
| Practice 1 | |
| Period | Drill |
| 1 | Specialists/Ball Security Dynamic |
| 2 | Skill 1 |
| 3 | Skill 2 |
| 4 | Line 1 |
| 5 | Line 2 |
| 6 | Special Teams |
| 7 | Bullets 1/Team O1 |
| 8 | Bullets 2/Team O2 |
| 9 | Team D1 |
| 10 | Team D2 |
| Practice 2 (immediately follows Practice 1) | |
| Period | Drill |
| 1 | Skill 1 |
| 2 | Skill 2 |
| 3 | Line 1 |
| 4 | Line 2 |
| 5 | Special Teams |
| 6 | Bullets 1/Team O1 |
| 7 | Bullets 2/Team O2 |
| 8 | Team D1 |
| 9 | Team D2 |
Question 2: Design in detail your practice plan for the 3rd game of the season. This practice would be on a Wednesday with the game being played on Friday Night.
Answer:
| Practice 1 | |
| Period | Drill |
| 1 | Specialists/Ball Security Dynamic |
| 2 | Skill 1 |
| 3 | Skill 2 |
| 4 | Line 1 |
| 5 | Line 2 |
| 6 | Special Teams |
| 7 | Bullets 1/Team O1 |
| 8 | Bullets 2/Team O2 |
| 9 | Team D1 |
| 10 | Team D2 |
Part Two appears in the next few days…
