Live Scrimmage Decision Grade
Decision Making
Legend
- player
- partner / opponent
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Grade and improve QB decision making in a live 5v5 scrimmage by evaluating every throw decision against available alternatives.
What you need
- football
- flags
- cones
Your focus
Live scrimmage grading is the most valid test of decision making because it captures all the complexity of real competition. Many QBs make correct decisions in isolated drills but revert to habits in live play , this drill closes that gap. Decision grade analysis gives the QB specific data on which situations trigger poor decisions so they can be targeted in practice.
Run a full 5v5 scrimmage for 12 plays; a coach or designated observer tracks every QB throw decision.
After each play, the coach notes: correct read vs. available target, decision speed, and outcome.
After the scrimmage, QB reviews 3 specific plays where the decision was suboptimal and explains the better option.
Run a second 12-play series targeting the identified decision weaknesses; compare decision grade.
Goal
You're doing it right when the post-drive review shows your decisions matched the best available option on most plays.
Helpful cues
- Decision grade measures what you chose, not just what you threw
- The right read on an incomplete pass is better than a lucky completion on the wrong read
- Know why you made every decision
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Coach pauses play after each snap to walk the QB through the decision before moving on.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
QB must verbalize the decision process (call the coverage and the intended receiver) before each snap, then execute.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.