Strike distance

Strike distance is the discipline of not throwing your hands early. If you reach or punch before the defender is in range, you over-extend, miss, and he swats your hands and runs by. Instead you Play Long, stay condensed, keep your feet moving, and wait until he's actually close enough — strike distance — then strike with the right hand for the situation. It pairs with “feet before hands”: move your feet to cover the man first, and let your hands fire only when he's in range.

Defined by Coach Jay Freeman — 32 years coaching the offensive and defensive line.

Related trench terms

Independent handsBoth sides

Each hand is a separate weapon with its own job — not a single two-hand punch. Coach Jay’s signature hand doctrine.

Play Long / Play CondensedBoth sides

Play with your hands out in front and long (a long strike radius means your feet move less); keep your body condensed and knees bent (little steps, never straighten up).

Feet before handsO-Line

Move your feet to cover the man first, then strike. Hands without feet underneath them get beat.

FrameBoth sides

The space between the defender’s shoulders. You want your hands inside the frame.

Inside handsBoth sides

Both hands inside the defender's chest plate. Inside hands control the rep.

Go deeper

• Coach Jay’s lineman training library — the technique behind the term →
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