The old adage “practice how you play” is more than just a slogan; it’s a mindset that that leads to game day success. For Ben Dixon, the offensive coordinator at Calvin, it’s all about preparing his players to execute under real-game conditions by simulating those same conditions in practice—both physically and mentally.
Game-Like Tempo and Efficiency
One of the cornerstones of Dixon’s offensive philosophy is an up-tempo, no-huddle approach that puts pressure on the defense. Dixon believes in practicing at game speed. He wants the offense to run plays at a rate that matches or exceeds what they aim to achieve in live games.
This high-tempo practice strategy accustoms players to the frenetic pace of game day. Dixon’s goal is to build stamina, mental toughness, and the ability to execute under pressure. In practice, this means limiting downtime between reps and constantly moving the ball down the field, just as they would in a game. This relentless pace pushes players physically and sharpens their mental focus.
“We’re getting over two plays a minute in our team sessions,” Dixon explains. “This really helps us train our tempo while maintaining great execution against the looks we’ll get during the game.”
Utilizing Technology for Real-Time Feedback
While game-like tempo is key, Dixon also believes in the power of technology to enhance practice efficiency. The team films every team session continuously to track how quickly they can snap the ball after each play. This detailed approach helps the coaching staff identify areas for improvement and ensures that their high-tempo offense runs as smoothly as possible.
To add another layer of realism, the scout team plays a critical role in mirroring the defense they will face. Dixon’s coaching staff outfits scout team players with wristbands, giving them specific instructions for each play. This system helps the offense get accurate defensive looks at game speed, eliminating the guesswork and ensuring more meaningful reps for the starters.
Precision Through Repetition
In Dixon’s practice sessions, repetition is key, and he ensures that every player gets the reps they need to perform at a high level. But there’s more to it than just running through plays. Dixon carefully scripts each session to focus on specific parts of the game plan, giving his players multiple opportunities to practice and refine their execution.
“We don’t want anyone going into the game feeling like they didn’t get a rep,” Dixon says. His goal is to to have the two deep prepared to run the entire game plan. Whether it’s the first-string quarterback or a third-string receiver, everyone gets meaningful practice time that contributes to the team’s overall success.
Hands-On Learning for Faster Adjustments
Dixon’s approach to practice also prioritizes kinesthetic learning with players learning by doing rather than by sitting in meetings for extended periods. His practice schedules often include extra walkthrough time, where players can go through plays at a slower pace to absorb key concepts and assignments. The result is a well-rounded practice routine that balances mental and physical preparation sothat players are ready to respond quickly when the pressure is on.
Moving the Ball, Just Like Game Day
In addition to tempo, Dixon’s practices are designed to reflect the flow of a real game. Rather than repeatedly spotting the ball in the same position, the offense moves the ball down the field after every play, simulating real drive conditions. One of the team’s student assistants takes on the role of a game-day official, moving the ball 10-15 yards downfield based on a pre-scripted game plan.
Doing this prepares playerds for the transitions between plays like the happen in the game. These transitions are critical in a no-huddle offense, where every second counts. By incorporating this realism into practice, Dixon’s players are conditioned to handle the rapid pace of game day without hesitation.
Preparing for Every Scenario
Dixon’s practice structure also includes good-on-good periods, where the offense goes head-to-head against the defense in live scenarios. This type of practice closely simulates real-game conditions, giving players the opportunity to execute plays against a fully prepared defense. These sessions aren’t long—sometimes just eight plays—but they provide invaluable experience and help players get comfortable under the pressures of game day.
In these situations, the focus is on the details that make a difference in the game. For example, Dixon teaches his receivers to quickly locate the side judge to ensure they are lined up correctly and avoid pre-snap penalties. Every small detail is practiced, from getting the ball back to the umpire after each play to adjusting formations on the fly.
Game Day Technology for Adjustments
No matter how much you prepared, game day success is alwasy about adjustments. With new rule changes at the college level allowing for the use of technology, finding efficiency with it on game day is key.
Dixon utilizes players who might otherwise have limited roles to take charge of the technology. Backup quarterbacks and linemen not in the starting rotation now take on key responsibilities on game day. These players serve as extra sets of eyes, actively helping the coaching staff gather valuable real-time information. Their work allows the coaches to focus on what’s most important from the previous series.
“We have guys that want to be coaches someday, and they thrive in this role,” Dixon says. By giving them the chance to contribute through technology, these players add value to the team while gaining experience that will serve them in the future.
Whether it’s streamlining uptempo procedures and operations or finding ways to be efficient with the new implementation of technology, Coach Dixon keeps an eye on the details and empowers both his staff and the players to have ownership in the process.
It has Calvin off to a positive start in their first campaign.
D3 Offensive Coordinator of the Week
Coach Dixon was named the D3 Offensive Coordinator of the week presented by Hansen Ratings. Trent Figg is the Head Coach at Calvin, and Coach Dixon is assisted by Austin Garde, Ike Possett, Andrew Vasquez, and Ryan Patterson.
Notable Stats from their Week 3 win:
Ben Dixon | Calvin University (1st year program) | 66-12 vs. Anderson
- First year program playing third game
- Nearly 80% of roster are freshmen
- Second game scoring at least 50 points
- 250 yards passing and 210 yards rushing
- Capitalized on short fields and drove the length of the field
- 9 of 17 on 3rd downs and 2 for 3 on 4th downs
