Rae Crowther Football Equipment – Blocking Sleds, Tackling Equipment & Training Aids

Rae Crowther football equipment has been the standard by which football programs measure their commitment to fundamental development since 1932 — the year the Classic Two Man Pan Sled was invented and the year Rae Crowther began building the training equipment philosophy that still defines how the best football programs in the country develop offensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, running backs, and every position on the field. The philosophy is simple and it hasn't changed in over 90 years: dominate with fundamentals. Football games are won and lost in the trenches, at the point of attack, and in the tackling zone — and the quality of a program's fundamental development at those positions is the most direct predictor of competitive success at every level from youth through college. Rae Crowther builds the complete training equipment ecosystem that makes fundamental development efficient, measurable, and reproducible across every practice session — blocking sleds in Classic, S-Advantage, and angle configurations; tackling sleds in static, pop-up, and motion formats; speed and strength conditioning sleds; pop-up dummies; hand technique training vests and shields; agility ladders, hurdles, and cones; ball-security fumbler tools; game day organizational equipment; and more. Pro Athletic Supply carries the complete Rae Crowther lineup for high school programs, collegiate programs, youth football organizations, and individual position coaches building the most effective fundamental development practice environment their sport demands.

✔ The Classic Two Man Pan Sled — The Most Used Offensive Line Sled at the NFL Level, Invented in 1932 — The Classic Two Man Pan Sled was invented in 1932 and it is today the most used sled at the professional Offensive Line level. The Pan Sled has a cult-like following for one reason — EFFECTIVENESS. You can fool people for a short time with gimmicks, but 93 years later, you know when you have a legend. The pan base spins away on incorrect technique — giving the player and coach immediate, objective feedback that no verbal coaching cue replicates at volume.

✔ S-Advantage Pad Design — The Patented S-Shape That Keeps Players Low and Develops Leverage — Play with Leverage – Low Man Wins – Crowther S Pads Keep Players Low. The S-Pads are bent like players with a head, torso, waist, and knees. The anatomically-shaped pad that teaches players to engage in the correct leverage position on every rep — blocking and tackling from bent knees and low pad level rather than the upright position that poor technique produces.

✔ Junior Sleds Sized for Ages 8-13 — Correct Pad Height and Weight for Developing Players — Designed for Junior players 8-13 years old. Correct pad height and weight for juniors. Designed for virtually every technique; tight hands, violent punch, wrecking ball, forearm and shoulder, rip, swim, et all. Work run block, goal line, pass pro, tackling fit, no other sled allows so many drills. Youth programs don't have to compromise with adult-sized equipment.

✔ Motion Tackler — Bridges the Gap Between Static Tackling and Live Contact — The Motion Tackler bridges the gap between static tackling and live tackling without the risk of injuring another player. The Motion Tackler takes the wear and tear off beating each other up. Tackling and blocking is what the sport of football is all about, but hits can add up on the player's bodies and create injuries. New rules and guidelines are calling for less contact during practice. The Motion Tackler is a great answer to the dilemma of skill acquisition while reducing injuries.

✔ Dragon Slayer Conditioning Sled — Strength, Core Stability & Power in a Football Position — The Dragon Slayer features multiple grip handles at various angles for proper hand placement, with weight horn capacity of 300-plus pounds of additional weight for conditioning work that builds functional football strength in the positions and movement patterns the game demands — not gym strength that doesn't transfer to the field.

✔ Complete Training Ecosystem — Sleds, Dummies, Hand Technique Vests, Agility Tools & Game Day Equipment — No other football equipment manufacturer offers the depth of Rae Crowther's lineup — from the most widely used NFL blocking sled through Junior S Sleds for 8-year-olds, from the S Pop Up Tackler through the Sling Ball Complete, from the Pro Striker Vest through the 12-ball Football Bag. A single program can build its entire training and game day equipment inventory from Rae Crowther.

Classic Blocking Sleds – Two Man Pan Sled, 5 Man & 7 Man for Line Development

Classic blocking sleds are the foundational training tool for offensive and defensive line development in football — and Rae Crowther's Classic series is the most historically significant and most widely used blocking sled lineup in the sport. The Classic Two Man Pan Sled is the king of teaching the mechanics of blow delivery. All of the fundamentals of blocking are encompassed in this sled. The Pan Base provides the feedback. The Pan base will spin away if hit incorrectly. The E1 Enduro Pad is the standard narrow shoulder-and-hand pad; the E2 Enduro Pad provides a tight hand fit that makes players accurate and accountable, with the coach able to see if players are accurate in their strike. The Classic 7 Man Sled with 56-inch pad spacing and modular expansion capability serves shoulder-blocking teams running high-volume multi-player line sessions, with an adjustable pad height and run-through frame that allows more drill types than fixed-frame alternatives. Pad colors available in black, navy, royal, red, and green.

Best for:

• Offensive line coaches who want the proven mechanically-informative pan base of the Classic Two Man Sled — the 93-year-old design that professional teams still use at the highest level because the feedback it provides on blow delivery technique is irreplaceable at practice repetition volume
• Programs running shoulder-blocking schemes who want the Classic 7 Man Sled's wide pad spacing and modular design for team-period line sessions where multiple players work simultaneously
• Any football program that hasn't yet invested in a Classic Crowther sled and wants the single piece of equipment that most directly develops the offensive line fundamental that wins football games — correct blow delivery mechanics built through the pan base's immediate feedback

S-Advantage Tackling Sleds – Varsity, JV & Junior Formats With Patented S-Pad

The S-Advantage series is Rae Crowther's flagship tackling sled lineup — built around the patented S-Pad shape that anatomically replicates the human body's head, torso, waist, and knee profile, teaching tacklers to attack the pad in the correct body zone rather than the undifferentiated surface of a traditional tackling dummy. The S-Advantage tackler is many times easier and quicker to upright than a traditional tackling sled. The single pontoon system and metal hoops allow a more realistic tackle and less chance of banging a shin on the sled. The Varsity S-Advantage Sled serves high school and collegiate programs; the JV S-Advantage serves junior varsity teams; and the Junior S Sleds in 2 through 7 man configurations serve youth programs with players ages 8-13 at the correct pad height and weight for the developing athlete's size and strength, with modular expansion capability and removable pads for storage. Pad colors available in black, royal, and red.

Best for:

• Defensive coordinators and linebackers coaches who want the patented S-Pad's anatomical shape that teaches tacklers to target the correct body zone in the correct pad-level position on every rep
• Youth football programs (ages 8-13) who need the Junior S Sled's correct pad height and weight for developing-size athletes — the sled that serves tackle technique, pass protection, and blocking drills from the same equipment at the correct scale for the age group
• Programs in conference with new contact limitation rules who want the S-Advantage format's efficient rep cycle that produces more quality tackle repetitions per practice period than live tackling allows under current contact management guidelines

Pop-Up & Motion Tackling Sleds – S Pop Up Tackler, Motion Tackler V5 & Jax Tackler

Pop-up and motion tackling sleds solve the repetition throughput problem that traditional tackling sleds create at the end of every rep — the time required to manually reset a knocked-down sled to its upright position before the next player can rep. The Pop Up frame allows more reps in practice, as the player or coach does not need to upright the sled. The sled pops up fast! Simply tackle to the ground and let the sled return upright in seconds, ready for the next rep. Some offenses are going to throw 70+ plays a game at your defense, thus tackling and conditioning have never been more important. The S Pop Up Tackler with S2 Dual Arm Pad (SPUT-S2) combines the patented S-Pad shape with the self-resetting pop-up base — more reps in less time with the body zone targeting the S-Pad provides. The Jax Tackler Varsity (JAX-V) features a resetting mechanism enabling continuous tackle drill repetitions. The Motion Tackler V5 replicates the moving target element of live tackling without the full-speed contact risk.

Best for:

• Defensive coaches who run high-volume tackling drill periods — 30 to 50 tackle reps per position group in a single practice period — where the pop-up self-reset capability produces significantly more quality reps per time block than manual reset tackling formats
• Programs managing player contact load under league and governing body guidelines who want the Motion Tackler V5's movement-replicating technology that develops the spatial and timing elements of live tackling without the full-contact repetition count that coach-directed contact management limits
• Speed and conditioning coaches who want the S Pop Up Tackler's conditioning application — the sled that develops tackling mechanics and lower-body conditioning simultaneously through high-volume rep cycles that pure conditioning tools don't replicate in the football position

Angle & Specialty Blocking Sleds – X-Rae, Fight'n Trainer & Escape Sled

The angle and specialty blocking sleds address specific blocking technique applications that the Classic two and seven man sleds don't specifically target. The X-Rae Angle Blocking Sled is the only angle blocking sled of its kind — purpose-built to teach players to understand angles and lines of force in zone blocking schemes where the offensive lineman's assignment is to block a defender at an angle rather than straight ahead. Zone blocking scheme prevalence in modern football at every level from scholastic through NFL makes the X-Rae's angle-specific training application directly relevant for programs running any zone variation. The Fight'n Trainer Pass Rush Sled develops the pass rush technique elements — hands, counter moves, leverage, and finishing speed to the quarterback — for defensive end and defensive tackle pass rush training. The Escape Sled develops the offensive lineman's second-reaction skill of releasing from an initial contact and finding the linebacker.

Best for:

• Offensive line coaches running wide zone, outside zone, or gap scheme variations where the X-Rae's angle-blocking-specific training develops the lateral force vectors that straight-ahead blocking sleds can't replicate in practice
• Defensive line coaches who want the Fight'n Trainer Pass Rush Sled for individual pass rush technique development — hands, counter moves, and finishing to the pocket in a drill format that doesn't require a live blocker or live contact repetition budget
• Programs building a complete position-specific sled inventory where different sleds serve different technique applications — Classic Two Man for blow delivery, X-Rae for angle blocking, Fight'n Trainer for pass rush, and S-Advantage for tackling

Speed, Strength & Conditioning Sleds – Dragon Slayer, Rage, Strike King & Z Leverage

Speed and strength conditioning sleds build the football-specific physical qualities — lower body power, hip explosion, drive strength, and functional conditioning — that technical skill sits on top of. The Dragon Slayer Conditioning Sled features multiple grip handles at various angles, weight horns that accept 300-plus pounds of additional weight, and a design that gets players into shape by improving core stability, stance, speed, and power from positions that directly transfer to the football field. The Rage Sleds and Strike King Sleds serve power conditioning applications. The Z Leverage Sled at its accessible price point serves programs wanting a conditioning sled without the full investment of the Dragon Slayer. The 7' Shockwave Leg Charger Sled develops leg drive power from a low football stance position. All conditioning sleds build the physical output that makes blocking and tackling technique effective — strength without technique doesn't win, but technique without strength also doesn't win.

Best for:

• Strength and conditioning coaches building a complete football-position conditioning program who want the Dragon Slayer's multi-grip handle design and 300-plus pound weight addition capability for the heaviest conditioning sled work in the program's weekly schedule
• Programs adding a conditioning sled to an existing technique sled inventory — the Dragon Slayer, Rage, or Strike King as the conditioning complement to the Classic Two Man Pan Sled and S-Advantage tackling equipment that the program already owns
• Head coaches who want every player — not just linemen — running conditioning sled work in pre-season camp where the football-position specificity of Crowther's conditioning sleds builds functional conditioning that translates more directly to game performance than non-specific conditioning alternatives

Ball Security & Hand Technique Tools – Sling Ball, Fumbler Strap & Pro Striker Vest

Ball security is the most trainable ball-carrier skill in football and the one that most directly determines turnover margin — and Rae Crowther's ball security and hand technique tools are the dedicated equipment that makes high-volume, focused ball security training possible without live contact volume that coaches must manage carefully. The Sling Ball Complete (SLB1) is a 10-pound football training tool on a stretch tube with a 50-pound base — a fast-moving resistance tool for tackling technique simulation and ball security drill circuits. The Fumbler Strap uses a webbing pouch that holds the football with a nylon handle for coach-applied pressure during individual ball security reps. The Football Holster attaches to a belt worn by the ball carrier with adjustable difficulty. The Pro Striker Vest is worn by a partner for hand placement target work — 18oz nylon over durable foam with adjustable easy-on clips that serves linemen, linebackers, and skill players running hand technique drills in the same practice session.

Best for:

• Running backs coaches who build dedicated ball security circuits into every practice week — Fumbler Strap and Football Holster for high-volume coach-controlled and competitive ball-dislodging reps that don't require full tackle contact to be effective and teaching
• Offensive and defensive line coaches running hand technique development sessions where the Pro Striker Vest and Bullet Arm provide the wearable target and coach protection that make technique repetitions realistic without the contact restrictions of helmet-on pads-on team drills
• Programs building dedicated position-specific skill development stations — ball security station, hand technique station, and agility station — running simultaneously during individual period with the Sling Ball, Pro Striker Vest, and Metal Agility Ladder as the three-station individual period equipment set

Agility & Speed Tools – Metal Agility Ladder, Hurdle Sets & Resistance Training

Football-specific agility, footwork, and change-of-direction speed are the athletic output qualities that position-specific skill depends on — and Rae Crowther's agility and speed tools develop these qualities through the drill formats that football coaches have used for decades. The Metal Agility Ladder GPR1 is a 19-foot powder-coated yellow steel ladder with 19"x19" foot holes and 24 pounds of structural weight that holds its position on turf and grass during fast footwork repetitions — the institutional-grade ladder that doesn't shift during competitive practice intensity. The Step Hurdle Set provides five hurdles in graduated heights (6", 9", 12", 18", 20") for hurdle circuit progressions. The Tunch Punch Ladders with Mounting Kit serve hand-strike speed development. The 6-inch rubber cone set of 10 supports change-of-direction circuits, pursuit angle training, route running, and defensive backfield drill work. The Jax Speed & Tackling Package bundles multiple training tools into a single coordinated purchase.

Best for:

• Strength and conditioning coaches running pre-practice agility circuits for the full team — the metal ladder, step hurdle set, and rubber cones as the three-component agility station that every position group runs in the warm-up period before installation begins
• Skill position coaches — receivers, defensive backs, running backs — whose position-specific footwork, change-of-direction speed, and route precision depend on the daily drill volume that agility tools enable more efficiently than movement drills without equipment
• Programs building the complete Rae Crowther training ecosystem who want agility tools from the same manufacturer as the blocking and tackling sleds — coordinating the full individual period training environment under one brand

Game Day & Organizational Equipment – Football Bags, Chain Sets & Sideline Gear

Game day and organizational equipment is the operational infrastructure that determines how efficiently a football program runs from field setup through post-game storage — and Rae Crowther's game day lineup covers the equipment management details that experienced athletic directors and equipment managers have learned to specify alongside the training tools. The Football Bag holds 12 footballs in 18oz waterproof coated vinyl with interior dividers that separate dry from wet footballs, a U-shaped zippered opening, and carry handles at 32"x24"x12". The Varsity Chain Set (SCSO) provides the field-side chain management for down and distance marking. The Padded Flip Down Indicator (PDBO) tracks down and distance at the sideline. Foldable Sideline Markers (11/set) mark the sideline field positions. The Equipment Travel Bag (30"x16"x17") organizes accessories, agility tools, and smaller training equipment for travel and storage. The Portable Goal Post provides a standalone kicking target that installs without permanent post construction.

Best for:

• Equipment managers and athletic directors who want the complete Rae Crowther game day organizational ecosystem — football bags, chain sets, sideline markers, and flip down indicator — from the same manufacturer as the program's practice equipment for the coordinated operational standard
• Programs with travel game schedules who want the Equipment Travel Bag's organized storage for accessories, agility tools, and training aids that travel to away games and pre-game warm-up at opponent facilities
• Coaches who run pre-game warm-up kicking sessions without access to permanent goal posts at their own facility — the Portable Goal Post that provides a regulation kicking target for pre-game and indoor facility kicking practice

Who This Is For

• High school football coaches and athletic directors who want the blocking and tackling training equipment standard that professional programs use — Rae Crowther's Classic Two Man Pan Sled, S-Advantage tackling series, and complete training ecosystem at the scholastic level
• Youth and middle school football programs (ages 8-13) who want properly sized training equipment — the Junior S Sleds with correct pad height and weight for developing athletes, not adult equipment that's too heavy and too high for youth development
• Collegiate football programs building or upgrading a complete training equipment facility who want the full Crowther ecosystem — Classic sleds, S-Advantage and pop-up tackling equipment, conditioning sleds, and training accessories — from the manufacturer whose equipment has served programs at every level since 1932
• Individual position coaches who want specific sleds for their position group's technique development — the X-Rae for zone blocking schemes, the Fight'n Trainer for pass rush, the Motion Tackler or Jax for tackling — without buying the complete blocking sled lineup they don't need
• Athletic directors building new program equipment inventory who want a single manufacturer that covers every training need from the initial blow delivery sled through game day organizational equipment

How to Choose the Right Rae Crowther Equipment

Classic Pan Sled vs. S-Advantage vs. specialty sled by coaching priority — The Classic Two Man Pan Sled is the blow delivery and offensive line technique development standard — the correct starting point for any program that wants to develop the offensive line fundamental. The S-Advantage series serves tackling development — choose the Varsity, JV, or Junior format based on the player age group. Specialty sleds (X-Rae, Fight'n Trainer, Escape, Climb) serve specific scheme and technique applications. Build the Classic and S-Advantage sleds as the foundation; add specialty sleds as the specific technique application warrants.

Varsity vs. JV vs. Junior sled format by player age and size — Varsity sleds are built for high school varsity through collegiate player size and strength — the correct specification for players above age 14. JV sleds serve the junior varsity age and size range. Junior S Sleds are specifically designed for players ages 8-13 with correct pad height and weight for that developmental stage. Using adult-sized equipment with youth players teaches the wrong body position relative to the pad — the Junior S Sleds' correct sizing is the specification that makes the equipment appropriate and teaching effective.

Pop-up vs. static tackling sled by practice repetition priority — Static tackling sleds (Classic S Sled) require manual reset after each tackle — slower rep cycle but more controlled coaching environment. Pop-up sleds (S Pop Up Tackler, Jax Tackler) self-reset in seconds — more reps per practice period with less manual reset labor. Programs that run high-volume tackling drill periods benefit most from pop-up formats. Programs that run slow-tempo technique correction sessions benefit from the deliberate pace of static sleds.

Classic 2-man vs. 7-man sled by blocking scheme and team period format — The Classic Two Man Pan Sled is the individual technique and small-group drill sled — most drills use one player, with two-player competitive drills as the secondary application. The Classic 7 Man Sled is the team period and multi-player simultaneous rep sled — 56-inch pad spacing for shoulder blocking teams that want to run seven players simultaneously in full team-period blocking drills. Scheme and practice period format determine which configuration serves the program's actual coaching methodology.

Individual sled vs. package by program stage and budget — New programs building from zero equipment should start with the Classic Two Man Pan Sled and a tackling sled format as the two foundational pieces. Established programs with existing equipment should identify the specific technique gap in their current inventory and add the sled or training tool that addresses it specifically. The Jax Speed & Tackling Package bundles multiple training tools for programs that want to add agility, speed, and tackling equipment simultaneously in a single organized purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What makes the Rae Crowther Classic Two Man Pan Sled different from other blocking sleds? A: The Classic Two Man Pan Sled was invented in 1932 and it is today the most used sled at the professional Offensive Line level. The unique aspect of the Classic Two Man Sled is the Pan Base. The Pan Base provides the feedback. The pan base will spin away if hit incorrectly. The coach and the player get immediate feedback. There is no other sled like the Classic Two Man. The pan base's self-correcting feedback is the mechanical property that no other blocking sled design replicates — it gives the player and coach objective, immediate information about blow delivery technique without requiring a coach to intervene on every rep.

Q: What is the Rae Crowther S-Pad and why is it important for tackling training? A: The S-Pads are bent like players with a head, torso, waist, and knees. The anatomically-shaped S-Pad teaches tacklers to target the correct body zone in the correct contact position rather than the undifferentiated surface of a traditional tackling dummy. The S-Advantage tackler is many times easier and quicker to upright than a traditional tackling sled. The single pontoon system and metal hoops allow a more realistic tackle and less chance of banging a shin on the sled. The S-Pad design is available across the full S-Advantage lineup from Junior through Varsity and in pop-up configurations.

Q: What Rae Crowther equipment is appropriate for youth football programs? A: The Junior S Sleds are designed for Junior players 8-13 years old. Correct pad height and weight for juniors. Designed for virtually every technique; tight hands, violent punch, wrecking ball, forearm and shoulder, rip, swim, et all. Work run block, goal line, pass pro, tackling fit — no other sled allows so many drills. Wide pad spacing. Modular, expand or contract the size of the sled easily. Run through frame for better drills. The pads are removable for storage. Available in 2 through 7 man configurations (model numbers 2SJR, 5SJR, and 3, 4, 6, 7 also available). Youth programs should also use the Sling Ball, Fumbler Strap, and agility tools scaled to the youth practice environment.

Q: How does the Rae Crowther Motion Tackler address reduced-contact practice requirements? A: The Motion Tackler bridges the gap between static tackling and live tackling without the risk of injuring another player. The Motion Tackler takes the wear and tear off beating each other up. Tackling and blocking is what the sport of football is all about, but hits can add up on the player's bodies and create injuries. New rules and guidelines are calling for less contact during practice. The Motion Tackler is a great answer to the dilemma of skill acquisition while reducing injuries. The Motion Tackler provides the moving target element — the timing, angle, and spatial judgement that live tackling develops — without the cumulative physical cost of live contact repetitions.

Q: What is the X-Rae Angle Blocking Sled used for? A: The X-Rae Angle Blocking Sled is the only angle blocking sled of its kind — specifically engineered to teach players to understand angles and lines of force in zone blocking schemes. Where the Classic Two Man Pan Sled develops straight-ahead blow delivery mechanics, the X-Rae develops the lateral force vectors, angle targeting, and zone blocking technique that coaches running wide zone, outside zone, and gap scheme variations need to develop at the line of scrimmage. It is the specialty sled that completes a zone-scheme-running program's blocking equipment inventory alongside the Classic Two Man.

Q: Does Rae Crowther make equipment for positions other than offensive and defensive linemen? A: Yes. The Rae Crowther lineup extends well beyond lineman equipment. The Sling Ball Complete serves running backs and skill players in ball security and tackling technique training. The Fumbler Strap and Football Holster provide ball-security drill tools for ball carriers at every position. The Pro Striker Vest, Mini Hand Shield, and Bullet Arm serve hand technique development for linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, and tight ends — any position that requires precise hand placement in contact situations. The Metal Agility Ladder, Step Hurdle Set, and rubber cones serve every position's footwork and change-of-direction development. The Scrimmage Vests and Caps organize the full team's practice periods. Game day equipment including the Football Bag, Chain Set, and Sideline Markers serves the full program's operational needs.

Rae Crowther has been building the football equipment that programs use to develop the fundamentals that win games since 1932 — and the reason the Classic Two Man Pan Sled is still the most used blocking sled at the NFL level more than 90 years after its invention is the same reason the complete Crowther training ecosystem continues to expand: the equipment does what it's designed to do, practice after practice, season after season, at every level of the game. From the Classic Two Man Pan Sled and S-Advantage tackling series through the Junior S Sleds for youth programs, the conditioning sleds, the hand technique training tools, the agility equipment, and the game day organizational gear — Rae Crowther makes the complete football training equipment inventory that serious programs build their fundamental development around. Pro Athletic Supply carries the complete Rae Crowther lineup for high school, collegiate, and youth football programs. Browse the complete Rae Crowther collection and build the practice environment that produces fundamental football players.

Explore our Schools & Facilities page if you're equipping a school athletic program, collegiate football facility, or multi-sport athletic complex with Rae Crowther blocking sleds, tackling equipment, and training aids — our team builds custom equipment specifications and institutional quotes for athletic directors, coaches, and program administrators.

Also explore these related collections: Football Equipment — The complete football equipment category covering Rae Crowther training equipment alongside Gared goal posts, Varsity Scoreboards, and all authorized football equipment brands. Football Accessories — Rae Crowther football accessories — fumbler tools, hand technique vests, agility ladders, scrimmage gear, and game day organizational equipment from the complete Rae Crowther accessory lineup.