Above The Whistle
Welcome to Above The Whistle. The podcast that takes you beyond the X's and O's and into the mindset of greatness as we sit down with coaches/athletic directors/former players across the country.
Above The Whistle
Grant Caraway: How One Coach Is Redefining Football Training for a New Generation
Grant Carraway's journey from frustrated quarterback to respected trainer reveals the power of creating solutions to problems you've personally experienced. As founder of First Down Training, Grant has built a thriving business by filling the void he encountered as a young player searching for quality quarterback instruction.
"I was constantly on YouTube searching for stuff and trying to find any type of information, and there was nothing out there," Grant recalls of his playing days. This frustration sparked his mission to create accessible, high-quality training resources for quarterbacks and receivers. Unlike many trainers who simply run athletes through repetitive drills, Grant prioritizes teaching fundamentals and ensuring athletes truly understand concepts they can apply independently.
What sets First Down Training apart is Grant's ability to translate complex biomechanics into language young athletes can comprehend. Though lacking formal education in kinesiology, his player-first perspective has proven advantageous: "Being able to digest that and understand it myself makes you a better teacher." This approach resonates particularly well with quarterbacks looking to refine their mechanics and receivers seeking to modernize their route-running techniques.
The growth of First Down Training wasn't overnight success but the product of relentless effort. Grant shares three pivotal moments in his journey: his first viral video that created continuous exposure, the pandemic-era digital boom when he expanded to multiple platforms, and his breakthrough camp in New Jersey that launched consistent national sell-outs. Throughout this expansion, he's maintained his commitment to responding personally to messages and comments, spending 2-3 hours daily engaging with followers despite his growing audience.
Looking forward, Grant plans to expand his camps to include more positions while potentially entering the recruiting space "the right way" - avoiding the common pitfalls of impersonal mass recruitment services. His ultimate vision includes training facilities in multiple states to serve athletes year-round, particularly in colder regions where indoor training is essential.
Whether you're a parent seeking quality instruction for your athlete, a player looking to improve, or a coach interested in modern training methods, Grant's story demonstrates that authentic expertise combined with genuine care for athletes creates both business success and meaningful impact.
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