Transforming yourself into a great football player is not something you can do overnight. Serious work and persistence is required to make real strides when it comes to your game. The material presented below is here to assist any burgeoning football player with the process of refining and honing their game play.
When trying to improve as a football player, don’t worry about putting weight on. Unless you happen to be really small, weight isn’t as important as other factors. Focus on strength, training and agility and you will improve your play. Put on too much weight and you may lose some advantages.
A good football tip is to perfect your swim move if you’re playing on the defensive line. The swim move is great because it allows you go get past your opponent so you can go straight for the quarterback or whoever has the ball. Being tied up on the line gets you nowhere.
Make learning a part of your football regimen. Too many people think sports like football is all about being physical. Your brain is just as important. You need to exercise your mind to be able to learn your team’s patterns and make split second decisions. It’s brains and brawn that are important in football.
Be smart when playing defense. Don’t try to just out-muscle the offense. Be mindful of runners who might look like they are down, only to see them blow by you. Also keep an eye out for fumbles and yell out “Ball” when they happen. This gives your fellow defenders a chance to get the ball.
Kicking field goals is one way to help your team. When they’re on the fourth down, try kicking a field goal. Only attempt this if the kicker on your team is in close enough proximity to get the ball through the goal post of the opposing end zone. Those three points can add up.
Do shuttle runs to build your endurance, stamina and to learn to stop quickly. Start at the goal line, then dash to the 10 yard line and touch the line with your fingers. Next, head back towards the end zone and tap the goal line. Do as many of these as you can each day of the week. Keep record of your totals to see improvements over time.
Hand-eye coordination is needed to catch a pass. To practice hand-eye-coordination gather your teammates together and form a circle. One person should stand in the center of the circle and begin passing the ball around. Once the ball has been passed to everyone, widen the circle by taking a couple of steps backwards.
Stretching can improve your speed on the football field. To maximize your athletic potential, you need to be flexible and have a wide range of motion. Over time, stretching will allow your body to become more flexible and with this flexibility comes speed. Have a teammate help you with your stretches to maximize their efficiency.
You must learn the basic defensive positions. There is a total of eight. Positions on defense include a defensive tackle and end, nose tackle, cornerback and two each of safeties and outside linebackers. Some 4-3 games have one inside linebacker and two outside linebackers, and some 3-4 games have two inside linebackers and two outside linebackers. The safety positions are referred to as free safety and strong safety.
Never use your body to try to catch the ball. Instead keep your hands away from your body and form a diamond with your hands. As the ball nears you, lean and catch the ball and tuck it into your body to help protect it from coming loose during a play.
In order to help your knowledge about football you should study the different teams, the conferences and the divisions they play. This helps you follow the sport better so you know if your team has a shot at the playoffs. If you don’t understand how the divisions are made, you will never how well your team is doing in relation to the others.
Work with weights to develop the muscles in your legs. Strong legs are important for football players because they allow for explosive movements off the line of scrimmage. Do skills that specifically work on improving your agility. The ability to change direction quickly while maintaining control over your body is an important skill on the football field.
To help protect yourself when playing football it requires a full uniform with the proper equipment. Referees will not let you on the field if you aren’t wearing a helmet, pads for your shoulders, knees and a cup to protect the groin area. Be safe, and always wear the necessary equipment, otherwise you might find yourself carried off the field on a stretcher.
Invest time in learning the plays, and invest money in books that teach the mental aspect of football. Regardless of what position you play, know every player’s moves and responsibilities. This makes a cohesive team that anticipates one another’s actions and thoughts. It does you no good to be an excellent quarterback if the rest of your team is not in sync with your mindset. You will end up being on a losing team.
Work on your vertical leaping skills. You might think that leaps are a skill basketball players need to work on, but it is also important in football. For instance, if a ball is just out of your reach when it’s thrown, you can leap up and grab it. A ball carrier may be required to leap over the line of scrimmage into the end zone to score a touchdown. Either way, if you can leap, your chances of success are much improved.
There is nothing like the thrill of making a terrific play out on the football field. But, not many people have experienced that excitement due to the fact that they lack the skills necessary to do so. Hopefully this article has given football hopefuls the necessary tips to finally get the job done.