Learning how to play football is so much fun. However, it does require hard work, and you do have to make sure you don’t ever think you know enough. It is hard to think about everything, and that is why this article is here for you to add a few more tips and strategies to your repertoire.
If you receive the ball, run at a diagonal angle until you have open field in front of you. Then, power down the line as fast as you can. By being constantly alert during the play, you can find the best openings and gain extra yardage on each play.
If your goal is to become a quarterback, make sure you practice with a lot of distractions. Although Tom Brady makes maneuvering in the pocket look easy, it’s actually pretty intense, and that’s the time most players make mistakes. Practice when you’re under lots of pressure and learn to make smart decisions with lightning speed.
If you want to be able to catch footballs in the rain, then you need to master the appropriate technique. Point your feet in the direction that the ball is coming towards you to avoid slipping. In this way, you can have good control when you catch the ball. Make sure that your torso and hips are facing toward the ball, as well. Place your hands towards the front of the ball and off to the side.
Consume adequate amounts of protein to give you the strength and body mass you need as a football player. Avoid getting your proteins through junk food, as this will contribute to an unhealthy body that does not function well for you. Get protein from meat, eggs, fish and protein powder shakes.
Be sure to drink lots of water or a sports drink as you play. Being in the hot and heavy equipment you have to wear to play football safely will leave you sweating buckets. Replace that water by drinking so that you don’t end up with a cramp or an injury.
A great tip is to practice plays as much as you can if you’re an offensive lineman. You need to be able pull off the right block every time, and the only way to achieve this is to practice as much as you possibly can. Your runningbacks and receivers will thank you.
Keep your knees bent as you practice and play. When you straighten your knees, you could injury your hips and lose your maneuverability. Use squats to build your leg muscles and try to get to the point you can lift twice as much as you weigh as you do ten reps.
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.
The old saying “practice makes perfect” applies to the game of football as well. Don’t miss one of your practices. See if you can get a friend or a family member to help you work on your skills during your down time. The more you practice, the better you will be during the games.
Work on your hand strength. This will help your control and power when you are throwing or catching the football. There are a number of tools you can use to help you build the strength in your hands and fingers. Taking up the guitar as a hobby is one fun way to achieve this.
Remain consistent with the workout routines you choose to get yourself ready for football. You may read a lot of things about what kind of workouts you should be doing, but once you pick something, stick with it long enough to see results. If you switch back and forth, you won’t progress as quick as you want.
The best thing you can do to teach your players how to become better football players is to teach the fundamentals. Keep things simple and teach. As players get older and more experienced, you can teach them more difficult plays. Even then going over the fundamentals will keep even the most experienced player on track.
Having goals for yourself as a football player will give you something to strive for. It does not matter if they are strength goals, endurance goals or receiving goals, whenever you have goals, you can measure your improvement. When you reach your goals, set the bar higher and make new goals to achieve.
Don’t do any exercises until you know exactly how they are done properly. You can learn from your coach or from a trainer at a gym, but be sure to have them watch you do a few reps so that you are sure you are doing it right when you go all-in.
You need to increase your balance while playing ball. Many people have heard of football players taking ballet. Did you know the reason football players take ballet is to increase their balance. Being light on your feet and having the ability to maintain your balance can help you jump over a player and keep running down the field towards a touchdown.
To be the best football player that you can be, proper nutrition to fuel your body is essential. Empty calories from soda and fast food should be avoided. Instead, eat whole grains, proteins, fruits and vegetables to provide your body with the energy it needs to keep you going all game long.
Listen closely while in the huddle and while you are setting up for the play. Your team will be giving you the plays and patterns that you need to follow for the next snap. And when you are setting up, there’s a chance that the quarterback can call an audible and change those plays depending on how the defense is setting up. Listening is a big skill here, so pay close attention.
Are you ready to get on the football field and get some practice time? It is very exciting when you see your skills coming together. Learning more only helps, and hopefully you can put the tips you’ve just read to good use. Football is supposed to be fun, and it’s a lot more fun when you know what you’re doing.
