Football is one of America’s passions for good reason. Many people enjoy playing the game just for the sheer fun of it, while other strive to be the best player they can be. Ultimately there are people who become professional players. But no matter your reason for playing, here are some tips to help you improve your game.
It’s important to be in shape when tryouts come around. Start workouts by stretching and follow up with cardio and aerobic exercise. After this, do weight lifting, then a cool down.
Try learning some tricks of the trade by watching professionals play the game. Watch film online and then take it to the practice field for 10 minutes a day. Practice it and learn how to perfect this trick so that when you need it, you have it. Don’t overuse tricks because your opponents will learn from you and figure it out.
Speed is an important attribute for a football player. Regardless of your size or the position you play on the field, you need to practice improving your speed. Working on increasing your speed before you worry about adding weight to your frame. The extra weight may slow you down and being big and slow is not going to help your team.
Shuttle runs are good exercises to increase your endurance and stamina both. You might even discover an ability to stop quickly. Start at the goal line, and then run and tap the 10-yard line. Reverse your direction back towards the goal line as quickly as you can, and tap it too. Do this over and over again daily, and document the results to monitor your progress.
If you’re trying to catch a football during a rain storm, you need to have good technique. Avoid slipping by pointing your feet towards the ball. It’ll help you have much more control. Your legs, hips, and chest should be positioned similarly. Put your hands on both sides of the ball, near the front.
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.
Before each practice or training session, you have to warm your body up right. If you get injured, you may be sidelined for several days, months, weeks, or possibly forever. Maintain a strong body by exercising so as to build key playing muscles.
Always pretend that there is a scout watching you play. Do this at games, at team practices and even when you practice alone. If you keep your form up every time you play your position, you are teaching your body exactly how it has to move to be successful.
If you and your team are not doing well during game time, you may need to go back to the basics during practice. Sometimes the simplest plays can seem difficult when you are losing. During practice, take the time to go over the basics and relearn how to do them perfectly.
Avoid practicing and playing in extreme weather conditions. Football is played in all weather. There’s been rain, slow, and sleet that’s hit the field during playing time without a pause. However, when it is not safe, they stop playing. Follow their example. From sprains to permanent injuries, bad weather can really hurt you.
Practice the way that you expect to play. Don’t shake off practice as a necessary evil that doesn’t deserve your full effort. Chances are that’s the same effort you’ll give at game time. Instead, practice like you mean it. That effort will rub off on your teammates, and you’ll all be more likely to succeed.
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.
Always have fun when on the field. You should not play a sport that you do not really enjoy. Rather than focus on the outcome of the game, pay closer attention to how much you love the game. This will help you enjoy the game more and play better.
Hit the gym as much as you can. Building muscle will make you stronger, and in that way you can be a more powerful football player. You might even want to consult a personal trainer to find out which exercises are best to bulk you up for your football games.
Overheating is suspected in many mistakes made by football players during important games. Heat exhaustion can impair a player’s decision making capabilities and mental capacity. Putting a cooling gel pack in your helmet can help combat heat. Along with preventing overheating, cooling packs help to protect your head from impact injuries.
Always remember to stretch. Make a commitment to warming up for every practice and game. If you rip a hamstring, you’ll be out of the game. Taking time to stretch will prevent more extensive work in the future.
Study up on playing football before joining a team game. People will expect that you’ll come into a game scenario with at least a moderate amount of knowledge. If you don’t, you’ll be wasting their time and yours. So scour the Internet and read up all that you can. These tips are a smart start, but don’t let them be your last efforts.
As you can see, there is much to learn about football and how to be a better player. The key to being a great player has as much to do with physical skills as it does with your attitude on and off the field. Use the tips from above to become a better all around player on the field.
