The game of football is one which doesn’t allow weak players to succeed. You must not just be strong in your body, but also in your mind. If you have what it takes to be molded into an amazing football player, read on to find out just how to make yourself great.
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.
You should practice all of the positions so that you can easily slip into one if the need arises. Even if you normally play defense, practice throwing the ball and you might actually get to play as quarterback someday. If you are well rounded, the coach will appreciate your dedication.
Keep a positive attitude at all times when playing football. Even if you feel down about your performance, keep things up beat and focus on the game at hand. A negative attitude will not only pull your play down, but it will also become contagious and infect the attitude of the entire team.
If you are going to play football, try boosting your agility. The best football players that are valuable to the team are agile athletes. Try doing what you can to better your agility by doing agility drills. These include doing exercises like running through tires, jumping rope, and jumping over cones.
Remember that making a running play is a little different than making a receiving play. You want to take the football from the quarterback with only one hand. You don’t cover it up with both arms until you are about to be tackled. Make sure that you hold onto the ball until you hear the whistle stopping play.
Running backs are members of the offense. For a running play, the quarterback may pass the ball to a running back who will run the ball as far as he can. When the ball is going in the air, the running back may help protect the quarterback from tacklers or he may try to get open to catch a pass.
Record your gameplay. Football is all about plays and patterns, so you need a way to watch how you specifically did out on the field. Was your pattern off? Was the quarterback expecting you in a different locale all together? Did you come up too short on your turn-around? When you can see it, you can change it much more easily.
When you practice, try playing with both feet. Most people favor one foot or the other and it takes practice to learn how to use both. If you concentrate on your weaker foot, you will notice dramatic improvements in form, stability and quickness. Kick the football repeatedly against a wall to strengthen your weaker foot.
Get into tip top shape if you are considering playing football. This is one physically challenging sport. If you are out of shape, you’ll soon be left in the dust of both your opposition and your teammates. If you want to be considered an essential member of the team, approach your physical fitness like a pro would.
Learn to be precise in your patterns. It can’t be emphasized enough the importance of precision. Just a few feet in any direction and you won’t be in place to make an important tackle or to catch the football that’s been thrown to you. This takes a lot of repetition during practice, so be ready for it.
Watch old tapes of the greats, so you can get pointers. Watch professional players who play your position, so you can watch how they move and play the game. This is almost as helpful as having them there with you, because you can study every move they make during a game.
Five cones placed in a line about five yards apart will create an obstacle course for you to run to increase the flexibility of your hips. Run fast in a zigzag pattern by starting at the cone on one end and continuing to the other end. Lean your body the direction you turn, and keep your head up.
If you play as a receiver, speed is paramount. To develop your speed, practice in a specific running area. You can create one by putting two markers 10 yards away from each other. Run at top speed between the two cones and track your time. Now, begin trying to beat your time. You will eventually improve your acceleration and running speed.
Remember the basic positions on an offensive team. There are eight basic of them. They are quarterback, halfback, fullback, wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, offensive guard, and center. The quarterback is generally the one player that both runs the offense on the field and leads the team when huddled.
Avoid playing football in extreme weather. Football is certainly known to be played under a wide range of circumstances. You’ve watched the pros play through some harsh weather conditions, and even they will take precautions. Yet, even the professionals leave the field when it gets to be too dangerous. You should do likewise. At the very least you can end up with a sprained ankle or break a bone.
It is important that you set goals when it comes to your game. Set daily goals such as working out every single day. Set weekly goals for your stamina or strength. Then set long-term goals for your game play and how great your strategies turn out on the field.
Greatness comes to those who work hard to achieve their goals. With football, that means getting in practice as often as possible, staying positive and continuing to learn all you can about the game. If you can keep yourself on top of expert advice, you’re sure to find wins in the future.
