Were you aware that the Superbowl is in February every year and that’s it’s the most watched global sporting event? Football is known as one of America’s favorite sports of all time. Whether you are a complete novice or a experienced sportsman, read on to find out more about this much loved game.
Concentrate on developing agility skills if you want to be a successful football player. Tackling and running are important parts of the equation, but agility is what sets you apart. Increase your agility by jumping rope, repeating precision jumps over small objects, and sprinting through tires in alternating patterns.
In order to be a good football player you must be agile. To improve your agility practice doing agility drills. These types of agility drills include running through tires, jumping over cones and jumping rope. By doing these agility drills on a regular basis you will become a better football player.
Understand that there is always room for improvement in your game of football. The competition will improve, and so must you, no matter how great a player you already are. Keep working at becoming even stronger, faster and smarter. When you think you’re on top, that’s when somebody can come along and knock you down.
Treat all of your fellow players, even your opposition, with the respect they deserve. Football is a taxing sport on body and mind. Everyone that plays is a warrior in his own right. It shows great courage and teamwork. Keep that in mind, and don’t react poorly to misplays and losing. Treat your fellow players the way you’d want to be treated.
A great football tip is to watch the tapes of a team you’re about to play before you play them. Studying up on your opponent will help you tremendously because it allows you to see the types of plays and formations they use. Having this knowledge will help you form a better attack plan.
Support teammates. Football requires teamwork perhaps more than any other sport. You will win, as well as lose, together. Don’t think about the individual — it’s the group. Always do your best to support your teammates, in order to build their confidence level and create a better environment on the field. Being confident and supportive will allow you to play better.
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.
Use interval sprint training to really boost your stamina. Sprint for 30 seconds, then rest for 1 minute. Sprint and rest again. Keep repeating this until you can not physically spring anymore that day. Record your total number of sprints for that day, and aim to beat it by one the next day. Most days you won’t, but you will slowly edge that number up.
Score with a fair catch kick. This will give you a chance to score a field goal via a free kick. The holder gets the ball ready for the kicker. It is similar to a regular field goal and is worth three points. That down is not timed.
The team is your support system. To be a good player you must put the team first. Winning is a team effort and not the result of one individual. You will never be a truly amazing player unless you can include the entire team, realizing that everyone benefits when you work together.
Football training takes a toll on your body if you do not have a consistent recovery plan. This does not mean taking time off from training during the off-season periods. It means allowing your body to recuperate every night and on days off. Get at least eight hours of sleep every night, drink plenty of water (not sodas) and soak in epsom salts three times a week.
Take care of the body and feed yourself well if you want to play well. The slightest sign of pain needs to be dealt with immediately.
If you play as a receiver, speed is paramount. To work on your speed, create a running area. Place two cones 10 yards apart for your running area. Keeping track of your time, sprint quickly from cone to cone. Try beating your time after that. This kind of sprint will improve your takeoff speed.
Turn your football lifestyle in a permanent fixture. You should eat right, work on your cardio and strength, and even work on speed and agility all year round. It shouldn’t stop when you stop playing football competitively as a healthy body will carry you through a long, happy life.
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.
Talk to your coach about your progress. While your coach is more than likely giving you a lot of direction already, talk to him after practice. He might be calmer then, and he may be able to offer you tips about how you can improve. You can ask him about how far you’ve progressed, as well.
Take account of where you messed up after each practice and game. You don’t play as many football games as you do baseball and basketball game in a season, so your chances for redemption are much less. That being so, you need to quickly figure out where you messed up, own the mistake, and work to correct it. Redeem yourself that very next game.
Since you just read a great article about football, you should be much more aware of how this sport is viewed. When you understand the game, you will enjoy it more. When you next watch a game of football, it’ll be even more fun.
