Do you feel like you could benefit from some helpful tips and strategies about playing better football? Surely you can, and it will help you bring your A game on the field. There is always room for learning new advice, and pushing yourself to become a better player is what it’s all about.
When your child plays football, make sure he wears the proper helmet to avoid injuries. The helmet should have an outer shell made of hard plastic and the padding should be thick. It should also have a face mask that’s rigid and a chin strap containing a protective chin cup. The chin strap should always be snug and fastened when playing.
Try to focus some of your exercises on increasing speed. Do jumping squats to increase the speed of your reflex muscles. Squat down and jump on a step. Stand straight up and then jump back down and into a squat. Repeat this exercise 40 times daily and gradually increase the height of the step.
Take up a dance class to improve your footwork. Before you laugh, think back to reality television dancing competitions and how many times NFL players not only competed but succeeded! Ballroom dancing and even ballet are extremely effective at helping football players get an extra edge on the field.
Follow through on the kick must be given extra attention. The kicker’s head must be down with eyes focused on the foot actually make contact with the ball. The foot should make contact with the bottom third of the ball. This motion must be followed with a direct follow-through directed at the location that the ball is desired to go.
Working on developing passing routes that succeed. It’s rarely the case that a receiver has a straight shot up the field. Receivers run plays such as slants and crossing routes. If a receiver dashes forward and then runs across the field, it is known as a crossing route. When running diagonally across the field, it is called a slant route. Either of these routes can be used to get the ball quickly up the field.
Your 40 yard dash speed is something that you need to work on improving if you want to be a great football player. In order to increase your speed, practice proper foot and shoulder placement at the start. Practice getting out of the blocks quicker and keeping your focus. This will help you increase your speed.
You must care for your body to be great at football. Eat well and pay attention to how your body is feeling after practices and games. Any signs of pain or restricted movements need to be reported to your team physician right away.
Play the position that works to your personal strengths. If you strong, fast and good at catching a football thrown from different angles, play safety or wide receiver. If your body is bulky and you have a lot of strength, play defensive or offensive tackle. If your good at kicking the ball with accuracy, you may be the perfect field goal kicker or punter.
A great tip, if you are a quarterback, is to practice your footwork. Every single step means something and counts toward the goal of victory for your whole team. Practice your backpedaling and your twisting as often as possible.
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.
Flexibility is the key to increasing speed. If you are very flexible, you can run faster. As you work out, build your flexibility and you will become faster as a result. The more you work on your body itself, the more speed you will get and the better you will play.
In order to play quarterback in the pro’s you must have a few great qualities. The first attribute you must have is a strong arm. Another essential tool is having a quick release, because the faster you get rid of the football the better. Another is toughness, you have to be able to take a hit.
Great football players need to develop lateral agility. Practice drills that increase agility as a regular part of your routine. Set up a set of six lines with three cones each. Then step sideways over the cones with two quick steps. Make sure to lift the knees high as you go over the cones.
If your jersey is just too tight, it’ll leave you uncomfortable as you play. Soak it in cold water for an hour and then wring out the water. Stretch it between multiple chairs or over a table so that it’s pushed just to its limit. Turn it half way to stretch it in two directions. Repeat until dry.
Always watch the hips of the receiver to figure out where he is going. If you can master anticipating the movements of the receiver, you can not only tackle him, but actually get the ball before he does. If you can get between him and the ball, go for it!
When you are off-season, keep up your training and routine. Championship level players train when the others are taking off. Use this time wisely and keep yourself in top physical condition. Read up on the rules of the game. Watch videos of your favorite players and continue learning for that extra boost when season starts.
Now you are equipped with some solid tips that should motivate you out on the football field. Take what you have learned, and remember that practice must be part of your routine. You will see improvement, and make sure you realize that you must always keep learning. That is what honing your talent is all about.
