You do not have to be a natural to play a great game of football. A lot of the skills and techniques that can help you stand out as a player are learned with a little research and practice. Use the following tips to help you become a better football player.
Enhance your kicking skills for football. Kicking is not the most important skill to have, but it is certainly up there. Too many football players neglect their kicking skills. Someone on the team must be able to kick that ball for a field goal.
If you aren’t tough, football is not the game for you. Honestly, if you can’t handle being tackled, you should play tennis or golf or some other non-contact sport. Don’t play the game because your Father wants you to if you really don’t want to get thrown to the ground.
Never be the stereotype. Often people see football players as jocks with few brain cells. You all know that’s far from the truth. Football works all aspects of who you are. Your mind needs to be as agile as your feet. So don’t play to this silly stereotype. Show people that athletes excel in all aspects of life.
It is very important that you do everything to keep your body in shape if you want to be a football player. The game requires a lot of physical exertion, so being out of shape will only make you more susceptible to injury. Dieting and exercising will help you get into good shape.
Know what kind of equipment you need to play a football game properly. Each player that plays needs shoulder pads, a helmet, cleats, a mouth guard, and football pants. The ball should be spheroid and leather. A standard football is about 11 inches long and 22 inches in circumference around the middle.
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.
To play football, you need to know what a down is. Downs are the four attempts that the team with the ball gets. They use these downs to advance the ball 10 yards. When the offense is successful with gaining 10 yards, they will get another set of downs. If they fail to get 10 yards after the four plays, the opposing team gets the ball.
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.
Learning to run through a defender is essential to scoring points. Sprint training exercises help you develop the necessary strength, while lower body building helps develop the power necessary to power through your opponents. As you come toward a defender, lower your hips and use your knees and elbows to absorb the impact of the tackle.
Don’t overlook the benefit of field goals. When your team is in a fourth-down situation, try to kick a field goal. Only do this when the team if near enough that the kicker can get the ball through the uprights in the end zone. Field goals result in three points.
A good football tip is to show appreciation to your offensive and defensive linemen. These are the unsung heroes of the game and allow the “stars” the opportunity to make the plays they do. Without a great center, the quarterback would have a harder time, and a poor offensive line will get you sacked quite often.
When your coach gives you advice, pay attention. Even if you don’t think he knows what he’s talking about, you are likely the one who will be wrong. He isn’t a coach because he gives bad advice and never played a day in his life, so listen and see what you can learn.
Make sure all your gear is in good shape, it fits well and is comfortable. Do not play a game of football with a broken helmet or worn out sneakers. You put yourself at risk for injury when you wear inappropriate gear. Keep your self in the game by wearing the appropriate gear at all time.
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.
An effective quarterback must show great leadership qualities. To help you develop your leadership skills read several personal development books. These books will teach you how to effectively communicate with others, how to give constructive criticism and develop a teamwork among your teammates. Remember people want a leader who has their best interests at heart.
Learn your playbook by heart. Every team has a playbook, and it’s your job to get it down before you play any serious games. Keep in mind that this is a team sport, so your friends are relying on you to be mentally tough enough to follow through here.
A lot of mistakes that football players make during games are often attributed to overheating. Being too hot can cause bad decisions and slowed reflexes. Placing some cooling gel packs in your helmet is a great way to avoid overheating. Besides reducing exposure to heat, gel packs help protect the head.
As stated above, being a great football player does not just come down to being born with the skills. The key to being a great football player is having determination and practicing the skills you learn. Use the advice above to become more determined and increase your skills at the game of football.
