Football is arguably the most popular sport in America. From junior high school games to the professional leagues, a great number of boys and men aspire to greatness between the end zones. If you want to be a better football player, or just have an idea where to start, keep reading.
Even if you don’t like someone on your team, you have to get along with everyone on your team for the sake of your team’s success. If you are found to be argumentative or a trouble starter, you are the one who is going to be kicked off the team. Play nice and get along.
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.
American football is very much a contact sport. Because of this, it is vitally important that all players wear the right safety equipment. Never buy cheap or bad quality when you are buying helmets and shoulder pads. Too many permanent injuries occur when unsafe gear is worn so do not allow yourself to become a part of these statistics.
Educate yourself on the game. Learn everything you can about football on and off the field. Look back at the history of the sport, and learn more about the greats. When you understand all the ins and outs of the game, you will become a better player both mentally and physically.
Work on exercises that’ll boost your overall speed. During a football game, you’ll be asked to sprint a lot. This will definitely tax your body. You’ll be pushed during every game. To get ready for it, build sprints into practice sessions. It’ll help you perform the best that you can come game time.
Learn how many points each action is worth. Touchdowns are six points. Extra point conversions are worth one point. Two point conversions are two points. Field goals are worth three points. Safeties are two points. Knowing how many pits these are worth can help your team form game plans that will win the game.
Proper padding for the lower body is a must. Pants can be purchased with pads built in or with pockets in them to slide the pads into them. No matter what type of pants you decide on, make sure that you have pads to protect the tailbone, knees, thighs and hips.
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.
Flexibility is just as important to a football player as body mass and speed. Don’t limit stretching to the few minutes prior to practice or games. Instead, make stretching an integral part of everyday activities. Focus on your back, hamstrings, glutes and hips. Even if you only have five minutes, take advantage of them.
Work with weights to develop the muscles in your legs. Strong legs are important for football players because they allow for explosive movements off the line of scrimmage. Do skills that specifically work on improving your agility. The ability to change direction quickly while maintaining control over your body is an important skill on the football field.
Do not let yourself become too comfortable with your position and what it entails. Understand what makes each position great so that you can support teammates better. Team work is a necessity to win games, and this will increase the strength of your team.
Do not practice or play a game if there is no first aid on site. It is much too easy to get injured during a game like football. This means that you should not only have a first aid kit on hand, but a professional that knows how to utilize the equipment and treat minor injuries.
Listen for the whistle. Oftentimes, when a player does not hear the whistle or does not give it the attention it deserves, someone will end up hurt. Play when it is time to play, but stop as soon as the whistle is blown. You do not want to get hurt, nor do you want to help anyone else.
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.
Learn to love the sport. Football is physically demanding; therefore, it is essential that you love what you do. If you do not enjoy the sport, it will become something you hate rather than something that brings you pleasure. Find ways to have fun during practice to help make the sport more enjoyable.
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.
Now that you have read this article, you should know a few tips about the game of football that you did not previously know. Apply them towards personal success on the field. Always remember that you can be a great football player when your knowledge of the game equals your physical abilities.
