How can you improve your football game? What does it take to better skills and become a better player? How can you be a teammate that drives your friends to great heights? The truth is doing some research, and the following paragraphs are your first step towards glory on the field.

Pay attention to your team mates. Regardless of any conflicts, remember that these team mates have the same goal as you, and that is to win. Their input might give you an idea which really takes your team’s play over the top.

TIP! Stay healthy to stay on the field. You’ll need to get into the habit of warming up before any practices or games.

Safety needs to be priority number one. Football is an especially physical sport, and injuries are common. Use proper technique and be aware of your surroundings on the field. Wear proper protection, whether it’s the seat belt or using a spotter to help you.

Agile players make exceptional football players. Do specific things to make yourself more agile, including exercises like jump rope, maneuvering cones and tire jumps. Football requires quick reflexes and quick thinking. These sorts of physical activities help to improve speed, coordination and make you think fast. Your agility will increase rapidly if you do these exercises on a consistent basis.

Understanding the opposing team’s formation is key to being a good defensive player. You can anticipate the next play by watching where the receiver is. To help you learn the different formations, watch college and professional games and develop a playbook with the various plays.

TIP! A crucial part to playing football well enough is weight training. Year round weight training helps you optimize your skills.

Dancing can help you improve as a football player. Most types of dance aren’t rough like football, but they can improve your footwork. Good footwork can really help you become better at football.

Stiff Arm

Ball carriers should figure out how to develop a great stiff arm. The stiff arm can block your opponent and it allow you to get extra time and yards. The stiff arm is fairly simple to employ; you just stick out a straightened arm.

TIP! Use both your feet to play football, so that you can get faster and better. You may have one good foot, and it’s likely the one you use most.

You should be physically fit in order to meet the demands of the game. Start workouts by stretching and follow up with cardio and aerobic exercise. Follow these with weight lifting and a cool down routine.

Do a good warm up before you work out, practice or play. If you are injured, you can be sidelined for a while. Maintain a strong body by exercising in several ways that let you build muscle to help you play. Don’t forget to stretch beforehand.

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. Start at one end of the cones, and zigzag between each cone, running as fast as you can. Lean in the direction you are going, and keep your head up while your eyes are focused down field.

TIP! If you attempt something new when you play and it works, don’t do it too much. It is a good idea to use something that works.

If you only play half well, you are only getting half of any reward. Your lack of effort could cost the game, leaving you with the guilt of letting down the team. Make sure you keep that passion burning so you can win.

Shoulder pads are an essential part of football protective gear. They have to fit you correctly to work right. They need to remain in place, and they must be in sound condition. Low quality pads could break because of a shock and cause an injury.

Hustling should be an internal goal that you strive for during practice. Football will use up a lot of your energy. You will need to be able to perform speed bursts or tackle another player at any time, which you will not be able to do if you are not playing to your full potential. You have to hustle. Always seek to do your best.

TIP! Don’t try to learn everything at once. It doesn’t matter if you’re not the fastest or strongest player out there, you are able to outsmart the other team by learning what you can about football.

Ensure that playing conditions are not dangerous. The field should be completely safe, clean, and even. Look for any holes or sudden dips in the ground which can hurt you when playing. Keep your body hydrated during long games. Think about these things before playing.

Dan Marino worked hard for his success. He worked hard to build his stamina, learn the game rules, and understands the best strategies that he could. To be a great player, you need to learn as much as possible about the game of football.