American football is a popular pastime. That is an indisputable fact. What may seem simple on the surface is actually a really complex sport. Whether you play or are just a fan, you can get something out of the following football tips.

Don’t play football unless you have on your protective equipment. The risk of serious injury is far too high. Don’t play if you don’t have the proper gear. Some injuries are broken bones, concussions and paralysis. Avoid this from happening if you want to play the game.

TIP! Safety is the first and foremost concern that you have in the game of football. Dangerous injuries are possible if you are not careful.

Attack every single play as if it were fourth and goal of the last minutes of the Superbowl. It’s not uncommon for players to begin to slack and just lazily move through the motions, which will come back to haunt them later. If you give 150 percent on every play, you never have to second-guess yourself with what could have been and your team will be better off for it too.

You can improve our agility thanks to drills. Football players are some of the more agile athletes out there. They have to avoid getting tackled, while still making those amazing catches. Do what you can to work on your agility, from tire running to jumping rope.

If you want to be faster, build both feet. Most people are better with one foot than the other. Learning how to lead off with both feet can help you outmaneuver your opponent.

TIP! If you want to keep playing, you have to maintain a healthy body. This means you need to warm up before your practices, your gym workouts and before you play.

Learning to understand the formation used by the opposing team you are playing is crucial if you play defense. One key to anticipating plays is to watch the receiver, see where he lines up on the field. To better understand various formations, take a close look at collegiate and pro games so you can create a play book of your own.

Your level of work ethic translates into field time. Natural talent definitely plays a role in your development as a player, but without a solid work ethic you will never be great. A football coach prefers a hard working player who wants to learn over someone who has natural talents but who is lazy.

Now that you’ve come to the end of this article, you know so much more about football. You can improve your game with the above knowledge or just know more when you watch on TV. Even as a casual onlooker, you can learn how football works be more entertained.