Becoming good at football requires many hours dedicated to practice and hard work. In many cases, the path to glory takes years. Here are some tips to help you get more out of your practice sessions. By using the advice here, not only will you better your own abilities, but help take your team to victory.

Keep in mind that you are are on a team. The team’s job is to give you support, and you need to support them as well. Avoid hogging the ball because you think you’re a star. Support your team by being a team player instead of a ball hog.

TIP! Don’t play football unless you have on your protective equipment. You can get injuries if you don’t wear it.

Keep in mind that safety is paramount in football. If you are not safe, you do not win, so practice good safety techniques in all aspects of your life. Use your equipment right and keep your helmet on your head.

Practice drills that increase your agility. Football players are known for their agility. They need to make difficult catches and avoid opponent’s tackles. Find ways to increase lateral quickness, such as tire running, jump-roping and shuffle drills.

It’s important to weight train if you want to play football. Your weight routine should be maintained year-round for increasing your game. Use heavy weights and basic lifts to get speed and strength. You need these skills to win your games.

TIP! Safety is the first and foremost concern that you have in the game of football. No matter if you are at practice, at a game or just working out, safety must always be a priority.

Once you have established an exercise regimen, stick to it. Once you find a good workout regimen, you shouldn’t change it right away. You can only benefit from exercise if you figure out a great routine and work with it for a few weeks. Don’t keep giving up a workout only to try again with something different next week.

Work on your agility. To help improve flexibility, try several exercises such as jumping rope, jumping over cones and running through tires. Football is a game of fast moves and seizing the moment. All of these exercises develop coordination, speed and quick thinking. If you use them frequently, your agility will quickly improve.

Don’t overuse any tricks in your playbook. Even though you might have had a lot of success with these trick plays, each time you use it gives your opponent added information in order to counter it.

TIP! To help with football footwork, you need to use both feet to quickly move down the field. Most people have a lead-off foot that they rely on, and usually preform better with.

Be a teammate that is supportive. Football is most definitely a team sport. Your fortunes rise and fall as a group. Teams are never about individuals but about groups. Keeping that in your mind, take care to be the sort of teammate who makes others play better. When you are confident as a group, you’ll find that you’ll win much more often!

A “stiff arm” can come in very handy. The stiff arm is great because it buys you some time and yards, and can even fend off a defending player completely. This technique involves pressing forward with your arm extended straight out.

How much time you spend on the field depends on your work ethic. Even though natural ability plays a big role in who plays, football requires its players to have a great work ethic in order to succeed on the field. All coaches want players who are going to do their best, work hard, and continue to learn as they play.

TIP! Try some ladder drills to increase agility and coordination. Increasing these skills are important to your football training.

The greats truly work hard on their football skills. They practice often and play hard. If you want to become a professional football player, you have to know how to maximize your chances for success. Take them to heart and you will be amazed at your progress.