Football is a sport dominated by giants. It’s not just physical, it’s about being a mental giant as well. There is so much preparation involved in playing football to know what the other team is doing to stop you, along with being physically fit to take the punishment on your body. Want more tips? Read the ones below to get a great strategy down for your football playing.

Be aware of what your teammates have to say. Even if there’s some tension, remember that you all have the same goal: to win. Listening to others will help you improve your own game, giving you a fresh perspective.

TIP! Remember that, in football, you are just one player on a team. Support your teammates and be sure they support other teammates.

Always play safely. Regardless of if you are in a game situation or are just practicing, safety should always be a concern. Wearing the right protection can help you remain safe.

Practice kicking in football. Kicking is as important as throwing or tackling. Most players just don’t work on kicking. This will result in an inability to make a field goal.

Keep your body healthy so that you can continue to play. To help protect your body you should warm up before practice and games. You need to eat right and follow good hygienic practices so you can give the immune system a boost. Make sure that you constantly practice, too.

TIP! Good football players are light on their feet. Exercises such as running through old tires, leaping over cones and skipping rope will help build your agility.

Approach all your plays as if they were the most important plays in a big pro game. There are players who simply play by rote sometimes. This causes them to miss important opportunities, which leads to regrets. By doing your best on every single play, you will never regret your actions and your team will always appreciate your efforts.

To help with football footwork, you need to use both feet to quickly move down the field. Most people are better with one foot than the other. If you can use both feet then you will be a much more versatile player.

If you come up with a few trick plays that work well, try to only use it sparingly. You opponent will learn your next move rendering the play ineffective if you use it often.

TIP! In order to help improve your speed learn how to lead off with both feet. Many people have one lead-off foot that is constantly relied on and usually performs better.

If you are a receiver or runningback, work on your stiff arm. This play allows you to gain yardage and may even help you escape a defender. When you see someone advancing toward you, simply put out your arm.

Football is a demanding game on a physical level, so you have to be in top condition when trying out. To get into shape, stretch and then do cardio. Follow those with weight training and a solid cool down.

If you are going to be a great football player, you have to take care of your body. You have to watch what you eat and be aware of how your body feels after each practice and game. Signs of restricted movement or pain must be reported to the team’s physician immediately.

TIP! Learning to read the formation of the opposing team is essential when playing defense. The location the receiver is lining up tells you quite a lot about their play before it’s played.

Your height is the only measurement you can’t change. You can get stronger, wider, faster and more skillful with practice. If you keep eating right, exercising and practicing, you can make most changes.

If you hope to play football in the college ranks, record video of your own play. You need to show in video your abilities, including your speed, strength, agility, and accuracy. Include some of everything to demonstrate your complete player profile.

Get better on your feet if you’re playing quarterback. Great footwork is important for quarterbacks, as every second counts, and that means every step that you take should be important. Twisting and back-pedaling are two good skills to master.

TIP! Kickers should always try and practice kicking the ball as far as they can. Build your leg strength with weight lifting exercises.

When you apply to colleges you wish to play for, try sending a type of DVD highlight reel for each one them. Make sure you apply to different places that are at the level you wish to play at. By doing this, you will have several schools to choose from.

Practice agility whenever you can. Exercises like jumping rope and running an obstacle course can help. Having great agility will help you perform better on the field of play. Combine your workouts with your agility exercises and football practices.

Continually build up your endurance. If you are able to run without getting out of breath, you are an asset to all teams. If you are suddenly out of breath, breathe slowly and deeply, and take a break. You’ll be back in the game in no time.

TIP! Score a touchdown. Obviously, the biggest moments for the offense are the touchdowns.

Work out as often as possible. Lifting weights will definitely help you build muscles and strength. Your strength conditioning plan is likely to improve your playing time. You have to work your whole body. It is unwise to focus only on the upper body. Your legs must be strong to push off powerfully at the snap.

You can increase your speed by making sure you stay parallel as you do squats. This will help your leg muscles improve. This can improve your overall game.

Playing football is done best when you are hydrated. Given how much athleticism football games require, players need to be just as ready during practice as they are in actual games. Football players generally steer clear of sugary beverages. Players need to drink a lot of water and sports drinks that help keep electrolytes in balance.

TIP! Shoulder pads are important. Before going out to play, you need to ensure that there is a proper fit.

Condition your body and build strength to prevent injury. You must tailor your conditioning regimen to suit your team position. Strength and power are always extremely important in a football game.

Backup players often notice they are getting fewer reps than the starters. This reduced practice time does hurt your ability to get better as a player. Keep practicing in your spare time to improve your performance results.

Anyone who wants to learn more about a topic can do so by researching online. It also means studying the opposition and perfecting their own methods. All that you’ve read here will help you, especially if you use all the tips together.