Football means different things to different people. Is it simply a game you enjoy playing with your friends and family? Are your fall and winter Sundays filled with games on television or in person? Are you a school football player who wants to go pro? It doesn’t matter where you play, just that you work to get better, so keep reading.
Pay attention to what the players on the team have to say. Even if you have a disagreement, at the end of the day they are your teammates and they want to win just as badly as you do. They may have insight that can help you assist your team in reaching their goals.
Don’t play football unless you have on your protective equipment. Football is a very physical sport with collisions. Avoid playing if you don’t have it. Unprotected players can be seriously injured. These are things that could make it so that you never play again.
Work on kicking abilities regularly. Kicking may not be the main skill in football, but it’s still important. Kicking is an important skill. Kickers need to practice increasing the amount of time the ball is in the air, accuracy and strength.
Do drills that improve your agility. Agility is one of the most important skills for any football player. Agility is crucial for bypassing tackles and catching like a pro. Find ways to increase lateral quickness, such as tire running, jump-roping and shuffle drills.
Quick Thinking
Agility is king when it comes to playing football. Some great agility-boosting exercises are jumping rope, running through tires, and jumping over some cones. Football requires quick reflexes and quick thinking. These exercises combine speed, coordination, and quick thinking. The more you do these training exercise, the more your agility will increase.
Use dance to help you train to play football. Although it may seem to be a completely different art form at first glance, it can really help with your footwork. Smooth footwork will pay great dividends during games.
Your own personal work ethic is a factor in the amount of time you get on the field. Even though natural talent helps, work ethic is more important to be a true success. All coaches want players who are going to do their best, work hard, and continue to learn as they play.
Keep teamwork in mind. It can be easy to forget about the rest of your team if you have your sights set on the NFL. A win is dependent on the whole team, not just you. Once you realize that you work better as a cohesive unit, your team will be better for it.
Warm up right before you practice, play or exercise. Injuring yourself will only leave you out of the game. Exercise to build a strong body with the muscle to help your game, and always stretch before playing.
When making a decision about joining a football team, keep your own skill level in mind. If you apply too high, you won’t make the team. Conversely, if you play at a lower level, you won’t be able to improve your game.
Take videos of yourself playing football if you wish to play in college. Add as many highlights as possible, including examples of your agility, speed, strength, accuracy and dexterity. To become a good all around player, you will need to have skills in many different areas.
Remember the importance of mental training. Meditate on your playing and see yourself playing a good game. Studies show that practicing in your mind provides a great deal of improvement to your game play. Try to see yourself making great tackles or catches, and those visions will soon become reality.
Mental agility is required for football greatness, not just physical skill. Learn the game of football from the inside out. Watch old games and learn from the pros. A great football player can quickly make changes to the plays and anticipate their opponent’s actions.
Your personal skills are what will allow you to play better than both opponents and those competing for playing time, so make sure you are always working to improve them. Your team and opponents might have the skills, and you need them to remain competitive.
Vertical leaping is something you should work on. Improving your vertical leap ability can make you a better football player. When the football is out of your reach, you need to leap to catch it. You might even need it to jump over your opponents to score a winning touchdown. No matter what the case is, the better your leaping skills, the better the odds that you will make the play.
When you tackle an opposing player, keep your head upright. It’s never a good idea to use your helmet directly as part of the tackle. This is called spearing. It is illegal and can cause severe injury.
Condition your body to the exact position you play. You will want to base your conditioning exercises on the position you play. For all positions, stamina and vigor are crucial to the sport.
Study your playbook deeply. So many players want to be great at football, but realize that it isn’t just about one aspect that helps you to succeed. It is important to learn tactical strategies as well. Knowing the information in your playbook will make you a much better football player.
Whether you play for fun or dream of something bigger, football is a passion you have which shouldn’t be forgotten. Learning as much as you can will make you a better player. Keep practicing, use these tips and be the best player that you possibly can.