Football has been around for a very long time. There was a time when the players threw the pigskin, but today’s advanced technology has improved the system. Keep reading if you’d like to become a better football player.

Football is all about team playing. There are members of that team who support you; why not do the same for them? Do not hog the ball by trying to pretend that you are a great “football star.” Your teammates are very important to your success, especially when you’re trying to win the game.

TIP! Practice kicking in football. Kicking is as important as throwing or tackling.

If you’re going to participate in football, it’s vital that you wear safety gear. The chance of a severe injury is extremely high. Do not step onto the field if your equipment is not up to standards. There have been people paralyzed playing football among other serious injuries. These things may prevent you from ever playing again.

If you are a football player, then weight or resistance training is essential. Work with weights year round to keep in tone for football. Use both light and heavy weight to help build your strength and speed. You must master both skills if you wish to achieve a winning status.

There is so much to learn about football you will never know it all. Sometimes you can give yourself an advantage on the football field by outsmarting the opponent, even if they are stronger and faster than you. Look to beat the opposition through mental strength over physical.

TIP! You may improve your agility with practice drills. Football players are some of the more agile athletes out there.

When you’re playing defense, you’ll need to know how to read the opposing team’s formation. Receiver placement can give you a lot of information about a play before it happens. Watch other teams play and keep a logbook of their plays.

Support the people on your team. Football requires solid teamwork like almost no other sport. Winning and losing are both done by the team. Teams are never about individuals but about groups. Always do your best to support your teammates, in order to build their confidence level and create a better environment on the field. When you are confident as a group, you’ll find that you’ll win much more often!

Ladder drills are a great way to help you increase agility and coordination. These are important to any football training regimen. Draw a ladder with chalk, and step into and out of every square from the bottom to the top. This techniques requires practice, so watch several videos to learn how it’s done.

TIP! Weight training is important in the game of football. You have to stick with a good regimen all year to make you the best player you can be.

Shuttle runs are a great way to improve stamina, stopping abilities and endurance. Start at the goal line, then run and tap the 10 yard line. Reverse direction and run back towards the goal line doing the same thing. Do as many of these as possible on a daily basis and then notice how you improve.

A good football coach understands how to use the clock to his best advantage. When the game’s almost over, if you are down and have the ball, don’t allow your time to run out.

When applying for a college football team, be sure to include a video of your games. Your video should showcase your accuracy, strength, speed, dexterity and agility. It is important to show many different skills to showcase that you are a versatile player.

TIP! If you want to improve your overall game-play and speed in particular, learn to play using both of your two feet. A lot of people rely on their lead-off foot, because it plays better.

Build agility. You can do this by jumping over cones, running or stepping through tires, and jumping rope. This is sure to boost your agility on the field, to make you even better. Make your agility exercises a part of your usual routine and you will soon see an improvement.

The playing conditions should be good. The playing fields should be even and safe. Avoid playing on a field with holes and dips. Dress appropriately and drink lots of water. Think of this stuff beforehand so you can focus solely on the game as you play.

Perfect your vertical leaping. Improving your vertical leap ability can make you a better football player. It is often the case that a football will be thrown a tad higher than can be reached, so leaping is therefore necessary. Or you may have to leap over your opponents to get to the end zone. Working on your leaps will make you more efficient on the field.

TIP! Don’t overuse any tricks in your playbook. In this way, you will surprise your opponents when you use it.

Football requires serious commitment; however, you need to allow time for rest. Neglecting other aspects of your life in favor of football can backfire, and negatively impact your game. Make sure that your personal relationships are all healthy ones, and tend to these by spending your down days with loved ones.

Go to the gym as frequently as you can. Football players need to work on weights. Having a strong body will make it easier to thrive and survive when you play. You need to work out all parts of the body. It is unwise to focus only on the upper body. Legs need strength to be able to push off effectively at the scrimmage line.

Avoid becoming comfortable with the position you play. Know how to play each position, and you’ll be able to make your teammates’ roles much easier during the games you play. This increases your strength as a team, and working well as a team is the key to winning games.

TIP! The game of football has such an abundance of strategies and techniques that learning them all is probably impossible. By being the smartest player, you can outwit your opponents.

Learning the right way to stiff arm can add five yards to your per-carry average. Just put your arm out ahead of you and go through your defender. But, you must be sure that don’t put either of your hands inside the face mask of a defender.

Do what you can to get your coach’s good side. Avoid being one of those people who show up late and wonder why everyone is upset. Be on time, volunteer for tasks and make yourself appear dedicated. Your coach will notice and begin allowing you to play more.

You’ll be better at anything if you know what you’re doing beforehand. When you look for new information and advice, you are showing your worth. Keep your mind open and your body will reward you for it with an improved game and enhanced skills.