You do not have to be a natural to play a great game of football. A lot of the skills and techniques that can help you stand out as a player are learned with a little research and practice. Use the following tips to help you become a better football player.
When trying to improve as a football player, don’t worry about putting weight on. Unless you happen to be really small, weight isn’t as important as other factors. Focus on strength, training and agility and you will improve your play. Put on too much weight and you may lose some advantages.
Be smart when playing defense. Don’t try to just out-muscle the offense. Be mindful of runners who might look like they are down, only to see them blow by you. Also keep an eye out for fumbles and yell out “Ball” when they happen. This gives your fellow defenders a chance to get the ball.
When running the ball, it is important to avoid contact with other players as much as possible. This includes the defending team as well as your own team. One way to avoid a hit is to spin out of a tackle as soon as it is made. This will confuse your opponent and allow you to escape from the tackle.
When tackling, decrease the risks of a traumatic injury to the neck or head by practicing the correct form. When you make a tackle, maintain your head up and do not lead with your helmet’s top. Not only is this illegal, but it greatly increases the chances of an injury.
Get into tip top shape if you are considering playing football. This is one physically challenging sport. If you are out of shape, you’ll soon be left in the dust of both your opposition and your teammates. If you want to be considered an essential member of the team, approach your physical fitness like a pro would.
Kickers should be capable of kicking 50 yard field goals. Build your leg strength with weight lifting exercises. Also key to long kicking is flexibility. Be sure to stretch throughout the day to be flexible and to maintain that flexibility.
American football is very much a contact sport. Because of this, it is vitally important that all players wear the right safety equipment. Never buy cheap or bad quality when you are buying helmets and shoulder pads. Too many permanent injuries occur when unsafe gear is worn so do not allow yourself to become a part of these statistics.
Keep yourself hydrated. This goes for both practices and game time too. You know that football is extremely physical, and when you add extreme weather and sweating to the mix, you’ve got the potential for a serious dehydration situation. It’s important to keep drinking water throughout the practice sessions and the games.
If you want to be a good receiver, you must be quick and speedy. Work on speed by establishing a running area that is well-defined. Place two cones approximately 10 yards apart. Sprint as quickly as possible from a cone to the next and look at your time. Work to beat that time everytime you show up. You will eventually improve your acceleration and running speed.
When playing fantasy football, make sure that you know all the rules of your fantasy football league. Remember that different leagues have different rules so make sure you know yours. Familiarize yourself with things such as draft or auction style. Learning everything you can will help you become a better fantasy football player.
Continually make your work outs harder. Don’t just run, but run carrying weights. Don’t just do squats, do them while holding a barbell. Do these work outs under the guidance of your coach or a trainer so that you don’t end up injuring yourself, but do push yourself to your limits.
If you are a quarterback, learn to scan the defenders both left to right and right to left. Most quarterbacks only scan left to right. By changing your pattern of scanning, the defense will be on alert and unable to attack you on the left side repeatedly.
Make sure the conditions of the field are suitable for the game. The field you play on should be even. Don’t play on terrains where there are noticeable dips in the field. Keep your body hydrated during long games. If you plan for these factors before you go to play, you’ll enjoy the game more.
Practice vertical leaping. Though more often associated with sports like basketball, the practice of vertical leaping is actually crucial for football players as well. When you see a pass coming that is out of your reach, you must get up to meet it. Or leaping over a group of opponents in a goal line might be necessary to score a winning touchdown. The higher you are able to leap, the better your game will be.
Always perform stretching exercises before going out to play football. You may not like to do it, but you must warm up your muscles so you don’t hurt them. If your body is tight, you’ll never play your best. Stretching will make playing easier and will help you avoid injuries to your muscles.
Study up on playing football before joining a team game. People will expect that you’ll come into a game scenario with at least a moderate amount of knowledge. If you don’t, you’ll be wasting their time and yours. So scour the Internet and read up all that you can. These tips are a smart start, but don’t let them be your last efforts.
As stated above, being a great football player does not just come down to being born with the skills. The key to being a great football player is having determination and practicing the skills you learn. Use the advice above to become more determined and increase your skills at the game of football.
