Football is a game enjoyed by people all around the nation. Whether paying in a little league, at school or with friends, it is an enjoyable hobby which, for some, even turns into a career. If you want to better your skills so you can show off on the field, read on.
Safety is an important issue in football. No matter if you’re at the gym, practicing, driving to a field, or playing, stay safe everywhere. Use proper protective gear and procedures at all times.
You should practice all of the positions so that you can easily slip into one if the need arises. Even if you normally play defense, practice throwing the ball and you might actually get to play as quarterback someday. If you are well rounded, the coach will appreciate your dedication.
Know what kind of equipment you need to play a football game properly. Each player that plays needs shoulder pads, a helmet, cleats, a mouth guard, and football pants. The ball should be spheroid and leather. A standard football is about 11 inches long and 22 inches in circumference around the middle.
Learn how to get past defenders when catching a kick off. The best way to do this is run directly behind a few of your best defenders. They will block for you most effectively and will create an opening for you to run down the line towards the goal.
It is important to always support your team. Few sports rely on teamwork more than football. You and your teammates must win and lose as one. Don’t think about the individual — it’s the group. Always do your best to support your teammates, in order to build their confidence level and create a better environment on the field. When your team is confident as a whole, you will win more.
Get in shape for your next football game by practicing vertical power jumps. These are achieved by thrusting yourself in the air vertically as high as you possibly can. The goal is to build muscles in your legs. Bend slowly at your knees, then project your body into the air repeatedly, up to 20 times in a row.
Build power and muscles by training with box jumps. Make sure you have a very sturdy large box with a height between 2 feet and 3 feet, determined by your own height. Jump onto the edge of the box repeatedly, straightening your back each time you reach the top of the box. Repeat up to 20 times.
Kickers should aim to make field goals of fifty yards or more. Build your leg strength with weight lifting exercises. Flexibility is also helpful in long kicking. Stretch after each work out session and make sure to get your leg muscles extra loose to improve your range of movement.
Stretching can improve your speed on the football field. To maximize your athletic potential, you need to be flexible and have a wide range of motion. Over time, stretching will allow your body to become more flexible and with this flexibility comes speed. Have a teammate help you with your stretches to maximize their efficiency.
A great football tip if you’re a receiver is to hug the sidelines when running down the field. Hugging the sidelines makes it so that you can only be hit from one side and usually all that ends up happening is they’ll push you out of bounds instead of tackling you.
Flexibility is just as important to a football player as body mass and speed. Don’t limit stretching to the few minutes prior to practice or games. Instead, make stretching an integral part of everyday activities. Focus on your back, hamstrings, glutes and hips. Even if you only have five minutes, take advantage of them.
Work on your stamina and endurance levels. You need to be able to have bursts of power as well as the endurance to play for an extended period of time. If you run out of breath, slow down and take deeper breaths to make sure you can start playing soon.
To help protect yourself when playing football it requires a full uniform with the proper equipment. Referees will not let you on the field if you aren’t wearing a helmet, pads for your shoulders, knees and a cup to protect the groin area. Be safe, and always wear the necessary equipment, otherwise you might find yourself carried off the field on a stretcher.
Stay in a parallel position when performing squats. It can help you to increase your speed. The key is the way in which this builds leg strength, providing you with the muscular strength to keep your speed up when traveling distances. It will make you faster and a harder hitter.
One of the most crucial things during play and practice is to get the right amount of hydration. Because of the nature of the game, players have to work hard during practices as well as they might during a game. Most players don’t drink sugary drinks like soda. Rather, they consume lots of water or beverages featuring electrolytes.
Learn the best tackling techniques by watching instructional videos and practicing their techniques often. The best videos will show that players should remain low and hit by lowering their shoulders and hitting the players in their midsection. Once you have learned this important tackling technique, you will be able to stop the majority of the opposing team’s plays.
Memorize every page of your playbook. Many football players want to make it big, but not all of it is fancy footwork. You have to use you head, as well. Take time to learn your playbook to better your mental game.
With all of this great information available to you, you should have no problem turning your football skills around. Just practice all you can with these tips in mind and you should be ready for greatness. Whether you play for fun or as a career, you’ll be a better player thanks to reading this article.
