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.
Understanding the rules of football is just as important as practicing drills or building your strength and stamina. Be sure that you know all of the rules of the game inside and out, and quiz yourself once in a while to help cement the knowledge in your mind as you play.
Attack every single play as if it were fourth and goal of the last minutes of the Superbowl. Some players only go perform at half their ability, and they miss things that should be readily apparent. Give it you all during every second of every game, and you won’t ever have any post-game regrets.
Always work on increasing your agility. Football requires great agility. Agility is crucial for bypassing tackles and catching like a pro. Whatever you do to improve this ability is helpful when you play. Try running tires and jumping rope.
If a new trick you try when you play football does well, refrain from using it often. If you use the play too often, you opponents will be prepared to defend the play.
A great tip to remember if you’re a runningback or receiver in football is to always make sure you keep the ball close to your body at all times. So many turnovers have occurred because a player wasn’t holding the football firmly enough, and an opposing player just took a swat at it.
Play with a personal style. You shouldn’t spend the game upstaging your teammates or thinking about just you, but there are moment in a football game where your personality can shine, especially after an awesome tackle or touchdown. Do you have a special fist pump or shuffle dance you want to pull out. Go for it! Get your teammates involved too.
It is important to be in tune with your body if you are a football player. If you’re feeling pain or you can’t move that well, immediately speak with the team doctor.
Play the position that works to your personal strengths. If you strong, fast and good at catching a football thrown from different angles, play safety or wide receiver. If your body is bulky and you have a lot of strength, play defensive or offensive tackle. If your good at kicking the ball with accuracy, you may be the perfect field goal kicker or punter.
Work on your team work. Football is a team sport, and it is important that you and your team mates know how to work well as a team. While you are working on your skills and becoming a better player, share the skills you learn with your team to increase your game as a team.
If you are a quarterback, it is important to tweak your throwing mechanics. This is done by learning proper footwork. When throwing the ball make sure that the toe of the foot opposite of your passing arm is pointed toward your receiver. Line your hips and chest toward your intended target and keep your arm close to your helmet. As you release the ball allow your arm to continue its intended path downwards.
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.