In life, we have many hurdles which stand in our way. Sometimes they have to do with a lack of natural talent, while other times they’re based on a lack of knowledge. In fact, sometimes practice and research can give you something better than natural talent – read on to learn more when it comes to football.
Always wear protective equipment when playing football. Football can cause serious risk to anyone. If you don’t have the equipment, then sit this game out. Serious injuries have occurred, even paralysis. These types of injuries can affect your entire life.
Remember that safety should always come first when you are playing football. If you are not safe, you do not win, so practice good safety techniques in all aspects of your life. Use the proper protection whether it is a helmet, a seatbelt or a spotter at the gym.
Concentrate on developing agility skills if you want to be a successful football player. Tackling and running are important parts of the equation, but agility is what sets you apart. Increase your agility by jumping rope, repeating precision jumps over small objects, and sprinting through tires in alternating patterns.
Learn the proper technique for backpedaling in football. Keep your posture low and make sure your shoulders are aligned over your feet. This technique allows you to keep your balance when changing positions. Practice this technique often with a few of your teammates so that it becomes second nature.
If you are a receiver or running back, try bettering your stiff arm. The stiff arm can buy you time and yards in a game, and it can also ward off a defender completely. This technique involves pressing forward with your arm extended straight out.
Record your gameplay. Football is all about plays and patterns, so you need a way to watch how you specifically did out on the field. Was your pattern off? Was the quarterback expecting you in a different locale all together? Did you come up too short on your turn-around? When you can see it, you can change it much more easily.
A good football tip is to make sure you have the appropriate gear on when playing. If you find yourself getting hit a lot, or hitting players often, it may be a good idea to invest in a mouth guard. A mouth guard will prevent you from messing up the inside of your mouth.
You can work on a hip flexibility drill by using five cones that are in a line and five yards apart. You should go through the cones while running in a zigzag as quickly as possible. Keep your eyes on the action, and lean forward to power your forward momentum.
Never take the field without a helmet. Each season, your helmet should be inspected thoroughly. The plastic shell should not have any cracks in it and the padding must be in good condition. It should also have a face mask that properly attaches to the helmet and a chin strap that fastens securely. All this is to be sure to prevent head injuries during play.
When playing, look for dehydration signs. One that is an easy one to spot is the color of your urine. If it’s a darker color then you are more than likely suffering from dehydration right then. You’ll need to take immediate action. Drink water asap, and make sure you keep hydrated from then on out.
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.
If playing in college is your goal, create a highlight reel. You will want to include game highlights that show off your agility, dexterity, strength, speed and accuracy. Include as much as you can, in order to show how well-rounded you are.
Make sure that you take some time off from the game once in a while. While it’s great to have a passion for such a great sport, that is not the entirety of who you are. A break from football gives you time to relax and miss the game, so you are all the happier when you return.
If your opponent is really owning you in a game, think about what he’s doing wrong. There is some opening, some Achilles heel that will allow you to get the better of him. If you’re not sure, ask your coach for advice next time you get back to the sidelines.
Hit the gym as often as you can. Football players should lift weights. Strength conditioning is sure to pay dividends during games. You should develop every part of your body. You shouldn’t just focus on your upper body. You need legs to push you off, and you need arms to hold on tight.
Pay attention to where you are on the field at all times. You need to keep your head up and know where the other players and the ball are at all times. This will help you prevent accidental collisions that could injure you or the other player. Never watch the ground while running.
Safety is important when playing football. Do not take shortcuts with safety. This can lead to dangerous results. Always wear your full gear when practicing and never practice without your helmet on. Many players have gotten injured because they did not use the proper equipment or practice in a safe manner.
Some people are born to be big, wide and strong. Others are lithe and nimble, with an accurate arm. Some just have basic skills and yet still want to play better football. Regardless of your current talents, this article has provided you with some tips and tricks to better your game.
