Football – do you love it? Do you want to play it as often as possible? Do you wish you could stand on the great field of play and be able to compete in the Super Bowl? No matter how grand or simplistic your goals may be, the tips below will help.
Make every play count, like if it were down to the last minute and play of a major game. There are players who simply play by rote sometimes. This causes them to miss important opportunities, which leads to regrets. By going all out when you play, at the end of the season you can look back and say that you left it all out on the field with no regrets.
Understand that there is always room for improvement in your game of football. The competition will improve, and so must you, no matter how great a player you already are. Keep working at becoming even stronger, faster and smarter. When you think you’re on top, that’s when somebody can come along and knock you down.
Keep a positive attitude at all times when playing football. Even if you feel down about your performance, keep things up beat and focus on the game at hand. A negative attitude will not only pull your play down, but it will also become contagious and infect the attitude of the entire team.
Give the kicker on the team more than enough practice to perfect his technique and skill. There are many times that a game is won or lost because of the lack of skill on the kicker’s behalf. If the kicker is having problems, dedicate some private practice time with them to assist them with their problems.
A great football tip is to watch the tapes of a team you’re about to play before you play them. Studying up on your opponent will help you tremendously because it allows you to see the types of plays and formations they use. Having this knowledge will help you form a better attack plan.
If you want to be great on the field during a game, you need to be great at time management off the field. This holds true in season and in the off season. Training for any football position takes long and consistent hours of physical activity. You also have to make sure that you get enough rest. All that requires a lot of freetime, but also the mental discipline to structure it.
Consume adequate amounts of protein to give you the strength and body mass you need as a football player. Avoid getting your proteins through junk food, as this will contribute to an unhealthy body that does not function well for you. Get protein from meat, eggs, fish and protein powder shakes.
If you aren’t mentally in the game, don’t play. Let your coach know if you are not feeling well because of a loss, a fight, a break up, a bad grade or anything else which might be getting you down. He can talk you out of it, or allow someone else to play for you.
When your coach gives you advice, pay attention. Even if you don’t think he knows what he’s talking about, you are likely the one who will be wrong. He isn’t a coach because he gives bad advice and never played a day in his life, so listen and see what you can learn.
Remember the basic positions on an offensive team. There are eight basic of them. They are quarterback, halfback, fullback, wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, offensive guard, and center. The quarterback is generally the one player that both runs the offense on the field and leads the team when huddled.
Always be aware of the clock and use the time left to your advantage. If it’s near the end of the game and you have got the ball and you are down, don’t try running down the clock.
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.
There may be times when it is more effective to run the ball even though there are receivers open. Learning to know when to change a play is important for any quarterback. If you are running a passing play and spot an opening, power run up the opening to gain the maximum yardage.
Look for local training programs to better your regimen. Some gyms may offer football-specific classes or courses which can help you build your skills before the season starts, or even during it. Their expertise can give you advice which you couldn’t get from your coach or other players on your team.
Listen for the whistle. Oftentimes, when a player does not hear the whistle or does not give it the attention it deserves, someone will end up hurt. Play when it is time to play, but stop as soon as the whistle is blown. You do not want to get hurt, nor do you want to help anyone else.
Want to run faster? Build your arm strength! Pumping your arms as you run has a significant impact on your speed. Build your upper body through exercise, strength training and even cardio fitness and you’ll find that you begin to run faster as your arms pump faster and you work harder.
Football is your game, and all you want is to be better at it. That’s a fair desire for anyone to have, and what you have read today should help you achieve your goals. Take the time to truly implement this advice and it will lead you towards a better game.
