Few sports compare to football. It’s a fast game with quick thinking needed, and many people find it to be a lot of fun. In order to improve, you must know what you’re doing. That means reading this article in full to learn more.

Remember, you are one member of a team as a football player. Support should be reciprocal between your teammates and yourself. Don’t act like a star and keep the ball to yourself. Support your team at all times; focus on beating the other team.

Safety is the first and foremost concern that you have in the game of football. If you are not safe, you do not win, so practice good safety techniques in all aspects of your life. Use proper protective gear and procedures at all times.

Play each play like it was the last play of the game. Some players often play mechanically, and miss important plays they later regret. Doing your best on each play will keep you from regretting any plays that you might make during the game.

After you have found a workout routine that is comfortable to you, stay on it. Once you find a good workout regimen, you shouldn’t change it right away. Once you find an exercise that works for you, you will get the maximum benefit by doing it a couple times a week. You will not get good results if you are not consistent with your workout routine.

If you want to improve your overall game-play and speed in particular, learn to play using both of your two feet. Many can only lead off using one foot. If you can use both feet then you will be a much more versatile player.

If you perform a new football trick when playing and it goes well, don’t use it too much. It might work well, but your opponents will know it is coming.

Dance is an excellent component to add to your football training regime. It can help to improve footwork and add to your coordination. Good footwork will raise your abilities on the football field.

Shuttle runs can increase endurance and stamina while helping you learn to come to a stop quickly. Start at one of the goal lines; run up to the 10 and touch it. Go back to the line, then tap it. Keep doing these and your speed and ability to stop and change direction will improve.

Sometimes football players need to bulk up their muscle mass for their position. You should eat plenty of healthy foods and try adopting a balanced diet. Add calories to your diet, but avoid unhealthy fats. Mix healthy ingredients like olive oil into vegetables, pasta and shakes.

When it comes to picking where to play, be aware of your level of play. If you are better than all the other players, the game might not be challenging enough. If you are worse, the game might be too much for you to handle. If you play at a low level, you’ll never learn to get better.

You need to know all the defensive positions of a football team. There are eight positions. They include defensive tackle, defensive end, nose tackle, two outer linebackers, two safeties and a cornerback. If you watch a 4-3 game, you will notice that the teams have one linebacker on the inside and two on the outside. In some 3-4 games, teams have two linebackers on the inside and two on the outside. The two safety positions are strong safety and free safety.

When applying to colleges you want to play for, send a DVD highlight reel to each. Always apply to more than one school. If you have several options, look for the one that offers the best education.

Practice agility. You can jump over cones, run tires or jump rope. This can assist you in feeling limber on the field, improving your playing abilities. Make sure you keep doing these agility exercises in your workouts.

Work on your stamina and endurance levels. If your stamina holds up to the point where you never get tired, your team will greatly benefit. If you do become breathless, breathe slower and deeper until you are back to normal again.

Take breaks from football. Don’t let the sport completely control your life. Enjoy the time away when necessary. In addition, taking a day or two away from the game might afford you a different perspective, and help you to continue to love the game, especially when you come back after a short break.

Give you best effort during every practice session. Football takes a lot of energy to play. You will need to use bursts of speed, amazing tackles at the drop of a hat, and you cannot do these things unless you give it your best. You need to always be hustling out there. Doing your best is important.

Having read this article, you can now go forth and practice effectively. You will get excellent results if you really put some time and efforts into your training. Go slowly, include these tips the next time you play football, and soon you will see you attaining your football goals.