Football is arguably the most popular sport in America. From junior high school games to the professional leagues, a great number of boys and men aspire to greatness between the end zones. If you want to be a better football player, or just have an idea where to start, keep reading.
When trying to improve as a football player, don’t worry about putting weight on. Unless you happen to be really small, weight isn’t as important as other factors. Focus on strength, training and agility and you will improve your play. Put on too much weight and you may lose some advantages.
Condition yourself more for practice, then for the game of football itself. While you need to be ready for game day, practice will take the most out of you physically. Therefore, it’s vital that your conditioning keep you up to par in practice and making a good impression there, to avoid much bench time.
Remember that all goals are achievable if you try hard enough. You need to have a positive mindset as you practice and play the game. You CAN be an amazing football player! If you keep this in mind, you will find you have more drive and passion for the game as you play.
You can improve our agility thanks to drills. Football players are some of the more agile athletes out there. They need to make difficult catches and avoid opponent’s tackles. Whatever you do to improve your abilities will help, including tire running drills and jumping rope.
When working on improving yourself as a football player, keep in mind that the only thing you really can’t change is your height. You can change your diet to lose or gain weight, and train to build your muscles up. You can also work with a trainer to increase your speed and skill. If anything, height should be your only handicap.
A good football tip is to always stay low if you’re on the offensive or defensive line. Staying low helps you stay grounded and gives you a better position to block or rush the other player. It also makes it much harder for you to get knocked onto your back.
Treat all of your fellow players, even your opposition, with the respect they deserve. Football is a taxing sport on body and mind. Everyone that plays is a warrior in his own right. It shows great courage and teamwork. Keep that in mind, and don’t react poorly to misplays and losing. Treat your fellow players the way you’d want to be treated.
Try to focus some of your exercises on increasing speed. Do jumping squats to increase the speed of your reflex muscles. Squat down and jump on a step. Stand straight up and then jump back down and into a squat. Repeat this exercise 40 times daily and gradually increase the height of the step.
Try learning some tricks of the trade by watching professionals play the game. Watch film online and then take it to the practice field for 10 minutes a day. Practice it and learn how to perfect this trick so that when you need it, you have it. Don’t overuse tricks because your opponents will learn from you and figure it out.
American football is very much a contact sport. Because of this, it is vitally important that all players wear the right safety equipment. Never buy cheap or bad quality when you are buying helmets and shoulder pads. Too many permanent injuries occur when unsafe gear is worn so do not allow yourself to become a part of these statistics.
Even if you suck at football at first, remember that it takes time to get good at anything. The more you practice and learn about the game, the better you will get. As long as you put the effort into getting better, it is bound to happen for you in time.
Now that you have read this article, you should know a few tips about the game of football that you did not previously know. Apply them towards personal success on the field. Always remember that you can be a great football player when your knowledge of the game equals your physical abilities.