Transforming yourself into a great football player is not something you can do overnight. Serious work and persistence is required to make real strides when it comes to your game. The material presented below is here to assist any burgeoning football player with the process of refining and honing their game play.

A valuable football fitness training technique is shuttle runs. These help to increase speed and endurance, while also having the added benefit of developing lower body muscles. Shuttle runs increase distance gradually, by reaching specific yard lines, then returning to starting position. The next yard line is a further distance away, and the action is repeated, typically by 10-yard lines.

If you play a receiver position in football, work on the basic fundamentals to the position. Catch the ball with both of your hands, but secure it by holding it close to your body and covering it with your arms. Run towards the end zone, but also keep tacklers to your back. This helps you keep the ball and prevent a fumble.

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.

Don’t be afraid to be intimidating as a football player, because this can really help your game. When opponents think you’re bad and know you’re going to hit them hard, it can change the way they play and cause them to make mistakes. Be known as somebody they really don’t want to face, and you have an advantage before you even show off your real playing ability.

Learn by watching the pros. This doesn’t mean just sitting around and catching the game with your friends. Find a player who plays the same position as you and watch how they play. Examine how they move their feet, and what choices they make on the field. Try to emulate them in your own game.

Always drink plenty of water when you are practicing or playing football. It is very easy to get dehydrated during a game or during practice. This will not only impact your performance, but it could be dangerous as well. Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after any football related activity.

Warm up right before you practice, play or exercise. An injury can keep you sidelined for a lot longer than you’d like. Additionally, building muscle will help you play better; however, you should still stretch before playing.

A great football tip if you’re a quarterback is to work on your footwork. For quarterbacks, speed is of the essence so each step counts. Twisting and back-pedaling are two good skills to master.

Life life with confidence. This can go a long way toward improving your athletic ability, and it’s a powerful tool when it comes to winning a football game. If you take your life and game with confidence, other people will be inspired, particularly those on your team. It will cause your opponents to doubt. Ether way, you will have a psychological edge.

Practice agility. A few great exercises include rope jumping, tire running, and cone slaloms. This helps with your agility and limberness on the field to help you become a better player. Make your agility exercises a part of your usual routine and you will soon see an improvement.

Build your endurance continually. If you are able to run without getting out of breath, you are an asset to all teams. If you run out of breath, slow down and take deeper breaths to make sure you can start playing soon.

Remember that your opponent is the enemy, but don’t overdo it. Don’t say hurtful or offensive things to him as a mad person will have a tendency to go overboard. They may end up injuring you on purpose, and you should never hurt them purposefully either, so stay calm.

To help protect yourself when playing football it requires a full uniform with the proper equipment. Referees will not let you on the field if you aren’t wearing a helmet, pads for your shoulders, knees and a cup to protect the groin area. Be safe, and always wear the necessary equipment, otherwise you might find yourself carried off the field on a stretcher.

Choose a professional player who also shares your position and start looking to them for advice. You likely can’t ask them directly, although it never hurts to try, but you can watch them play and learn from what they do. Watch their form, check out interviews about their training and learn from their plays.

Even if you do not play in every game, study the playbook daily. Anytime you have a free minute, take a look at the plays. You want to be ready to get thrown into the game at any time. You never know when someone may get hurt or your coach wants to give you a chance to play. Knowing the plays will keep you from looking foolish on the field.

There is nothing like the thrill of making a terrific play out on the football field. But, not many people have experienced that excitement due to the fact that they lack the skills necessary to do so. Hopefully this article has given football hopefuls the necessary tips to finally get the job done.