Work on your individual skills to help your entire team. By taking time to get advice from people in the know, the quality of your game will greatly improve. This article will give you a lot of good advice.

Always wear safety equipment when you play football. There is always a risk of becoming seriously injured. Without the correct gear, you should not play. Serious injuries have occurred, even paralysis. Not only could some of things keep you from playing football after the injury, but they can affect your daily life as well.

If you are playing football, weight training is very important. Keep up with your regimen for the best performance. Lift both heavy weights and light weights to build speed and strength. Don’t scrimp and do only one. You’ll need to do both to become better.

Always be a teammate who is supportive. In football, teamwork is of the essence. You will rise and fall together. It’s always a “we”, not ever an “I”. When you support your teammates, and they support you, all your team members will play with confidence. A confident team is one that wins more often than not.

Ball carriers should figure out how to develop a great stiff arm. Not only can you pick up a little additional ground, you could also get out of a tackle entirely. Simply straighten and stiffen your arm.

To be a good player, you’ll have to eat right and pay attention to the signals you body gives you. Always report any injuries or pains that persist to your coach or team physician.

Shoulder pads are an essential part of football protective gear. Be sure yours fit well before you play in a game. They should stay put and not be in poor condition. You don’t want them to break during a game from a hard hit, because this can injure you at the time or risk more injury later.

Your passion will help you stay motivated and become a better player. They’ll follow you in doing research and learning all they can. Football is exciting to watch and play. Have fun!