Becoming a great football player takes a lot of practice. It takes time to develop the speed, strength and stamina that a great player needs for the game. Below are some tips to help your practice sessions more productive and to help you develop the game skills that you need to score those winning points.
Even when your team isn’t practicing, you should be. Practice constantly, and practice the skills of your specific position the most. On top of that, you should also build your strength and stamina through other athletic pursuits, such as running, working out at the gym and even other sports.
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.
To increase accuracy as a kicker, learn the proper way to kick the ball. Many kickers make the mistake of kicking with the front of the foot. Instead, they should be kicking with the side of the foot. It will increase accuracy as well as distance and could win the game.
Take up a dance class to improve your footwork. Before you laugh, think back to reality television dancing competitions and how many times NFL players not only competed but succeeded! Ballroom dancing and even ballet are extremely effective at helping football players get an extra edge on the field.
If you play a defensive position such as a linebacker or defensive lineman, learn to tip the ball away from the receiver. The best way to learn this is by watching film of successful tips and practicing with your teammates. When the ball is thrown, look at its trajectory and run toward where it will land. Then, jump and smack at the ball as it passes above you.
Should you be a kicker, your goal is to kick field goals at fifty yards. In order to be able to kick the ball for a long distance, the kicker will need to incorporate leg strengthening exercises into their workout routine. Flexibility is also a key to longer kicks. Stretch your muscles and hip flexors often to improve flexibility.
Correct technique is vital for catching passes on a rainy day. When you point your feet in the direction of the ball, you can avoid slipping. This gives you more control of the ball when you catch it. Pay attention to your hips and chest as well; they should be aligned with your legs. Each hand should be on the sides of the football, in the front.
Get used to playing off of your weaker foot. If you’re like many athletes, you’ll favor one foot over another. It’ll tend to be the foot that you pivot on and use for running fakes. If you want to confuse the opponent covering you, surprise them with some moves using your weaker side. It’ll give you some real advantage.
Football training takes a toll on your body if you do not have a consistent recovery plan. This does not mean taking time off from training during the off-season periods. It means allowing your body to recuperate every night and on days off. Get at least eight hours of sleep every night, drink plenty of water (not sodas) and soak in epsom salts three times a week.
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.
A great attitude wins games. Even the best players will fail if they are negative or unfocused. If you stay positive, targeting your goals as you play and practice, you will achieve them. Do what it takes to remember why you play in the first place to stay on top of your game.
If your main goal is football is to be fast, realize that speed is only acquired by those with strong core muscles. All the movements techniques in the world will not help you if your body is not conditioned by proper weight training. Focus on the basics, including quads, glutes and hamstrings.
In order to help your knowledge about football you should study the different teams, the conferences and the divisions they play. This helps you follow the sport better so you know if your team has a shot at the playoffs. If you don’t understand how the divisions are made, you will never how well your team is doing in relation to the others.
Being large can help you football sometimes, but don’t put on a ton of fat. Fat is damaging to your health as you get older, especially once you stop exercising so much. Instead, build muscle.
Don’t get stuck in the mindset of only one position. You should know what every position does and how it helps the team. This helps to boost overall team play, and might be the missing ingredient to helping you win many games.
Prepare your body for the game year round. Even during the off season, you should be paying close attention to your diet and exercise routine. Football is a very physical sport and if you are not in good physical condition, you increase the chance that you will get injured during play.
To be the best football player you can be, you must be in good shape. Running daily is a great way to build your stamina. Try to run at least three miles every day. Make sure that you include plenty of hills in your run to give yourself the best workout.
As you know, Becoming a great football player doesn’t happen overnight. It will take many hours and days of practice to get you to where you want to be as a player. It takes determination and motivation. Use the hints from above to help you make your practice sessions more productive and become a better player.
