Football is a very popular sport for a lot of reasons. There is something for everyone to enjoy about it, from the players to the fans in the stands. The more you know about football, the more you will enjoy watching those action packed games. If you enjoy football, here are some ways to bring the game to a whole new level.
You should work on your kicks. Kicking may not be the main skill in football, but it’s still important. Many people that practice football often do not prepare their kicking game. That causes problems when they try to move the ball through uprights.
Learn how to control the things that you can control in the game and let go of the things that you cannot. If you drop a pass or let a receiver get by you, you need to learn how to let it go. Each play is different, if you mess up on one, do not let it control the rest of your game.
Don’t concern yourself over your weight immediately. You may think that you need to gain a ton of weight to be a great football player, but really all you are doing is becoming fat and slow. More important is your conditioning. You want to be able to perform with the weight on you, so consider adding weight on slowly and with a good fitness plan.
If you come up with a few trick plays that work well, try to only use it sparingly. You opponent will learn your next move rendering the play ineffective if you use it often.
If you want to be great on the field during a game, you need to be great at time management off the field. This holds true in season and in the off season. Training for any football position takes long and consistent hours of physical activity. You also have to make sure that you get enough rest. All that requires a lot of freetime, but also the mental discipline to structure it.
Try scoring with the rare fair-catch kick. If a team makes a fair catch on a punt that they get from their opponents, they can use the free kick to get three points from the spot where they fielded the punt. A placekicker attempts to make a field goal by kicking a ball that is held in place by the holder. It is similar to a regular field goal and is worth three points. This down is not timed.
Make sure you warm up physically before any games or practices. An injury could cause you to stay on the sideline for a long time. Keep your body strong by exercising in ways which build the muscles which help you play, but stretch them before you begin.
Keep yourself hydrated. This goes for both practices and game time too. You know that football is extremely physical, and when you add extreme weather and sweating to the mix, you’ve got the potential for a serious dehydration situation. It’s important to keep drinking water throughout the practice sessions and the games.
If you start feeling sick or just “not right”, get off of the football field immediately. Even if it isn’t physical, the fact that you aren’t quite yourself can lead to a serious accident if you aren’t careful. It may mean that you sit out for 10 minutes or more (maybe even the game), but your health is well worth it.
Play the position that works to your personal strengths. If you strong, fast and good at catching a football thrown from different angles, play safety or wide receiver. If your body is bulky and you have a lot of strength, play defensive or offensive tackle. If your good at kicking the ball with accuracy, you may be the perfect field goal kicker or punter.
Football requires that you be mentally tough. Relax, and visualize yourself as you play your position. Recent studies show that if you focus your mind on how you will execute in the game, there is a good chance that you will play better. Just keep going through a mental video of your play and it’ll get better.
Talk to your coach about your progress. While your coach is more than likely giving you a lot of direction already, talk to him after practice. He might be calmer then, and he may be able to offer you tips about how you can improve. You can ask him about how far you’ve progressed, as well.
In order to play football you need to wear the necessary footwear to help you grip the field much better. Depending on the condition of the field, like whether it is raining or not, whether there is artificial turf or grass, you will need to choose your footwear wisely. Different types of footwear include metal spikes, soft spikes and even sneakers which are used on artificial turf.
Keep control of the ball by running to gain yardage. You may not gain as much territory running the ball but you are much less likely to turn the ball over to the other team. Combine passing plays to catch the defense off guard and gain more yardage. Good blocking by the offense gives the quarterback enough time to throw the ball accurately.
Be vigilant about staying hydrated with water during football practice and games. It is estimated that a football player wearing a uniform can become dehydrated in as little as 30 minutes. Water is essential for hydration, as well as for transporting oxygen and nutrients to the tissues of your body.
As you can see, there is a lot to know about football. There is always something more to learn about his exciting and fast paced game. Use the information from above to help you perfect your skills or simply to bring a new level of understanding to the excitement of the game.
