Playing a great game of football take the right skills, knowledge and attitude. No matter how great of a football player you are, there are always things you can to do increase your skills on the field. Follow these easy tips and tricks to become a better football player.
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.
Record your gameplay. Football is all about plays and patterns, so you need a way to watch how you specifically did out on the field. Was your pattern off? Was the quarterback expecting you in a different locale all together? Did you come up too short on your turn-around? When you can see it, you can change it much more easily.
Watch the pros to learn from their techniques. Study professional players moves and begin using them when playing ball. It might seem pretty obvious, but the greatest players are the ones that study from the best and learn.
Play with a personal style. You shouldn’t spend the game upstaging your teammates or thinking about just you, but there are moment in a football game where your personality can shine, especially after an awesome tackle or touchdown. Do you have a special fist pump or shuffle dance you want to pull out. Go for it! Get your teammates involved too.
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.
Take up the practice of yoga. Many of the poses will help you build strength from your toes to your shoulders. The improved mind-body connection will also improve your coordination on the field. Mastering the art of conscious breathing will also give you tremendous self control over your body when on the field.
Learning to block when you have the ball is essential to scoring points. You cannot grab hold of the defender’s jersey while blocking. To help ensure you do not get a call of holding, always keep your hands off of the defender by only using your forearms during a block.
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.
Shoulder pads are an essential part of football protective gear. Before going out to play, you need to ensure that there is a proper fit. They should stay in place and should be in good 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.
If getting a group of people to play ball, make sure you have the necessary equipment. Make sure the playing field is even and safe. When you practice or enjoy a game with friends, the field should be flat and free from holes. Make sure you dress properly and drink enough water if it’s very hot out. Think about these things in advance so that you are not distracted during the game.
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.
Take account of where you messed up after each practice and game. You don’t play as many football games as you do baseball and basketball game in a season, so your chances for redemption are much less. That being so, you need to quickly figure out where you messed up, own the mistake, and work to correct it. Redeem yourself that very next game.
If you are coaching a youth football team, remember to keep it fun. Football is a game. It may seem like winning is all that’s important during game time, but sometimes you need to take a step back and remember winning isn’t everything. Make sure the kids have fun and enjoy themselves.
Always remember to do your stretches before you practice or play. Although this may seem like a dull aspect of the game, in order to prevent injuries from occurring you must loosen up your muscles. A single hamstring could ruin your game. Spend plenty of time stretching to avoid problems happening.
Make sure you learn the playbook. Most every player on the field dreams of hitting it big, but it takes more than fancy footwork and hard muscles. Football is a game where you need to use your brain. Be certain to invest the necessary time in going through your playbook, so that you prove to your team and coach that you are a budding star.
Part of every daily practice session should be spent watching videos of previous games and plays. Watching what you did correctly and analyzing where your moves went wrong can help you develop your practice routine. It is also a good idea to watch videos of professional teams for ideas you can add to your game.
Develop your own techniques for dealing with stress on game day. If you’re stressed, your game will suffer. Distractions keep you from warming up properly and getting into a focused zone. Deep breathing and visualization can help.
To be a star on the football field you need the right attitude, skills and knowledge to play the game right. Even if you feel you have all these qualities, there are always steps you can take to better your game. That the tips above to heart to increase your skills and play a better game.
