The annual Superbowl game in February is reportedly viewed by more spectators than any other sports event worldwide. Football is beloved by millions. Find out why this sport continues to grow in popularity.
Treat all of your fellow players, even your opposition, with the respect they deserve. Football is a taxing sport on body and mind. Everyone that plays is a warrior in his own right. It shows great courage and teamwork. Keep that in mind, and don’t react poorly to misplays and losing. Treat your fellow players the way you’d want to be treated.
You should learn the several ways that a down can end. It can end when a player with the ball has been tackled to the ground, or when they’ve had their forward motion stopped by an opposing player. It also happens when a pass has been thrown out of bounds or when it hits the ground. It can occur when the player with the ball goes out of bounds. It even happens when a team scores. Finally, when the official blows the whistle, that is the signal that a down has ended.
Take every chance you can to study football footage, but when you can, study footage of yourself. Try and see yourself through an opponent’s eyes. Look for tells or signs of what you are about to do, as well as habits you have that are predictable. Always have a way to keep your opponent guessing.
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.
Shuttle runs can build your endurance, stamina and ability to stop quickly. Start one end of the field, sprint to the line for ten yards and touch it. Then reverse your direction and go back to your starting point. Try to do as many of these as you can each day, and record how many you accomplish to see yourself improve as time goes on.
A great football tip if you’re a receiver is to hug the sidelines when running down the field. Hugging the sidelines makes it so that you can only be hit from one side and usually all that ends up happening is they’ll push you out of bounds instead of tackling you.
Learn the proper way to hold a football when throwing. When you throw the football, your pinkie and ring fingers should cross the laces and your thumb should be underneath the ball. The palm of your hand should not make contact with the ball. Hold the ball loosely and point your feet towards your intended target.
If playing in college is your goal, create a highlight reel. You will want to include game highlights that show off your agility, dexterity, strength, speed and accuracy. Make sure that you highlight all aspects of your game, demonstrating a well-rounded skillset.
Continually make your work outs harder. Don’t just run, but run carrying weights. Don’t just do squats, do them while holding a barbell. Do these work outs under the guidance of your coach or a trainer so that you don’t end up injuring yourself, but do push yourself to your limits.
Now that you have read this article, you should be more enlightened about the complexity that is American football. When you understand how a game works, you will find yourself more likely to fully enjoy it. Your next Sunday game is much more exciting when you do.