Advancing Elementary American Football Team Habits
Some benefits to Weightlifting
Let's not forget weightlifting. It is one of the essential elements that will help you improve your game. Not only will it add muscle to your body and increase your strength, it will also help you to increase your maximum power. Maximum power differs in importance to strength due to the fact that it is exertion during play and not just muscle mass. This exertion will help you as a football player to execute your skills on the field with speed and force. We highly recommend working with a personal trainer when weightlifting to insure that you are doing it properly, and to help you design a program that will fit your position.
Staying Hydrated
Sufficient water intake on and off the field for athletes should be a concern for both the coaches and the players. Every player should have a water bottle close so that they can take quick water breaks or at least a swallow here and there. Times have changed and coaches these days should be aware of hydration needs and not use water as a reward, or withhold it as a punishment. These safe practices will help keep players energized and healthy.
Secrets to a good hand off
Handoff skills can secure yardage on the field and increase your overall success. Lets look at a simple hand off between a quarterback and a running back to point out the fundamentals of this skill. A running back at the start of a hand off should give the quarterback a target by opening up his arms that are in front of his chest enough to allow about one and a half footballs in. Once the quarterback has placed the ball in the pocket, or opening, the running back immediately clamps down on the ball protecting it and holding on to it. As the running back runs off with the football it is important to stay low to increase agility and speed.
Catching the ball low
Good receivers and even running backs know how to make the great plays. Making the plays means that you have practiced the non-optimal situation and know how to react to them. One situation that most offensive players will face is the low catch. Here are some secrets to making this catch. First, keep your hands down low in a scooping or shovel position; you can even cross your pinkies. This technique stops the ball from bouncing away and also helps the player scoop up the ball quickly. Second, keep low to the ground as a reference your knees should be level with your elbows, and if this means that you are down on all fours better a complete and no extra yards than an incomplete pass. Once you have the football in your hands scoop it up and tuck it away. Third, once you have caught the ball, tuck it away as soon as possible. Never use your body to catch a football. Catch it first and then worry about running it.
Let's not forget weightlifting. It is one of the essential elements that will help you improve your game. Not only will it add muscle to your body and increase your strength, it will also help you to increase your maximum power. Maximum power differs in importance to strength due to the fact that it is exertion during play and not just muscle mass. This exertion will help you as a football player to execute your skills on the field with speed and force. We highly recommend working with a personal trainer when weightlifting to insure that you are doing it properly, and to help you design a program that will fit your position.
Staying Hydrated
Sufficient water intake on and off the field for athletes should be a concern for both the coaches and the players. Every player should have a water bottle close so that they can take quick water breaks or at least a swallow here and there. Times have changed and coaches these days should be aware of hydration needs and not use water as a reward, or withhold it as a punishment. These safe practices will help keep players energized and healthy.
Secrets to a good hand off
Handoff skills can secure yardage on the field and increase your overall success. Lets look at a simple hand off between a quarterback and a running back to point out the fundamentals of this skill. A running back at the start of a hand off should give the quarterback a target by opening up his arms that are in front of his chest enough to allow about one and a half footballs in. Once the quarterback has placed the ball in the pocket, or opening, the running back immediately clamps down on the ball protecting it and holding on to it. As the running back runs off with the football it is important to stay low to increase agility and speed.
Catching the ball low
Good receivers and even running backs know how to make the great plays. Making the plays means that you have practiced the non-optimal situation and know how to react to them. One situation that most offensive players will face is the low catch. Here are some secrets to making this catch. First, keep your hands down low in a scooping or shovel position; you can even cross your pinkies. This technique stops the ball from bouncing away and also helps the player scoop up the ball quickly. Second, keep low to the ground as a reference your knees should be level with your elbows, and if this means that you are down on all fours better a complete and no extra yards than an incomplete pass. Once you have the football in your hands scoop it up and tuck it away. Third, once you have caught the ball, tuck it away as soon as possible. Never use your body to catch a football. Catch it first and then worry about running it.
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