Football is the most popular sport in the United States. It is a hard-hitting and physical team sport that features teamwork, work ethic and athletic ability. To play effective football, teams come together before the start of the season to go through conditioning drills that many players find demanding. Players also learn the skills needed to play their positions and go through refinement on how to perform their job better.
Conditioning
There is no point in playing a tough and physically demanding sport like football if you are not in condition. Get yourself in top shape before the start of the season. The best conditioning drills involve speed, endurance and strength. Do the ladder running drill to build speed and endurance. Start off at the goal line and sprint to the 40-yard line and back, the 30-yard line and back and finally the 20-yard line and back. Take a one-minute break and repeat the drill. Do push-ups, pull-ups and ab crunches to build strength. Weight training is an effective tool for building strength, but players who are 14 and under are not prepared to lift weights because it can hurt joints, muscles and tendons.
Blocking
All players must know how to block to be effective on the field. Offensive linemen should drive off the line of scrimmage and hit their opponents in the chest with their hands and then keep moving their feet forward to open holes for the running game. When receivers and running backs block downfield, they should use their shoulders to block opposing linebackers and defensive backs by driving into their midsection. Players should never block by hitting their opponent with their helmets, which is dangerous and can lead to devastating injury.
Pass Catching
Players who catch the ball must run precise pass patterns and concentrate on the ball as it is coming their way. Receivers have a significant advantage over defensive backs who are covering them because they know where they are going. To take advantage of that, players must run decisive patterns and not round off their routes. As the pass approaches, the ball must be caught with the hands and the receiver cannot allow the ball to bounce off his body and hit his shoulder pads. "I used to work on my hands every off-season," said Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. "No matter how many balls I caught the previous season, I never took anything for granted. I knew I had to use the best technique every time I stepped on the field."
Confidence
Football is a tough game determined by hard hitting. If you step on the field, you are going to get hit hard on a consistent basis. Nevertheless, you must take the field with confidence so you can hit your opponent and deliver the hard shot yourself. To have confidence, you must enjoy what you are doing on the field and look forward to playing.
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