College football and the NFL enjoy booming popularity. You can hardly turn on the TV or surf the Web without seeing the latest news or highlights from the weekend's big games. And quite often, it's the wide receivers earning the headlines--and, in terms of professional football, the big paychecks. Wide receiver has become football's glamour position and thus, the position of choice for many aspiring football stars. But if you want to become the next big-time pass-catcher, you'll need to put in work.
Step 1
Line up properly. To maximize spacing and avoid penalties for illegal formations, you need be in the right places. At least seven offensive players must be lined evenly with the football. While some plays will call for receivers to start a few yards behind the line or "go in motion"--run parallel to the line of scrimmage--often times you'll need to start even with the ball. On shorter plays, you'll usually line up in a tight formation, closer to the quarterback than the sideline, thus requiring the ball less air travel. On deeper plays or plays that call for you to catch the ball while cutting toward the middle, you'll usually line up more toward the sideline.
Step 2
Hone your pass routes. Receivers rarely just run up the field as fast as possible. In a crossing routes, the receiver runs forward briefly before taking an intermediate path across the middle. Slants are similar to crossing routes, only with a diagonal path downfield, toward the opposite sideline. If you're fast, you should master fly routes, used on deep passing plays, when the receiver takes off downfield in an attempt to beat his defender for a big gain. These are a few examples of the many routes you must learn. A great route runner with average speed is more valuable than a speedster who runs sloppy ones.
Step 3
Practice catching the ball. By catching the ball with your hands, arms extended, you'll get to the ball sooner than the defensive backs trying to intercept it or knock it down. And you'll be less likely to cough it up when a defender hits you after the catch.
Step 4
Block somebody. Although receivers are known mostly for catching the ball, they're also vital in helping free running backs for big gains by blocking defenders downfield. Footballusa.com recommends bending slightly at the waist while keeping your back straight. Your arms should hang relaxed and your front leg should be slightly bent at the knee, foot flat on the ground and weight resting on the ball of the foot. The front leg has more of a bend in the knee. The foot is placed flat on the ground with the weight over the ball of the foot. Explode quickly off of the line of scrimmage so you have full momentum heading into your blocks, lower your shoulders while keeping your head up and drive your opponent away from the ball carrier using your upper body.
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