Playing youth football requires a major commitment from players, coaches and family members. While players are still learning the fundamentals of the game, they are expected to attend at least four practice sessions and one game every week. Practice session are usually two hours long. While learning the fundamentals of the game you must keep up with your school work and your other off-the-field responsibilities. Playing football at the sixth-grade level will teach youngsters how to manage their time and the proper way to play the game.
Step 1
Run all conditioning drills at top speed. Your coaches will put you through conditioning workouts throughout the first one to two weeks of summer practice. You will be asked to do sprints, shuttle runs, distance runs, push-ups, burpees and jumping jacks. You get judged on everything you do on the football field and if you push yourself hard, you send the message to your coaches that you will play hard as well. Conditioning work is difficult, but you must work hard to get in shape during this part of the season in order to make sure you get a chance to contribute to the team.
Step 2
Learn the fundamentals of blocking. All players have to know how to block at the sixth grade level no matter what position you play. You have to learn to drive your hands into the middle of your opponent's chest and keep your feet moving in order to have enough force to drive your opponent and create a hole for the ball carrier. You have to be careful to keep your hands inside the frame of your opponent's body. This means you have to grab his torso and not his arms.
Step 3
Tackle by driving your shoulder into your opponent's midsection, wrapping your arms around him and moving your feet forwards at full speed. This will put your opponent on the ground and may separate him from the ball. Tackling is one of the fundamentals of the game and you must drive your man backwards and wrap him up. It is not a matter of grabbing his arm. You must use proper form to be a consistent tackler or your opponent will get away from you.
Step 4
Follow your blockers when you run with the football. You have to let your blockers open a hole in the defensive line before you increase your speed and run through it. If you run full speed right away, you will run up the back of your blockers or right into the arms of the tacklers. Use your vision and instincts to run the ball effectively by waiting for the hole to open.
Step 5
Listen to your coaches' instructions. When you play at the sixth-grade level, the idea is to learn as much as you can about the game from more experienced individuals. You need to learn the fundamentals of the game and when coaches are making corrections in the way you block, tackle or run with the ball you will have a better chance of improving by attempting to follow their instructions.
Things You'll Need
- Helmet
- Shoulder pad
- Spikes
- Athletic supporter with protective cup
- Football jersey
- Football pants
