Whether it's football season or not, a variety of cross-training sports are ideal for developing the skills needed to play football, including wrestling, basketball and track and field. Whether you're a lineman looking to improve your foot speed or a linebacker who wants to become better at shedding blockers, there's another sport for you that will help you enhance your gridiron skills. Different sports will benefit different position players.
Wrestling
Wrestling is a sport that involves a lot of upper-body strength and escaping and attacking skills, just as playing football does, especially on the defensive side of the ball. If you're a linebacker, for instance, you would greatly benefit from the techniques taught in wrestling that require dynamic core power and the ability to stabilize your body as it reacts to resistive energy applied by an opponent. These techniques are similar to those needed to make tackles on the football field. Offensive and defensive linemen should also consider wrestling for cross-training purposes because of its effectiveness in improving upper-body strength, sharpening core balance and quickening foot speed.
Basketball
If you're a football player who does a lot of jumping, running and defending, such as a defensive back or wide receiver, you should consider basketball for its cross-training benefits. For example, basketball rebounding requires the ability to track the ball's location and to outsmart, outmaneuver and outmuscle an opponent to get the ball, just as a wide receiver or defensive back needs to do. Offensively, basketball can also help sharpen the skills needed by a wide receiver to get free of an opponent to receive a pass, a sharpened skill any quarterback will appreciate.
Track and Field
Track and field is a multifaceted sport that offers cross-training benefits for any football player, regardless of your position. The skills taught in shot putting, such as upper-body strengthening and foot speed, will benefit you especially if you are a lineman, tight end or linebacker. If you're a speed position player, such as wide receiver, running back or defensive back, track and field's sprint events, such as the 100-meter dash, will give you training in the explosive and speed-maintaining skills needed to get open for a pass, turn the corner on a sweep or defend the opponent's passing game. If you're a quarterback, take advantage of the arm-strengthening events offered by the discus, shot put or javelin field events.
Miscellaneous
No matter what position you play on the football field, sports that improve your foot speed and hand-eye coordination are definitely worth cross-training consideration. For example, racquetball and tennis are sports that involve shorts bursts of speed in a confined area and require good hand-eye coordination. Soccer is ideal for cross-training, especially if you're a punter or kicker. Even if you're not a player who kicks the pigskin, soccer conditioning will greatly improve your stamina and endurance during a football game.
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