The techniques needed to be a good football player vary and depend on the position you want to play. For instance, the techniques used by linemen, such as blocking, differ from the techniques employed by a quarterback, which include passing and handing the ball to running backs. Some techniques, such as tackling and recovering loose balls, are techniques that are common to all positions on a football team and should be practiced by one and all.
Lineman Techniques
Becoming a good football lineman involves applying a variety of techniques, including blocking and tackling, each of which come through extensive training and practice. Playing lineman, offensive or defensive, requires a lot of upper- and lower-body strength to prevent defenders from tackling your ball carrier or to tackle the other team's ball carrier. The techniques needed to play offensive lineman differ from those used to play defensive lineman.
For instance, an offensive lineman uses his hands, arms and chest to keep opponents away from his quarterback or to open a gap for his running back to run through. Offensive linemen also do a lot of backpedaling and need to be quick on their feet to cover short distances quickly. Defensive linemen, on the other hand, use techniques that involve outmaneuvering an offensive lineman in an attempt to tackle the quarterback or ball carrier. Like his offensive counterpart, a defensive lineman uses his hands, arms and chest to accomplish his objective.
Running Back Techniques
As one of the fastest players on a football team, the techniques used by a running back involve a lot of agility, speed and strength. They can develop these skills through an assortment of activities, such as jumping rope, weight training and conditioning. By virtue of his assignment on the football field, a running back should be able to think and act quickly to situations created by his teammates. For example, a running back will need to recognize when a lineman has opened a gap through which he can advance the ball toward the opponent's goal line. The ability to apply short bursts of speed and make sharp cuts and turns in multiple directions are techniques that will serve his team well.
Wide Receiver and Defensive Player
The techniques used by a wide receiver include eluding and outrunning defenders and jumping to catch and run with the ball. Defensive backs, who defend wide receivers, should be as fast, if not faster, than those who they are assigned to cover. Good defensive backs, including safeties, should be efficient at running in one direction while turning their head and torso in another to follow the flight or location of the ball. Linebackers are like linemen and defensive back hybrids, and should be able to apply the techniques to play both positions to be effective.
Quarterback
A quarterback is the only football player that touches the ball on nearly every offensive play. Because of this, a quarterback uses different techniques than those used by other players. For instance, the quarterback must proficiently throw the ball to wide receivers and running backs while avoiding oncoming defensive players whose goal it is to prevent him from completing the pass. Quarterbacks also hand the ball to running backs on running plays designed to advance the ball toward the opponent's end zone.
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