The stiff arm is a technique used in football by a running back, wide receiver or tight end to fend off the tackler and allow an offensive play to continue. The ball carrier's primary job is to secure the ball and gain as much yardage as possible. However, in some cases the ball carrier will use his arm to strike a blow and drive the tackler away. This technique will help the running back get more yards on a play and will help him establish a more aggressive identity on the field.
Step 1
Drive your dominant hand into the chin or neck area of the oncoming tackler. Time the blow so that you are delivering it with force and power at the moment the tackler is about to make impact. Your stiff arm will lose effectiveness if it is late.
Step 2
Power your stiff arm by using your upper body to add force to the blow. A hard shove with your shoulder and arm can be effective, but when you get your chest and core muscles adding force to the shot you can knock the tackler down and turn a good run into a huge one. You must punish the opposing tackler with your stiff arm the way a boxer punishes his opponent with a hard punch.
Step 3
Deliver a stiff arm with either of your hands. If you are running down the left sideline, secure the ball in your left arm and use your right arm -- closest to the center of the field -- to fend off the tackler. If you are running down the right sideline, use your left arm to administer the blow.
Step 4
Go to the weight room to build up your upper body strength by doing arm curls, the bench press and lunges. These will help you get stronger and more powerful, which will help you deliver the stiff arm with force to stun your opponent.
Step 5
Drive your hand under your opponent's face mask when delivering the stiff arm. Officials will not allow you to grasp the face mask under any circumstances. This is a potentially dangerous blow and they will be quick to throw the flag if they believe you have grasped the face mask.
Tips and Warnings
- Stay away from the face mask when stiff-arming your opponent.
References
- Touchdown Skills: Stiff Arm
- "Inside the Helmet"; Peter King; 1993
- "Parcells -- Autobiography of the Biggest Giant of Them All"; Bill Parcells and Mike Lupica; 1987
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