Improving your technique requires an understanding of the position you play, a desire to be stronger and faster, and a willingness to work hard to achieve these goals. Football players can look to role models at the professional level to see how they play and what techniques they use to model their performance. However, the only way to truly improve your technique is to make adjustments, then use them on the practice field before trying them in games.
Step 1
Develop a signature move. No matter what position you play, there will be a series of moves or maneuvers that you do regularly within the course of a game. If you are a blocker, perhaps it's a strong hand punch that allows you to open holes for the running back. Maybe it's a drop step that allows you to get in perfect position to block for the quarterback and protect him. For a wide receiver, it might be the ability to work the sidelines and make the catch with your feet inbounds. Develop those skills to the fullest.
Step 2
Play with the desire to be the best on every play. This is more of a mental adjustment than anything else. If you see the player on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage and you are not thinking about how you can dominate him every single play, your attitude is wrong. No matter how much you work on your technical skills and what you do to get better in practice, you are not going to manifest that on the playing field unless you really want it. You have to want to be on the field for every snap and punish your opponent. If you don't, you will just be going through the motions.
Step 3
Look at video of your performance both in games and during practice. If you are playing at the high school, college or professional level, videotape will be used to record nearly all practices and all games. This will give you a chance to fine-tune what you are doing on the field. Your coaches will go over major flaws but you will have to figure out the small things needed to get better. It could mean changing your hand placement if you are a lineman, your angle of approach if you are a linebacker or your backpedal if you are a defensive back.
Step 4
Attack the linebacker if you are a running back. Most people think that a running back has to withstand a blow or tackle attempt when he is running with the ball. The best running backs initiate the contact when they are taking on a tackler -- usually a linebacker -- in a one-on-one situation. Get your pads lower than the tackler's and hit him with a strong forward body lean.
References
- "Play Football the NFL Way"; Tom Bass; 1991
- Football Drills: Running Back Drills
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