If you are a receiver in football, it is likely that you are among the best athletes on the team. You must be quick and agile, with excellent concentration and coordination. Unless you are a tight end, blocking is not your primary responsibility; however, you must be strong enough to block when necessary. You must also have the confidence to make receptions for long yardage when you are matched up one-on-one against an opposing cornerback.
Speed
The faster you are, the more likely you will be to gain an advantage over your defender. Your speed is also likely to cause your defender to play farther away from you as the ball is snapped. This extra space allows you to catch more balls in front of your defender. If you break tackles after you catch a pass, your speed will afford you a better chance of not getting caught from behind. It is extremely important that you maintain your speed as you make your cut on a passing route. You must also accelerate to your top speed very quickly.
Routes
It is important that you run precise passing routes on plays that are designed for you. Running precise routes enables the quarterback to time his passes properly. Precise timing between you and the quarterback makes interceptions less likely and increases the chances of you making the catch.
Hands
You must have sure hands to play receiver in football. Often, the ball is thrown in such a fashion that you must catch a pass away from your body. Consequently, there is nothing to block the flight of the ball except your hands. It is common for you to get hit while making a catch, which requires you to have sure hands. You must adjust to balls thrown at different heights and speeds, too.
Body Control
Some passes will be thrown to you in a way that you will need to move your body in space in order to make the reception. This might be an intentional play by your quarterback, because he has to place the ball away from a defender who is closely defending you. Other times you may have to adjust the position of your body to catch a pass that is off-target.
Intelligence
To be an effective receiver, you need to study the defensive tendencies of the man who is assigned to cover you. This will give you the opportunity to trick him into a mistake on defense. You must also learn how to get open when your quarterback is scrambling in the backfield.
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