Developing High School American Football Playing Tips

Learning the Basics of Catching a Low Football Pass

Making the plays means that you have practiced the non-optimal situation and know how to react to them. One situation that most offensive players will face is the low catch. One not so perfect scenario is a low passed catch. First, keep your hands down low in a scooping or shovel position; you can even cross your pinkies. This technique stops the ball from bouncing away and also helps the player scoop up the ball quickly. Second, keep low to the ground as a reference your knees should be level with your elbows, and if this means that you are down on all fours better a complete and no extra yards than an incomplete pass. Third, once the ball touches your hands scoop it up into your chest and tuck it away into a secure position. Remember, the cardinal rule of catching is to use your hands and not your body. Keep your eyes right on the ball. And always see the ball through, meaning that you are watching it into the tuck.

Conditioning: Cross jumping

Reaction is as skill that players need to develop through conditioning and drills. This drill will help players quickly change directions on the field. It starts by placing players in a small four square box. Once a players positions themselves in one of the corners they will proceed to jump from one corner of the area to other in either a patterned function or randomly. Coaches should encourage one foot jumping to increase further strength and reactions on the field.

Dehydration is an enemy to football success

Dehydration should never appear on the football field if both the players and coaches have good habits. Each athlete should bring or have a water bottle provided, and they need to use it often. Always remember that if you prevent, punish, or otherwise use water as a motivational tool it is very counterproductive, and there are many other motivating paths that you can take. When players are hydrated and energized they will practice harder and learn more.

A great Handoff Drill

Drills practicing fundamentals like an effective hand offs can make the difference between a mediocre team and an excellent one. One great hand off drill starts by having two separate lines of players facing each other: line A and line B. At the coaches signal player A leaves line A running with the football towards line B. At the same time that the first player leaves player B leaves his line towards player A, as they pass each other in the middle player A hands off the football to player B. Now player B has the ball and will hand off the ball to the next person in Line A who will hand off to the next player in Line B. The motion should be constantly moving from one line to another in this drill, almost like a juggling pattern. This is a great drill to help running backs practice hand offs, and should be run every day.