Middle School Learning: Football Practice

Learning the Plays from the Playbook

Practicing the plays is fun, and also very important. When you master your part of the play it will strengthen your team and yourself. Rule number one in starting out a new play is following your coach's instructions. A lot of habits can form in the first couple of practice plays, for this sake it is a good idea to take them slow at the start. Practice is a great time to get some extra help, so if you are struggling with a certain play remember that your coaches are there to help you master the techniques. Always, always ask for the help that you need. After practice is over visualize the play in your mind. Go over it again and again, and you will find that your mind will help you learn the plays even when you sleep.

Up Downs Conditioning Drill

Out of all of the football conditioning drills up downs is one of the most popular. Players will start this drill by running in place as fast as they can, keeping their knees high as possible. Then at random a coach will yell, down or blow a whistle at which the players must dive to the ground do a push up and then jump back into running in place. This drill is an excellent workout and should be worked in slowly at first and then increased in intensity and length over time.

Proper Catching Leads to Great Ball Security

Catching the football properly and effectively is fundamental to a strong offense. There are three steps of a great catch: First, place your hands in front of you with your palms open and thumbs out forming an open triangle for the football. Second, follow the ball with your eyes from the first time you see it in the air until it is securely placed in a tight hold. Third, tuck the ball away security, keeping your eyes on the ball, so that it is in a high tight position. Many receivers can get into a bad habit of looking away from the ball before it is stored away properly. Taking your eye off the ball increases incomplete passes, fumbles, and turnovers. In order to increase catching and ball security effectiveness have two receivers pass to each other, when one of them catches the ball make sure that they slow the motion down pausing when they catch, follow through, and secure the football.

Catching the ball low

Making the plays means that you have practiced the non-optimal situation and know how to react to them. Perfect and not so perfect scenarios should constantly run at football practice. Here are some great techniques in coaching and learning the low catch. First keep the pinkies together down low to make a shovel. First, keep your hands low and lock your pinkies. Second, keep your knees bent low and in extreme cases you should be flat on the ground or diving. Once you have the football in your hands scoop it up and tuck it away. Use your hands and not your body. Always watch the ball through from the first time you see it in the air until it is in a secure ball carrying position. Last, concentrate on catching it first and then worry about the defense, and scoring some more yards.