Progressing High School American Football Team Tips
Football tackling 101
Learning how to perform a proper tackle is fundamental to the game of football. Tackling can be fun and exhilarating, but done improperly and it can be dangerous. Some points to remember when tackling:
First, plant yourself in front of your opponent. You can do this by placing your foot between your opponents feet. Also, at this time thrust your arms backward to prepare for the next step.
Second you want to bring your other foot into the mix, and at the same time throw your arms up and around your opponent. At this point you are well planted in front and your head should be in direct contact. The one golden rule in making a safe tackle is to never, ever lead with or try to tackle with the crown of your head. A great way to insure that you are in the right position is to practice touching your facemask to the football of the opposing player.
Third, at this point you have successfully grabbed your opponent and all thats left is to lunge your hips forward and bear all of your momentum against your opponent. The more momentum that you bring to the table on steps two and three the more effective your speed will be in this last step.
Playbook Practicing
Learning a play is critical because when an individual learns a play and executes it properly, it benefits the whole team. Because football plays can be intricate, it is important that you understand and follow the coach's instructions. In order to avoid learning a play wrong, or developing bad habits, we recommend that you go through the entire play slowly at first. As always, when learning a new play don't hesitate to ask for individual help to master the techniques needed. Are you done with the play after practice? No way! the best thing that you can do after practice is visualize your plays. Sleep on them, and you will learn them twice as fast.
Angle tackling
Because not every tackle is direct and head on, it is necessary to set up an angle tackling situations during practice. Set up a simple drill with two players, on as the offense with the ball running in a straight line, the other as the defender running towards him at some angle. As the opponent comes toward the defender he will need to adjust his body position and shorten the angle, put his foot in front of the opponent, and make sure that he put his head in front of the opponent. A good tackle is now executed as the defender lunges at the opponent wrapping his arms around his opponent grabbing cloth and completing the tackle by pulling him down or pushing him off sides.
Conditioning: Quick step crossing
Conditioning in football is meant to help you react quickly on the field moving in a variety of directions. The point to this drill is having players practice quick directional changes on the field. It starts by placing players in a small four square box. The drill starts by having a player stand in one area or box, and has them jump diagonally, laterally, frontwards, and backwards from one area to another. Coaches should encourage one foot jumping to increase further strength and reactions on the field.
Learning how to perform a proper tackle is fundamental to the game of football. Tackling can be fun and exhilarating, but done improperly and it can be dangerous. Some points to remember when tackling:
First, plant yourself in front of your opponent. You can do this by placing your foot between your opponents feet. Also, at this time thrust your arms backward to prepare for the next step.
Second you want to bring your other foot into the mix, and at the same time throw your arms up and around your opponent. At this point you are well planted in front and your head should be in direct contact. The one golden rule in making a safe tackle is to never, ever lead with or try to tackle with the crown of your head. A great way to insure that you are in the right position is to practice touching your facemask to the football of the opposing player.
Third, at this point you have successfully grabbed your opponent and all thats left is to lunge your hips forward and bear all of your momentum against your opponent. The more momentum that you bring to the table on steps two and three the more effective your speed will be in this last step.
Playbook Practicing
Learning a play is critical because when an individual learns a play and executes it properly, it benefits the whole team. Because football plays can be intricate, it is important that you understand and follow the coach's instructions. In order to avoid learning a play wrong, or developing bad habits, we recommend that you go through the entire play slowly at first. As always, when learning a new play don't hesitate to ask for individual help to master the techniques needed. Are you done with the play after practice? No way! the best thing that you can do after practice is visualize your plays. Sleep on them, and you will learn them twice as fast.
Angle tackling
Because not every tackle is direct and head on, it is necessary to set up an angle tackling situations during practice. Set up a simple drill with two players, on as the offense with the ball running in a straight line, the other as the defender running towards him at some angle. As the opponent comes toward the defender he will need to adjust his body position and shorten the angle, put his foot in front of the opponent, and make sure that he put his head in front of the opponent. A good tackle is now executed as the defender lunges at the opponent wrapping his arms around his opponent grabbing cloth and completing the tackle by pulling him down or pushing him off sides.
Conditioning: Quick step crossing
Conditioning in football is meant to help you react quickly on the field moving in a variety of directions. The point to this drill is having players practice quick directional changes on the field. It starts by placing players in a small four square box. The drill starts by having a player stand in one area or box, and has them jump diagonally, laterally, frontwards, and backwards from one area to another. Coaches should encourage one foot jumping to increase further strength and reactions on the field.
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