Understanding Middle School Sports Offensive Routines
Water on and off the field
Sufficient water intake on and off the field for athletes should be a concern for both the coaches and the players. Make sure that during the football practice players have their water bottles handy and are drinking often. Times have changed and coaches these days should be aware of hydration needs and not use water as a reward, or withhold it as a punishment. Keeping everyone happy and hydrated will go a long way to a successful practice.
Conditioning: The Quick Jump
Football is all about action and reaction, and those that practice reacting quickly in a variety of directions will dominate the field. This drill will help players quickly change directions on the field. The drill takes place in small four corner area that you can draw out or use the lines of the field. Then the player will proceed to jump from on area or box to another, thus forcing the player to jump laterally, diagonally, frontwards, and backwards. Changes can be made so that the player will only use one foot and then the other while they run the drill.
The importance of learning the Playbook
Every football team will have certain plays. It will be essential to learn your part in that play to benefit yourself, and the whole team. Rule number one in starting out a new play is following your coach's instructions. As you start to practice the play make sure to slow it down, there is no sense in practicing errors. 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
It is a great idea to practice angle tackles with your defense because not all tackles are made with the opponent right in front of you. This can be done by having a player run with the ball on a straight line with the defender at any 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.
Sufficient water intake on and off the field for athletes should be a concern for both the coaches and the players. Make sure that during the football practice players have their water bottles handy and are drinking often. Times have changed and coaches these days should be aware of hydration needs and not use water as a reward, or withhold it as a punishment. Keeping everyone happy and hydrated will go a long way to a successful practice.
Conditioning: The Quick Jump
Football is all about action and reaction, and those that practice reacting quickly in a variety of directions will dominate the field. This drill will help players quickly change directions on the field. The drill takes place in small four corner area that you can draw out or use the lines of the field. Then the player will proceed to jump from on area or box to another, thus forcing the player to jump laterally, diagonally, frontwards, and backwards. Changes can be made so that the player will only use one foot and then the other while they run the drill.
The importance of learning the Playbook
Every football team will have certain plays. It will be essential to learn your part in that play to benefit yourself, and the whole team. Rule number one in starting out a new play is following your coach's instructions. As you start to practice the play make sure to slow it down, there is no sense in practicing errors. 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
It is a great idea to practice angle tackles with your defense because not all tackles are made with the opponent right in front of you. This can be done by having a player run with the ball on a straight line with the defender at any 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.