Improving Elementary American Football Players Routines
Up Downs Conditioning Drill The popular conditioning drill known as "up downs" is a very effective way to increase cardiovascular activity and endurance.
This drill consists of having players run in place as fast and as hard as they can.
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.
Because this drill can be very taxing, it is important to increase the time spent at this slowly over time as the player's strength increases.
Football tackling 101 Tackling is fundamental to football, and should receive proper attention at practices.
If executed poorly not only will you not succeed in stopping the offensive team, but you could possibly injure yourself in the process.
Here are three important steps to practice: First, plant yourself in front of your opponent.
Plant your cleats in the grass squarely in front and in the middle, bisecting the player in half.
Also, and in coordination with your feet throw your arms back preparing to grab.
Second, push your other foot keeping your knees low and bent, and in sync with your feet throw your hands up hard around the offensive player.
Now is the time that injuries can happen.
Never, ever, ever tackle with the top of your head down, keep it up and square against your opponent.
You need to literally imagine that the football is a big hamburger and you want to bite it and not slam your forehead against it.
Third, at this point you have successfully grabbed your opponent and all that's left is to lunge your hips forward and bear all of your momentum against your opponent.
Setting yourself up for this last step will ultimately prove the success in the tackle.
Steps to effectively block driving When talking about the fundamentals of a great offense or defense, you have to know what a good driving and blocking techniques are.
The drive block is the most fundamental and should be practiced often.
It is a simple yet effective way to move your opponent.
The first step of this block is the scrimmage alignment, in order to drive to the right or left this basic block will push your opponent in the way that they are aligned, so if they are aligned to the right the drive will push them to the right.
When driving start with your play side foot.
Move quickly and in a speed bursting motion, make solid contact with your opponent to drive them off in the direction that you want.
Weightlifting No practice regime would be complete without lifting weights.
Not only will it add muscle to your body and increase your strength, it will also help you to increase your maximum power.
Maximum power differs in importance to strength due to the fact that it is exertion during play and not just muscle mass.
This exertion will help you as a football player to execute your skills on the field with speed and force.
As you continue in your weightlifting program, we highly recommend that you get a personal coach to push you in your goals, teach you proper techniques, and ensure that you are doing the right work for your position.
This drill consists of having players run in place as fast and as hard as they can.
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.
Because this drill can be very taxing, it is important to increase the time spent at this slowly over time as the player's strength increases.
Football tackling 101 Tackling is fundamental to football, and should receive proper attention at practices.
If executed poorly not only will you not succeed in stopping the offensive team, but you could possibly injure yourself in the process.
Here are three important steps to practice: First, plant yourself in front of your opponent.
Plant your cleats in the grass squarely in front and in the middle, bisecting the player in half.
Also, and in coordination with your feet throw your arms back preparing to grab.
Second, push your other foot keeping your knees low and bent, and in sync with your feet throw your hands up hard around the offensive player.
Now is the time that injuries can happen.
Never, ever, ever tackle with the top of your head down, keep it up and square against your opponent.
You need to literally imagine that the football is a big hamburger and you want to bite it and not slam your forehead against it.
Third, at this point you have successfully grabbed your opponent and all that's left is to lunge your hips forward and bear all of your momentum against your opponent.
Setting yourself up for this last step will ultimately prove the success in the tackle.
Steps to effectively block driving When talking about the fundamentals of a great offense or defense, you have to know what a good driving and blocking techniques are.
The drive block is the most fundamental and should be practiced often.
It is a simple yet effective way to move your opponent.
The first step of this block is the scrimmage alignment, in order to drive to the right or left this basic block will push your opponent in the way that they are aligned, so if they are aligned to the right the drive will push them to the right.
When driving start with your play side foot.
Move quickly and in a speed bursting motion, make solid contact with your opponent to drive them off in the direction that you want.
Weightlifting No practice regime would be complete without lifting weights.
Not only will it add muscle to your body and increase your strength, it will also help you to increase your maximum power.
Maximum power differs in importance to strength due to the fact that it is exertion during play and not just muscle mass.
This exertion will help you as a football player to execute your skills on the field with speed and force.
As you continue in your weightlifting program, we highly recommend that you get a personal coach to push you in your goals, teach you proper techniques, and ensure that you are doing the right work for your position.