Understanding High School Football Playing
Catching the ball low
Great plays are made through dedicated practice of the fundamentals. This means that quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, etc have gone through the motions several times and know how to react to situations on the field. Perfect and not so perfect scenarios should constantly run at football practice. Here are some secrets to making this catch. First, keep your hands down low in a scooping or shovel position; you can even cross your pinkies. This ensures that the ball will not slip through your fingers. Locking your pinkies prevents the football from falling through your hands. Once you have the football in your hands scoop it up and tuck it away. Remember, the cardinal rule of catching is to use your hands and not your body. Keep your eyes right on the ball. Last, concentrate on catching it first and then worry about the defense, and scoring some more yards.
Secrets to a good hand off
Whether you are a quarterback, running back, or a player that at anytime will receive a hand off you need to realize the basics of a great hand off. The hand off can take place in many ways, but most if not all handoffs occur between the quarterback and the running back. A running back at the start of a hand off should give the quarterback a target by opening up his arms that are in front of his chest enough to allow about one and a half footballs in. When the running back receives the football he clamps down both arms hard on the football to protect it. Now that the running back has the ball when he leaves the quarterback he should remain low to the ground in order to react quickly on the field.
Running will increase performance
If you have more energy at the fourth quarter then your opponent then you have won, and the best way to get endurance are running drills. These drills are meant to help you play your hardest throughout the entire game. Even with all of these benefits you will notice that most of the complaints in practice come from running drills. Whether you are tired, exhausted, and ready to throw up, if you keep running your added strength will help you win games. Running also will teach you how to push yourself even when you don't want too.
Ball security: The Gauntlet Drill
Ball security, preventing fumbles and turnovers is perhaps the most important skill the offensive team can have. This is especially true for a running back or wide receiver as they will carry the ball more often than others on the field, but it is a good idea for all positions to practice a little ball security. A great drill called the gauntlet practices ball security. The drill starts with a player protecting the ball as best as he can while running through several opponents. The opponents can line up in any scenario, the most common being two lines and the ball carrier must run through them. Run each of the gauntlet drills slow and then speed them up as each player gets better at effective ball security.
Great plays are made through dedicated practice of the fundamentals. This means that quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, etc have gone through the motions several times and know how to react to situations on the field. Perfect and not so perfect scenarios should constantly run at football practice. Here are some secrets to making this catch. First, keep your hands down low in a scooping or shovel position; you can even cross your pinkies. This ensures that the ball will not slip through your fingers. Locking your pinkies prevents the football from falling through your hands. Once you have the football in your hands scoop it up and tuck it away. Remember, the cardinal rule of catching is to use your hands and not your body. Keep your eyes right on the ball. Last, concentrate on catching it first and then worry about the defense, and scoring some more yards.
Secrets to a good hand off
Whether you are a quarterback, running back, or a player that at anytime will receive a hand off you need to realize the basics of a great hand off. The hand off can take place in many ways, but most if not all handoffs occur between the quarterback and the running back. A running back at the start of a hand off should give the quarterback a target by opening up his arms that are in front of his chest enough to allow about one and a half footballs in. When the running back receives the football he clamps down both arms hard on the football to protect it. Now that the running back has the ball when he leaves the quarterback he should remain low to the ground in order to react quickly on the field.
Running will increase performance
If you have more energy at the fourth quarter then your opponent then you have won, and the best way to get endurance are running drills. These drills are meant to help you play your hardest throughout the entire game. Even with all of these benefits you will notice that most of the complaints in practice come from running drills. Whether you are tired, exhausted, and ready to throw up, if you keep running your added strength will help you win games. Running also will teach you how to push yourself even when you don't want too.
Ball security: The Gauntlet Drill
Ball security, preventing fumbles and turnovers is perhaps the most important skill the offensive team can have. This is especially true for a running back or wide receiver as they will carry the ball more often than others on the field, but it is a good idea for all positions to practice a little ball security. A great drill called the gauntlet practices ball security. The drill starts with a player protecting the ball as best as he can while running through several opponents. The opponents can line up in any scenario, the most common being two lines and the ball carrier must run through them. Run each of the gauntlet drills slow and then speed them up as each player gets better at effective ball security.
Source...