Running Drills: A Way of Life

Running drills are one of the most basic ways that you can enhance your endurance. Running drills will help you gain stamina so that you will be able to play to your full extent throughout the game. Teams, or individuals, that do not complain throughout the running drills will be better off and better prepared for a game. Because in the end, the team or players that are the fastest are the ones that win the championships. Running also will teach you how to push yourself even when you don't want too.

Football tackling 101

It has been stated many times that a defensive teams win games, and the most fundamental part of a defensive team is performing a great tackle. If you, or your players dont take tackling seriously you will not stop the offense and could also cause injuries. 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, 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. 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. 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 thats left is to lunge your hips forward and bear all of your momentum against your opponent. The squarer you are in the first step the easier it will be to perform the third step.

Open field tactics: covering ground with angle tackles

The reason for angle tackles is simple, cover the shortest area to get to the tackle, but there is still a great need to practice this technique. 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.

Playbook Practicing

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. In order to start learning a play, make sure that you first pay attention to the instructions when they are given. 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. 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.