When it comes to sports, there are none more popular than football. From high school all the way to the NFL, there seems to be no end in sight for the sport’s popularity around the world. With preseason and regular season games being played in London and other worldwide spots, the sport is gaining fans it once thought were out of reach. A sport requiring great skill in many areas, those who play the game at any level realize there are many football skills to be mastered in order to perform at the highest level.
Footwork
To succeed in football, a player has to know what to do with his feet. For example, the quarterback needs to be able to master several different types of dropbacks such as a three-step, five-step and seven-step. Running backs need to be able to cut on a dime in order to change direction and avoid potential tacklers, while wide receivers and defensive backs need to know how to run precise routes in order to catch passes or, in the case of the defensive player, intercept the quarterback’s pass.
Speed
Coaches say they can’t teach speed, so any player who has this as part of their skill set is already ahead of most everyone else on the field. Quarterbacks who are quick have the ability to avoid the pass rush and make a big play when all hope seems lost, while receivers who can blow past defenders can run down the field and score touchdowns all game long. However, speed is not just reserved for the offensive side of the ball. A good defensive lineman with a quick first step when the ball is snapped can weave his way into the backfield and sack the quarterback or running back for a loss, while defensive backs with quickness can cover almost any receiver and put themselves in position to make a key interception when their team needs it most.
Strength
It never hurts to be strong no matter what type of job a person holds, and the sport of football is tailor-made for those who list physical strength as one of their assets. Strength can be used to intimidate opponents or wear them down as the game goes on, and sometimes it’s actually used in both ways. Many players who are considered undersized work hard to make themselves strong, for it lets them compensate for other skills in which they may be weak. No matter what side of the line of scrimmage a player is on, strength can be the deciding factor in who wins the game. Many games come down to which team has the strongest offensive or defensive line, where coaches refer to the game as being won or lost in the trenches. A strong offensive line will help protect the quarterback, giving him more time to make key plays, while a massive defensive line will put pressure on offensive players and force them to make mistakes at key times in a game.
While many skills are needed to play football, players and teams which possess speed, strength and excellent footwork usually find themselves on the winning side when the game ends. If a player wants to become the best player on the field, it would be to his advantage to perfect these skills.
Robbie fredric
