Throwing a Football

The first thing to consider when throwing a football is grip,Everyone has a different grip. Its all about what is comfortable. Start by putting your thumb under the football so that other fingers can grasp the laces. Use the laces of the football to throw a good spiral. Put your ring finger on the second lace from the top and your pinky should be on the fourth lace from the top,Your ring finger is critical. That is what puts the spin on the ball. Spinning the ball is usually what kids have the most trouble with in the beginning. Be sure to use an age appropriate football. Beginners should use smaller footballs so they can learn to properly use of the laces.

Before throwing, keep two hands on the ball and make sure your shoulders are parallel. Hip and shoulder movement should occur at the same time in order to get the proper torque on the ball.

You want to step into the throw with your legs and be sure to get your shoulders around You want to transfer the energy off your back foot to the front foot. Essentially, your back foot comes off the ground as a part of your release. Think about it like a boxer hitting a punching bag. Energy is transferred from the back foot in one motion as the shoulder moves forward and the hand hits the bag. That movement creates torque and a stronger punch. Throwing a football is similar. You want to use the entire body, transferring weight from the foot to the shoulders so you can move all that energy forward in your throw.

Having the strongest arm doesnt necessarily translate into being a great quarterback. The position takes years to master through consistent practice. The technical aspects of the position are vital, but another critical component is simply experience throwing the football. The more one throws, the better they understand how the ball moves in the air, timing of pass catchers and the important aspect of touch. When you have the right touch on the ball it becomes a lot easier to catch and thats important for the people you’re throwing to. There are times when you need to put zip on the ball and times when you float it there. A quarterback must master all types of throws and to do that, you must throw and throw often.

Adrian Peterson:Yards After Contact

SECURE THE BALL:
As a running back, you have to take care of the ball. That means keeping it high and tight so that defenders can’t get their hands or helmets on it. And if they do, you want to have it tucked so securely that the ball never pops loose. Remember, the point of impact is the most crucial time to have the ball fully secured.

GET UNDER THE TACKLER:
This is all about winning the leverage battle. If you get lower than the man trying to tackle you, you’ll be able to drive him versus him driving you. Getting under the tackler also negates any size advantage he may have. Stay low at the point of contact with your feet under you, and it’s going to be very tough for him to take you down.

DRIVE THE LEGS:
It’s critical that you keep your forward momentum, even after absorbing a hit. Don’t allow yourself to be stood up. Stay low with a strong forward lean and keep your legs driving at all times. When your legs stop, the play stops so you always want to keep them pumping. It’s the effort you give after a hit that gets you those extra yards.

FOREARM BLOW:
Remember to use your whole body when trying to gain yards after contact. This includes giving the tackler a strong forearm blow to keep him from wrapping up. This extra jolt could be the difference between getting stopped and getting free, so make sure you bring it. At the very least, it’ll buy you some extra inches to keep the chains moving.

Vincent Jackson: Catching the Ball

 

What is the most important factor in catching a football?

Vincent Jackson: It’s all about your eyes. If your eyes are not focused properly on the ball, your hands won’t get into the best position to receive it.

What part of the football should the eyes be focused on?

 
Vincent Jackson: The cross hairs. When you look at a ball, especially one that is coming in your direction, you should be able to see the two crosshairs, the seams at the tip of the ball coming at you. By focusing on that tip of the ball, even more specifically the crosshairs of the ball, you improve the chances that your hands will be positioned properly, increasing your chances of catching the ball.

What is the proper position of the hands?

Vincent Jackson: The easiest way to visualize this is by grabbing a football. Take the tip, crosshairs, and point it to your face. Now, form a triangle with your index fingers almost touching each other and the same with thumbs around the tip of the ball. Then place the rest of your fingers on the ball following the angle of the football. Another important thing to remember is that your fingers should be the only thing touching the ball, not your palms. Now drop the ball and maintain the same hand position and you will have the proper hand positioning to catch a football.

What is the most important aspect of hand placement?

Vincent Jackson: Catching it with your fingers and not your palms. Your fingers have elasticity in them, so when the ball hits your fingers it naturally takes away some of the balls energy (speed). If you try to catch a ball with flat hands, the ball will hit your palms, which is a harder surface and the ball will be more likely to bounce out of your hands.

Any other thoughts about catching the ball?

Vincent Jackson: Yes. The best way to learn to catch as a youngster is to use your hands. But there are times when I will have to take a big hit and that is when I chose to let the ball into my body and almost cradle it a little. However, this is a skill and it has taken years for me to learn how to do this without the ball bouncing off my body. Also, the technique we’re talking about is hand position for balls above your waist. You need to have your hands placed differently for balls coming at you below your waistline.

Jay Cutler: Three Step Drop

Get comfortable in the pocket. Jay Cutler, quarterback for the Chicago Bears, covers the Three-Step Drop for hitting pass plays. These plays are usually high percentage plays that are commonly called timing routes. Nike Football Pro Moves is a great resource “to be the best, learn from the best”. This football training video offers a valuable perspective from Jay Cutler.

Proper Base:
Start out under center with a good base. You want to have a go-to stance, with your feet shoulder width apart. Not too wide, not too skinny. Your balance is right in the middle, and whatever happens after the snap you won’t be trying to readjust. Then bend your knees, and take the snap. It’s go time.

Step Back:
Take a good step back, hold the ball up and keep your eyes downfield. This sets you in a good position in the pocket. Then take another step, and crossover to cover more ground. By this time the line has pushed back and you’re going to need some distance. Take the third gather step, a step you’re going to throw off of, so plant your feet in a balanced stance that will be the foundation of your throw.

Ball Placement:
As you step back, keep the ball in an active and comfortable position. Not too high, not too low. You don’t want to have to bring it too far up to release it, and keep it safely in front of you. That’s where you’re going to generate your power from, and when you see a man open up downfield, power is your friend.

Throw Mechanics:
Now is when you step forward and target the receiver. Take a comfortable step forward, again not too small and not too big. As your throw comes forward, follow through with your backside foot and bring it around. The follow through with your foot is as important as the follow through with your arm, it’s a total body thing. And by the time you’re done, you’ve won.

Larry Fitzgerald: Adjusting to the ball

CREATE SEPARATION:
If you want to have the freedom to adjust to any pass thrown, it helps to create separation between you and your defender. So explode off the line and sell the deep route. This way when you come out of your break, you’ll hopefully have more space to work in when the pass comes in.

EYES FOCUSED ON BALL:
As soon as the ball leaves the quarterback’s hand, you have to stay zeroed in on the flight of that pass. Don’t take your eyes off it, and don’t worry about the defenders who may be around you. On most receptions you’re going to take a hit anyway, so your priority has to be catching the ball first.

WATCH POINT, CATCH FAT:
The point of the ball is a good spot to zero in on because it’ll keep your eyes centered on pass while it’s in flight. Then when the pass arrives, you want to catch the fat of the ball — the thicker area toward the center that your hands can most tightly grasp. Remember, soft hands on the catch, then a tight grip to secure it.

USE HANDS, NOT BODY:
It’s crucial that you don’t use your body to catch the pass, especially in traffic. If you let the ball get in to your chest, it could easily ricochet off your shoulder pads and into the hands of a defender. So when the ball comes in, keep your hands away from your body and make the grab with your hands. Then take it for six.

LaDainian Tomlinson: How to do a Spin Move

Nobody does it better than LT. Better pay attention. LaDainian Tomlinson, running back for the San Diego Chargers, gives you the lowdown on the Spin Move he uses to get away and make that yardage. Nike Football Pro Moves is a great resource “to be the best, learn from the best”. This football training video offers a valuable perspective from LaDainian Tomlinson.

Carry With Outside Arm:
You always want to keep the ball away from defenders, so if you’re coming around the outside you should keep the ball in your outside arm. This makes it more difficult for defenders to get to the ball, and it allows you to use your inside arm to fend off tacklers. When you spin, remember to keep the ball tight to your body – don’t let it extend outward.

Stay Balanced:
A key part of a successful spin move is staying balanced. You don’t want to approach the defender with so much momentum that you crash right into him – that only makes his job easier. As you approach the tackler, come to balance with your body in control and your feet under you. That’ll put you in much better position to set up your spin move.

Shake and Spin:
One of the most important elements of the spin move happens before you even spin. The shake you give the defender is what throws him off balance and allows the spin to be effective. Just before the point of contact, shake (or juke) in one direction and get the tackler to turn his hips. Then plant your foot and spin back the other way, past your man.

Accelerate:
Once you’ve executed the spin, it’s time to turn on the jets. Square you body downfield again and accelerate as fast as you can. This will prevent the original defender from reaching back and making an ankle tackle, and it will reestablish your forward momentum to take on the next defender, if there is one. If not, have a nice trip to the end zone.

Brian Westbrook: How to Make a Defender miss

GET DOWNFIELD:
After you’ve secured the ball, you want to make sure to get your momentum going down field. This forces defenders to react to you and your progress, versus them coming up and making a play on you. You basically want to put them in a defensive posture. Once you’ve turned downfield you should also get your speed up and gain as much positive yardage as possible.

SQUARE DEFENDER’S FEET:
When a potential tackler enters your path, you want to approach him at an angle that puts his feet square to you. If his feet are square to you, it gives you the freedom to make your move to either side right or left. If his feet are angled one way and he’s forcing you in one direction, you won’t have as much of that freedom. Best to keep him squared up in your approach.

SWITCH HIS HIPS:
The key to getting a tackler out of position is making him adjust his hips. If you fake inside or outside and get him to turn his hips that way, you can quickly cut back and force him to turn his hips again. Now you’ve forced him to turn his hips twice, which is very difficult to recover from. Once his hips are switched, you can either cut back with a quick step or spin off him.

BLOW PAST HIM:
Once your defender’s off-balance and you’ve got that step, it’s time to turn on the jets. A quick burst of speed will prevent the tackler from recovering, and your speed will make it more difficult for the next defender to get his hands on you. Remember, after you’ve blown past a tackler, keep your eyes up field and see where the best path for maximum yardage is.

Calvin Johnson: How to Run a Fade Route

Go up and get it like the Motor City’s main grab man. Calvin Johnson, wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, breaks down his Fade Route move, so you can get away from your defender and catch the ball. Nike Football Pro Moves is a great resource “to be the best, learn from the best”. This football training video offers a valuable perspective from Calvin Johnson.

Shoulders Low, Hands Up:When you line up for the snap you want to keep your shoulders low and body forward, ready to generate forward momentum. This will prevent you from being stood up if your defender tries to jam you at the line of scrimmage. You should also keep your hands up so you can swat away the defender’s hands if he tries to push you off your route.

5 Yards From Sideline:On a fade route, your defender might try to run you out of bounds. That’s why you want to keep a good, safe cushion of distance between you and the sideline. Five yards is usually enough. As you run your route, make sure you don’t give up too much of that cushion. You want to give yourself enough room to make a play on the ball.

Locate the Ball:When the ball is in the air, be sure to look over your shoulder in time to locate the ball. A mistake receivers make too often is they don’t turn to find the ball early enough. Locating the ball early will give you the time you need to judge its trajectory and speed, and ultimately put you in a better position to make a play on it.

Catch Ball at Highest Point:As the ball descends, try to time your jump so that you catch it at its highest possible point. You may have to adjust your body first, but when you leave the ground aim to get a full extension of your body and arms, making the grab high and out of the reach of your defender. Sometimes on a fade the ball is up for grabs – be the one who makes the play.

Hines Ward: How to Run a Curl Route

Hines Ward from the Pittsburgh Steelers breaks down how to run it the right way every time. If you’re an up-and-comer wide receiver, you cannot miss this football tip. Ward breaks it down into four steps: Chin Over the Toes, Come Back to the Ball, Get Your Hands Out, and Tuck and Turn. Nike Football Pro Moves is a great resource “to be the best, learn from the best”. This football training video offers a valuable perspective from Hines Ward.

Chin Over the Toes:When making your initial cut back to the ball, make sure you get your chin over your toes before you turn back. Not only will this help you make a balanced, efficient turn that doesn’t waste movement, but you’ll also keep your defender guessing on which way you’re going to cut. Never cut corners when running your routes.

Come Back to the Ball:Once you’re out of your cut, pumps your arms back toward the quarterback and run toward him. Do not stop. That will only allow your defender to catch up to you and make a play on the ball. Your quarterback may need time to scramble free, or find you as a receiver option, so keep coming back to the ball to stay open.

Get Your Hands Out:As the ball is being delivered, get your arms extended and your hands out, ready to catch the ball. By catching the ball with your hands away from your body, you keep the ball out of your defender’s reach. If you try to catch the ball with your body, it’s easier for the defender to reach around you and swat it away.

Tuck and Turn:Once you’ve caught the ball, tuck it tight to your body with both hands and turn up field away from the defender. So if the defender tries to make a play on the ball over your left shoulder, turn up field to your right. Whenever a defender makes a play on the ball, it’s a good opportunity to shake him off and get yards after the catch.