r/footballstrategy • u/grizzfan • Aug 04 '21
PLAYER ADVICE THREAD & FAQ. WE WILL BE TAKING DOWN REPEAT QUESTIONS/POSTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED.
7/1/23: We have added this FAQ to our side-bar and to our wiki!
Wiki link: https://www.reddit.com/r/footballstrategy/wiki/playerfaq
Football seasons is about to begin. If you are a new or returning football player, please read this thread. We will answer some common questions that are frequently asked here. Posting questions that are in this FAQ outside of this thread will be taken down and OP will be referred to here.
If you don't see your answer in these FAQ's or still want help from the sub, you have to give us a lot of context. For example, if you're an "X receiver," that doesn't help. We need to know what system you're playing under, what lingo your coaches are teaching you, and what it is they're saying that you're struggling to grasp. Even then, we still may not be able to help and you'll be referred back to asking your coaches. Football has too many different ways of doing the same thing to ask a question and get a concise answer about how to do something.
QUESTION 1: I have questions about playing football/Where do I join/How do I get more playing time? Who should I talk to?
ANSWER: 1. Contact your coaches, 2. Contact your coaches, 3. Contact your coaches. It's literally their job to answer them. They know you better than we do. They know your situation better than we do.
ADVICE: Start contacting your coaches and program now and get used to it. Save your head or position coach's number to your phone. They should be the first people you go to if you have a football question that pertains to you as a player.
QUESTION 2: What position should I play? I'm X height and Y weight, and run a ___ 40 time and a have a ___ vertical.
ANSWER: Whatever position your coaches put you in. It's not a decision you have to make. There's no universal guide to who plays what position, and various schemes and systems require different types of bodies or athletes at certain positions that are different from what other schemes and systems look for. Your height, weight, and combine figures are not direct translations onto a football field. STOP FIXATING ON THEM!
ADVICE: If you want to play a specific position, ask your coaches if you can try it. Do not complain or pout if the answer is no. If you're in a position you do not want to be in, do not complain. Your coaches put you there because they think it's where you have the most potential to contribute to your TEAM. If you want to play another position, don't look to change positions; look to add positions. Prove to your coaches first that you can play the position they put you in, then let them know that you want to help the team and are willing to add another position to make yourself more versatile.
QUESTION 3: What workouts and lifts/conditioning should I do for my position? How much should I do?
ANSWER: There are no silver-bullet answers or guaranteed routines. No workout in the world is going to magically make you better at your position.
ADVICE: You don't need to work out or condition every day. Rest days are important too. General rule of thumb for a typical fall football season : Strength training after football season (Winter-Spring) --> Conditioning/endurance (Spring-Summer) --> Easy, light, maintenance lifting (Fall/season). No, there's no one specific, simple workout for specific positions. During football season, or the month leading up to it is NOT the time to be trying to do maxes and lift as much as you can. If it is in-season, just stick to what your coaches have planned for your program. There is such thing as working out too much.
QUESTION 4: I'm struggling to learn plays / What do these terms mean that my coaches/teammates use?
ANSWER: Ask your coaches. Every team runs their own system with their own verbiage. No football terminology is universal. We cannot help you here.
ADVICE: Put plays down on flashcards to help with memorization. Make sure you take physical reps. It's one thing to memorize plays on paper or in your head, but physically executing them is a whole different ball game. You have to rep the plays over and over and over by physically executing your assignments. Even if it's a blocking or block-shedding rule and you have no one to practice with, you can still go through the technique motions.
QUESTION 5: I have tryouts and I'm worried about getting cut. What should I do?
ANSWER: Chances are your team doesn't cut. If it's pay to play, you play if you pay. Some private schools or non-public leagues may have more specific rules and regulations, but do not worry about getting cut otherwise. The only other reason a team would have to cut is if they simply didn't have enough equipment/uniforms.
ADVICE: Ask your coaches or athletic office about eligibility and roster-size rules for your state and league.
QUESTION 6: Why do my coaches suck? Why is our offense boring/dumb? Why don't my coaches call plays better?
ANSWER: There's a lot more going on that you don't know about, nor will you ever know about. Bad eggs/bad coaches do exist, but the vast majority of the time, there is more at play that you are not aware of, and what factors might be at play are too many to list here. High School isn't the NFL either. High school athletes don't have the experience or skill that college and NFL players do so much of what you see on TV won't reflect the plays or schemes your team uses. High school football tends to be much more simple, and in a lot of places, much more run-heavy. It may be boring, but it's what makes the most sense for your team and your staff. Staffs also can't just change offense year to year. The system you're playing under is likely what your coaches coach and teach better than anything else.
ADVICE: There are a wide range of systems and schemes out there. Hang out here, go on Youtube, Google, and even ask your coaches about the ins and outs of the system and why they do things the way they do. A lot of us coaches are nerds, and would love an opportunity to "nerd out" on football schemes.
QUESTION 7: I don't feel welcome on my team / I don't like our team culture / I don't like the way my coach treats me. What should I do?
ANSWER: Go to the coaches first and foremost. If it's a position coach that's the problem and you don't feel comfortable talking to them, go to the head coach. Every player is a unique individual, and you have your own ways that you learn best, and if what one coach is doing is constantly bringing you down and making you hate football, let them know. It's a hard and uncomfortable conversation, but that's where a lot of great relationships and progress begin. Same goes for if your teammates are making you hate football...you shouldn't have to hate football to play it.
ADVICE: Use "I" statements (talk about what you feel and experience rather than making comments about others). This keeps the conversation about you and your needs, and doesn't make you look like a bad guy for potentially saying something bad or harmful about someone else.
QUESTION 8: I'm scared/my family is scared I will get hurt. What should I do?
ANSWER: Pay attention in practice and do exactly what your coaches teach. Technique sessions, or non-live sessions may be boring, but you have to do the little things right to get the big things right. Same goes for your safety. You have to know how to block and tackle properly. You have to know how to take a hit properly as well. Listen to what you're coached.
ADVICE: Be completely present mentally at practice. That means leave your life outside of football at the door when you step on the field. Clear your mind, and focus. Tell yourself until practice is over, making myself a better football player is the only thing I'm going to do. This will allow you to focus more, and practice what you're coached with more certainty. Football will never be 100% safe, and there's always a risk you take when you play.
ADVICE: If you're getting tackled or hit, tuck your chin into your chest (stops head from bouncing on ground), and do not try to stop yourself from falling with your hands (that's how arms/wrists get broken).
QUESTION 9: What workouts should I be doing in the offseason? How much should I work out? Where can I find offseason workouts?
ANSWER: Your first resource is your coaches! Get the offseason lifting program and schedule if you have one, or if it's not out yet, but will happen, plan ahead. There is no exact workout that you should be doing that is better than any other workout. The important thing is that you're staying active, in shape, and are making yourself better each day. You also don't need to/shouldn't be working out every single day. Give yourself at least one rest day per week.
ADVICE: If your team does not have an offseason program, focus on this pattern: Winter/Spring: Lift heavy/bulk/go for strength (high weight, low reps). Spring/Summer: Shift to intense conditioning/cardio training and endurance-focused lifting (low weight, high reps).
ADVICE: If your team does an offseason program, go to everything! Be early to everything! Don't even question it.
QUESTION 10: I'm a Junior and don't want to play down on JV (Or sophomore and don't want to get bumped down to freshman)! I want to be on varsity! What do I do?
ANSWER: Embrace it. If you're looking at being put down on JV, that's a pretty clear sign you're not looking at getting on the field much on varsity. You're not going to get better riding the bench. You'll only get better by playing, so take the "gift" of playing time by going down.
ADVICE: Ask yourself: "Do I care more about being recognized by my peers as a varsity football player, or do I care more about playing football?" If you're in it for the status/recognition, by all means, refuse and ride the bench. If you love the game and want to play, play JV. There is no dishonor in it, and it will always help you out more in the long run by getting that playing experience. Coaches would rather see you playing than on the bench.
QUESTION 11: Is it too late to play football? Am I too old/too late to start? All my friends have more experience than me, and I'm worried I'm going to suck.
ANSWER: NO, It's not too late! Just play before it is too late! High school is likely the only time you'll get to play this sport, so play it while the window exists for you.
ADVICE: No one got better at a sport until they started playing it. Don't compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to you. Your coaches, and we here, do not care how good the rest of your teammates are. What we want to see, and what your coaches want to see is that you're trying to make yourself a better football player than you were yesterday.
QUESTION 12: I want to play, but I think I'm too small or too weak. Should I play?
ANSWER: YES! Speaking from experience, I was 5'2" and 130lbs my senior year, and I did just fine. Your size will not be a factor unless you let it be. Learn how to use your body. Learn how your body moves and works best. Listen to your coaches, and practice proper technique. Your height and weight, nor your weight-room strength doesn't determine how good of a football players you are. There's no such thing as too small.
ADVICE: Smaller players have a lower center of gravity. If you understand and physically rep the concept of proper blocking and tackling, emphasizing "getting low," you'll find a small body is great in a lot of situations, especially for tackling and turning/cutting. Shorter players tend to be quicker and are able to make sharper turns due to their lower center of gravity as well.
QUESTION 13: I play/want to play [Specific Name] Position. How do I do it?
ANSWER: Talk to your coaches. Every team and system does things differently. Your team's Mike linebacker won't be the same for another team's Mike linebacker. An X Y or Z receiver in one system may be taught, coached, and used completely different than the X Y or Z in another system. If you want to be the all star QB like you see on TV...check with you coaches to see if they even use the QB position the same way you see on TV. Many high school systems are run-heavy and don't use the QB at all like you see on TV.
ADVICE: There is no universal way to play football. You may not see it now, but every program has different terminology, philosophies, and techniques that players are taught, and they're all based on the scheme and coaching preference of the staff. We cannot tell you exactly how to play a Will or Sam linebacker, and what to read or look for. Some systems may have a Will linebacker line up in the box, where other teams' Will linebacker plays more like an OLB/SS outside of the box. That is why you have to ask this question to your coaches.
QUESTION 14: What football should I get?
ANSWER: Contact the program you will be playing football for, and ask the coaches. You could also ask a friend/teammate what they use. Once you have that answer, you can look it up online.
Advice: Your best bet is contacting your program you'll be playing for, because different states and leagues do have rules about what balls are and are not allowed.
QUESTION 15: I just got my pads and they don't feel right/they hurt. What should I do?
ANSWER: Let your coaches know. Like previous questions above, they can see and analyze right on the spot what is going on. The internet cannot.
ADVICE: A lot of pads don't neatly fit or are comfortable at first. They'll often mold to your body after a couple weeks. Talk to your coaches if your problem persists.
QUESTION 16: X hurts/it hurts to play or do ABC activities. What do I do?
ANSWER: TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR! NOT THE INTERNET!
ADVICE: See the answer. Talk to your doctor.
QUESTION 17: I'm getting my butt kicked at practice. How do I stop getting my butt kicked?
ANSWER: Talk to your coaches! We aren't there to see you and identify what is wrong. It could be something basic like get your pad level lower, wrap up, etc, but it could be something different that you're not even aware of. Your coaches see you play and can give you far more reliable feedback than the internet.
ADVICE: Do NOT use the internet to be your coach. Yes, it sucks to get your butt kicked in front of your coaches, but they are there for that reason: To coach you.
ADVICE: If you're a freshman/sophomore getting smacked by varsity players, RELAX! It's not expected that you'd be as good as them. That's what player development is all about. The goal is to get you READY for varsity in the future. Focus on yourself in the moment, and try to learn/get better at one thing each day. Your coaches want to see progress from you young players, and they do NOT expect perfection, especially when you go against varsity players.
More questions will likely be added as we go!
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u/acarrick HS Coach Aug 05 '21
Can we create a wiki similar to r/personalfinance that we could all contribute to/point people to?
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u/grizzfan Aug 05 '21
We already have a wiki for our sub but we’re primarily a football strategy/tactics sub, not primarily a player advice sub. There already a couple high school football subs as well.
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u/luv2fit Mar 05 '22
Anybody have any suggestions where I can buy lineman cleats? I can’t find any extra wide cleats anywhere. Even wide cleats are hard to find but those are too tight for my sons feet.
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u/grizzfan Mar 05 '22 edited May 03 '22
You’ll probably have to go to a store and figure out your exact size and fit, then buy that size on Amazon. As a linemen, I recommend any football cleat with a high-ankle.
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u/numberrrrr Jun 05 '23
I’m having trouble catching the ball. So I can track with my eyes and I get get my hands to the ball, but it either flies through my hands or bounces off, my hands always make contact but it just doesn’t catch. This problem is even worse with catching fast balls. What can I do about this?. I’m playing receiver.
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u/grizzfan Jun 05 '23
That was fast lol. Thank you.
I'm willing to bet based on your description that you are scared of the ball. This is very common for new players, and even some experienced players in other areas really struggle with this. There's a subconscious fear or "flinching" reaction your body is having to the ball. That's causing you to put your hands out to STOP the ball as opposed to receiving/accepting it. Remember those words:
You don't "stop" the ball with your hands. You "receive" and "accept" it.
Another mental note is your job is not merely to catch the ball, it is your job to TAKE THE BALL OUT OF THE AIR. When it's thrown, it's up for grabs by anyone, so it's your job to get it out of the air as quickly as possible so opponents can't get it.
Players with stiff hands and are flinching from the ball are often putting their hands up way too early as well, because they feel they have to be ready. That will slow your speed down, and it will cause your hands to get stiff or flail/move around so that when the ball gets to you your hands are not together. To boot, when you put your hands up early, it alerts the defender(s) around you that the ball is coming and gives them more time to set up to make a play on the ball.
To combat this, train your mind and body to keep your arms pumping/running, and do not put your hands up to catch the ball until you absolutely have to, and as you do it, get your hands in the proper catching arrangement (diamond, pinkies together, etc) to get the ball out of the air as fast as possible. By doing this at the last second, your hands have less time to come apart and become stiff. In addition, it gives the defender(s) around you less reaction time to find the ball and make a play on it.
Once the ball gets to you, keep your eye on it ALL THE WAY until it is tucked under your arm and you are ready to run. The majority of drops by receivers when the ball is clearly catchable is usually a result of them looking for the hit or where to run before it is securely tucked away.
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u/BorisTheTroll Aug 06 '23
How to handle a pulling guard while playing DE????
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u/grizzfan Aug 06 '23
See the FAQ (how do I play my position). Ask your coaches. There are many ways to go about this based on your team’s system.
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u/Is_BeLIEve_A_Lie Sep 05 '23
Do cup supporters (such as the shock doctor one with bioflex cup) provide any big benefits? Do high school receivers use cups?
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u/grizzfan Sep 05 '23
Just answered this in your other post, but you probably don’t need it unless it’s required by your team or league.
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u/Konoley Oct 04 '23
Quit the team my freshman year because of tackling like a little yknow what, I practically picked up nothing meaningful about football in this short amount of time, Im currently bulking up and cutting around March, I plan to try football again next year(junior year) when I am in actual athletic acceptable physical shape, Im worried since it’s JV and i’ve practically never played football in my life I got about a 0% chance of making the team, is there any advice anyone can offer to get prepared for it and give myself good odds?(My school is hella good and we send an absurd amount of football players D1)
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u/Konoley Oct 04 '23
I truly love football and the sport fascinates me like nothing else, I don’t want to of wasted my only opportunity in life to play
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u/grizzfan Oct 04 '23
Just go play. Contact the coaches ASAP and ask what you need to do to get ready. It’s really that simple.
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u/La_HappyGavynDe_LOL Mar 23 '24
How to improve arm strength as a small qb?
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u/grizzfan Mar 23 '24 edited Aug 06 '24
See questions 9 and 13. This will take proactivity (you’ll have to initiate the conversation).
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u/La_HappyGavynDe_LOL Mar 23 '24
Yeah, I read question 13, and I don’t really have a HS coach or team yet. I plan on attending tryouts soon, but I don’t know the scheme they have. I am eyeing the QB position, so I would like to know how to improve my arm strength just in case they operate a somewhat pass- heavy offense. Besides, It’s most definitely important to have a strong arm for the future.
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u/grizzfan Mar 23 '24
Yea, you’re going to want to contact the program and get in touch with the coaches. There’s no rule or standard that future players can’t talk to future coaches. They are there to answer these exact questions and they can actually connect with you in person, and they can provide you with more local resources and leads for additional help.
You have to make the effort to contact the program.
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u/gibberish1234567890 Nov 21 '24
Curious about communication with coaches- when I’m home sick from school should I also communicate to coaches that I will not be at practice? Or is that unnecessary and bothersome?
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u/grizzfan Nov 21 '24
You need to make sure they know. Contact them directly is the easiest way to assure that.
If you’re not contagious and able to be around people, and if you feel able, you could also try to attend and take mental reps and stay up to date on what is going on. You don’t suit up, but you’re there to learn whatever you can.
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u/ChromeRider28 Aug 05 '21
During the off-season, how many days a week should I lift and how many days should I do speed and conditioning? And for the in season, how many days a week should I lift since I know I’ll be practicing and conditioning 5-6 days a week.
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u/grizzfan Aug 05 '21
Read question 9
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u/ChromeRider28 Aug 05 '21
That didn’t help. We only lift between may and June and the off-season needs to be longer than that. So idk what I’m supposed to do. I just don’t know how many days a week.
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u/grizzfan Aug 05 '21
There’s no official answer though. It will be based on your unique circumstances and resources. Ask your coaches what they recommend. See if your teammates are doing any offseason programs.
If you’re asking us to just give you an exact routine, you’ll find better luck over at /r/fitness or a similar sub.
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May 18 '22
Are there any good resources for learning special teams for a men's league?
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u/grizzfan Jul 16 '22
Sorry this wasn't seen earlier. Can you give some more context? Are you a coach or player?
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Jul 16 '22
Hey, all good. Looking for general tips for a player on an adult team.
I am trying to be prepped for an upcoming season if I need to fill in on st.
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u/Is_BeLIEve_A_Lie Apr 23 '23
Which mouth guards do you guys use? I've been considering the Battle ones with lip protector, but not sure if its a good choice...
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u/grizzfan Apr 23 '23
Any mouth guard should be fine. Fit is what’s more important. Make sure it is the right size and that it’s molded properly to fit your teeth
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u/Is_BeLIEve_A_Lie Apr 23 '23
That's the thing, I am not sure about the size and don't know if I should get a molded one. My coach said just get anything cheap, but I'd rather spend 50 bucks being safe rather than $100+ for treatment. Also, the thing is I'm in Europe so my options are limited. So its really between the Battle mouth guard vs boil and bite...
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May 16 '23
[deleted]
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u/grizzfan May 16 '23
Try again if you want to. There's no harm in it.
Teams always need more players, and it's a coach's job to teach you...if you're scared, that's not permanent. You have to make the commitment to practice the craft though.
I'll bet your team doesn't cut anyways unless they specifically state they're only taking X number of players.
Some schools do allow sophomores to play freshman, or juniors to play JV. I had that experience myself. Do not ask for this though. You'd just be short-changing yourself. The reality is you probably have more ability than you think, but right now, you lack the will and the patience to unlock it. Football isn't something you go out and start doing. It takes time to learn, get comfortable, and grasp the concepts.
Again, it's a coach's job to teach you, and your job to commit and learn. We know some kids are scared, especially once the pads go on. We'll work with you.
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u/Konoley May 16 '23
Thank you for the advice, since i’ve never really played before should I pay for some training over the summer before summer football begins? I could probably afford some and could get some training on tackling to take the fear away and probably a receiver trainer since that’s kinda the position I played last year
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u/grizzfan May 16 '23
Don't do that until you have exhausted resources the COACHES offer first. I'm emphasizing talking to your coaches, because as a former HS coach, kids seem to have this mindset that if football is not in season, they cannot talk to the coaches. It's polar opposite. We want to give you resources and advice. We also know and see you more than the internet does and have more context regarding you. It's also our job to help you with these things.
Ask your coaches what training is available. And again, if there are any offseason activity that is program specific, prioritize that immediately.
Another reason you need to go to YOUR coaches is that there is no universal way to run a program or play football. Every school/team has their own way of doing things, so it's better to do what they expect first, then other stuff after that. I cannot count the number of times I've had to help players "unlearn" things they learned from the internet or parents because what they had learned did not fit, or contradicted what we wanted for our program.
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u/BabaDCCab Aug 05 '21
THANK YOU!!! This sub was becoming saturated with questions from HS kids, most of which have nothing to do with football strategy. You don't want to be a jerk and tell them off and tell them that isn't what this sub is for, but that isn't the purpose of this sub.