Protecting the football as you runYou can’t run with the football until you have learned some basic ball security measures. There is nothing worse than almost getting a first down or even a touchdown and fumbling the ball, for this reason there is a great need for ball security. There are four points to protecting the football. The first point is the claw, meaning that your fingers are wrapped over the tip of the football. The second point is making sure that your forearm is wrapped tightly on the outer rim of the football. Third point is to have the ball held tight against the bicep to prevent defenders from punching up through from behind. The final point is keeping the football high and tight against the ribcage. Run a couple of drills were the ball carrier runs through a pack of defenders to practice. In this way you can practice great defensive moves to force a fumble, and also focus on offensive ball protection.

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. Because football plays can be intricate, it is important that you understand and follow the coach’s instructions. In order to avoid learning a play wrong, or developing bad habits, we recommend that you go through the entire play slowly at first. Remember that if you need help, you should ask for it. At times we have seen a player fail to advance or refine their techniques because they don’t ask for added assistance. Don’t let this happen to you 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.

Traditional Driving Block

Simple drives are important for linemen to practice and perfect. The most traditional or basic block is a drive block. When you want to remove an opponent effectively you will use the drive block again and again. The first step of this block is the scrimmage alignment, in order to drive to the right or left this basic block will push your opponent in the way that they are aligned, so if they are aligned to the right the drive will push them to the right. Execute the drive by bolting off the line with your play side foot; again if the play is happening on the left side then you will use your left foot. Connect hard against your opponent, bring your other foot into play and continue to drive in the aligned direction.

Conditioning: The five dot drill

Conditioning drills are effective in training and helping athletes be strong and reactive. The intent of this drill is to increase accuracy, timing, and speed. Setting up this drill is very simple, you will need five markers placed about a foot apart in an x formation with one of the dots being in the center surrounded by four other dots in a square formation.

The player will start by placing a foot on the back two dots and then jumps together to the middle dot and then out separating his legs to the outer dots, much like you would see in hop scotch. The second phase is having the player touch each of the dots with only one foot, and then switch to the other foot. The next step is jumping on all five dots with both feet together. The end step is similar to the first jumping jack step except that this time the player will turn 180 degrees after jumping on the two dots. Players will need to increase their speed and accuracy to be effective with this drill.

Tobacco road is not just a road made of tobacco plants. Aside from having a name that could equate to a haven for smokers, the name itself implies the rivalry. This is the rivalry of the four universities within the area. These rivalries are from the Big Four universities that is one of the main attractions in College Games.It is no doubt that these schools result into having intense rivalries with each other due to their locations. If you want to get to know these four universities, check it out below:

1. North Carolina State University- This school is located Raleigh, North Carolina. Their team is known as the Wolfpacks. Their biggest rivalry among the four universities is the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This is evident on their lyrics and how they tweak their words, in order to phsyc out the Tar Heels. Their team won four National Championships but most of their victories are accounted for the ACC Championships. Their fight song is known as the Red and White song.

2. Wake Forest University- This is one of the two private school members of the Big Four. The school is located in Winston-Salem. According to wfu.edu, this is a school run by the Baptists and tobacco growers. Nevertheless, what is so surprising about this school is the name of their athletics group. Their varsity team is called Wake Forest Demon Decons. This team grabbed eight national titles from different sports. The most recent wins are from their hockey team for women.

3. Duke University- This is the second private school that is a member of the Tobacco Road group. Located in Durham, North Carolina, this school was founded by a tobacco tycoon, which the school was named after in their honor. The name of their varsity team is the Duke University Blue Devils. Their best teams are their women golf team and their basketball team for men. Their biggest rival is the Tar Heels. They have produced many players that qualify for the Olympics since 1956.

4. University of South Carolina- It is located in Tar Hills, North Carolina. This is the last member of the Big Four Universities. It is one of the oldest schools in United States since it was established in 1795. The name of their varsity team is North Carolina Tar Heels. They have an excellent record in NCAA as they have 33 National titles. Their best team, grabbing the most titles for NCAA, is their soccer team for women. Their greatest rivalry is the Duke University.

It seems from all of the Tabacco Road universities, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons least attracts rivalries. And every school considers Tar Heels as their greatest opponents. There is no question about the performance of their team. No wonder the different schools are eager to beat them.

Nevertheless, all of these teams have provided great sports entertainment for the people of North Carolina. Tobacco Road Group is not only a haven for smokers but it is also the haven of the best players in the history of sports.

For those of you who are already football fans, you know what I’m talking about. What better way to spend 3 hours of your Sunday than watching your favorite team on TV? Or maybe more, if you catch the other games. What else does someone possibly have to do on a Sunday? Clean the garage? Go to the mall? I think not. Let’s face it, you worked hard all week; all you want to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the game. Or games.For those of you who are not currently fans and are not following this routine, my question to you is WHY NOT?? There is no other game quite like football. Every week, stadiums across the country, from one coast to the other are filled to capacity; millions of fans are glued to their TV’s watching the game. Every year, people gear up for the Super Bowl, the biggest party of the year. So, there must be something to this game, right?

Maybe you’ve tried watching games and just don’t understand it. Let’s face it, if you don’t understand something, you’re probably not going to enjoy it very much, and football is no exception. But millions of others have learned the game, so why not you?

Maybe you don’t like the violence. Football is, by its nature a violent game. But, that’s what draws so many people to it. It’s not for the meek. But there is much more to football than its violent nature. In no other professional sport do you see 300 lb + athletes run like deer. And in no other sport do you see such precision, with 11 teammates working together like a well oiled machine.

Or maybe you’re just not a sports fan. If that’s the case, now’s the time to become one! I’ve been a self admitted “sports nut” my whole life, following baseball, basketball, hockey and football. Trust me when I tell you, there is no game like football. Just give it a chance!

Bottom line, if you aren’t watching football, for whatever the reason, now’s the time to start! Join the crowd and get ready for some NFL action!

If you need some assistance, check out “It’s Football, Not Rocket Science!” my beginner’s guide to professional football, available at www.learnprofootball.com

Best of luck.

Howard Becker