All family football players have one common desire. Each would like to improve his or her playing skills. This requires a number of actions by the player concerned. These are: (1) decide what skill(s) needs improving, (2) identify specific improvement action(s), (3) practice these improvements, and (4) ensure the proper equipment. Each of these actions will be reviewed in turn.
To determine improvement needs it helps to have a third party assess your skill level. If this assessment is done properly a range of skill improvements will be identified. These could include better passing, upgraded running, improved blocking and strengthened tackling. These needed changes are the basis for identifying the improvement actions required.
Specific improvement actions should never be complicated. They should be easily followed by the player seeking improvement. For example, if better passing is the improvement action required then a program should be designed to assist the player to improve his or her passing skills. This could be a series of drills focused on improving passing accuracy at varying distances. In every case the training required focuses on specific improvement needs.
The third step requires the player in question to follow the proposed improvement program. This will consist of a series of drills designed to strengthen a player’s identified skills. No one but the player can do these drills since they are specifically designed for the player in question. This is a case where practice can make perfect. If improvement is needed then only sustained practice can yield the desired results.
Another key requirement is having the proper equipment. For family football this consists of three items: a football, accessories and a tote bag. The football should be an official football 11 inches long and inflated to 13 PSI. The preferred football is an official NFL football covered in top grain leather. This leather football is the most expensive but handles best of all. It can be a Rawlings football or a Spalding football. A less satisfactory football is the composite football (leather and rubber). It handles less well than an all leather ball and can be a Rawlings football or an Olympia football. The least desirable is a rubber football. While it is the cheapest football it does not play well in most conditions. This can be a Champion football, an Olympia football, a Mikasa football or a Baden football.
Selecting the best accessories is also recommended. These include a football pump (hand operated air pump or a foot pump), a pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair. Always invest in the best quality accessories.
The ball tote should be a nylon ball bag. It is made of nylon mesh and can carry up to 10 footballs and all accessory equipment. This nylon ball tote is used to carry and store all football equipment before, during and after the game.
Skill improvement depends heavily on the commitment of the individual player. Improvement comes only to the player who practices hard and uses quality equipment.
Many people play family football but few excel at it. Why is this? Family football is not a hard game to play so why do so few players truly excel at playing it. There are four basic reasons. They do not have the: (1) talent, (2) commitment, (3) condition, and (4) equipment. This article explores each of the reasons and defines what it takes to excel at family football.
Talent is an illusive thing since so few people ever have it or know how to use it. Only a very few football players are blessed with exceptional talent. This is the natural ability to play the game well. It could be a natural running, throwing or kicking skill. And they are blessed with a strong body that can withstand the rigors of the game regardless of the position they play. Players with natural talent are rare but the few who have true talent should be encouraged.
Talent without the commitment has little value. It’s commitment that truly identifies the best players. Commitment means that the individual player always does his or her very best. Being totally committed to the game is also a rare quality. Few players give the game this kind of dedication. The very best ones do and these are the ones who excel.
A dedicated player is someone who knows the value of a well conditioned body. These players exercise rigorously, avoid all harmful substances like smoking, drugs and alcohol, and eat healthy foods. In this way they build their bodies to play football aggressively and yet avoid injury. Proper body conditioning goes hand in hand with outstanding talent and commitment.
Proper equipment is also very important. Players who excel select only the best footballs, accessories and tote bags. Invariably they choose an official NFL football covered in top grain leather. They prefer a leather football and spurn a composite football (leather and rubber) and a rubber football as both being unsatisfactory. So they select the all leather Spalding football or the Rawlings football. They avoid the composite Olympia football or the rubber Champion football, Mikasa football or Baden football.
For accessories they select only the best football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles or football repair kit. They will only use a quality air pump or foot pump. Inadequate accessories are never chosen.
The ball bag selected is also the best available. It is a nylon ball tote with a nylon draw string. It holds up to 10 footballs and all accessory equipment. This ball tote is used to transport footballs and accessories to and from the games and to keep the equipment safe and secure at the games.
To excel in family (or any) football is to have top talent, strong commitment, proper condition and good equipment. This combination will most often produce a football player who excels in the sport!
Family football is dedicated to having football fun. But this game also expects its players to do their best when they participate. Not all players are equally talented but all players can do their best. What does this mean? How do individual players do their best in game after game? It is no secret. All players doing their best have at least four things in common. They are: (1) focused, (2) in condition, (3) well prepared, and (4) use good equipment. Each of these items will be reviewed in turn.
A focused player is someone who comes to a family football game ready to play football. Yes, having good fun and exercise is important. But focusing on the game and doing the best you can is critical. When all players in a family game are focused and playing their best the game is very exciting. All participants are doing the best they can and this produces an exceptional brand of football. By doing the best they can each player has fun and enjoys the athleticism of the game. So focus is required for best play.
Being in condition to play family football is basic. If a player is not physically fit there is no way that he or she can be focused on the game. Good physical condition means proper aerobic and strength preparation. It also means no smoking, drugs or alcohol. A third ingredient is eating a balanced and healthy diet. It is easy to spot players who are not in condition. They don’t play for long and so ruin the game for others. To play family football well good physical condition is a basic requirement.
Proper preparation for family football means several things. The well prepared player knows the plays and has readied himself or herself to play a rigorous game of football. Family football can be very rough with line and down field blocking and tackling. So only the player who is well prepared to play such a game will be enjoy playing. No others need apply.
Using good equipment is a basic requirement. Old or worn footballs and accessory equipment just don’t “cut” it. Family football is the most fun when the equipment is up to date and properly prepared. Good equipment focuses on three things: footballs, accessories and tote bags. The football used should be an official football – 11 inches long and inflated to 13PSI. It can be a leather football, a composite football (leather and rubber) or a rubber football. Many family teams prefer an official NFL football in top grain leather. It can be a Spalding football or a Rawlings football. Composite footballs play less well and can be an Olympia football or a Rawlings football. The least expensive rubber football can be a Champion football, an Olympia football, a Mikasa football or a Baden football. Three game footballs are recommended.
Good accessories include a top grade football pump (hand operated air pump or foot pump), a reliable pressure gauge, workable inflating needles and a quality football repair kit. These items keep the game footballs always ready for play!
The ball bag is made of nylon mesh and comes in a variety of colors. This nylon ball tote has a nylon draw string and can hold up to 10 footballs and all accessory equipment. This ball tote transports all footballs and accessory equipment to and from the games and keeps it safe at the games. No family team should ever be without a tote bag.
Doing your best in family (or any) football requires the proper focus, good physical condition, proper preparation and good equipment. With all these in place the family game can be enormous fun!
There is a popular saying among exercise buffs these days. It’s called “no pain, no gain”. The meaning is clear. Unless you are suffering some kind of physical pain you are not exercising hard enough. This premise is absurd. You do not have to punish your body to get into top physical condition. In fact, you can do serious damage to yourself by following this proclamation. But this premise can be somewhat true for family football. Unless you are trying your hardest to do well in family football, you won’t! This article looks at the “pain” involved in family football – both personal and equipment – and suggests how best to proceed.
The “pain” of family football is both personal and physical. Your body must be in the right condition to play family football. This means proper aerobic and physical exercise, no bad health habits, like smoking, drugs and drinking, and good healthy food. For some players this regimen is too demanding and they don’t follow it. As a result, they are not in the right condition to play family football and don’t enjoy it. Invariably they will drop out of playing. So don’t make this mistake. Prepare yourself physically and mentally to play the game.
Another aspect of the “pain” in family football is equipment selection. The best players play with the best equipment, be it footballs, accessories or tote bags. Using second hand or badly worn equipment does not pay off. For footballs, this means playing with an official football – 11 inches long and inflated to 13PSI. This football can have one of three covers – a leather football, a composite football (leather and rubber) and a rubber football. The best family football teams prefer the official NFL football covered in top grain leather. It plays the best of all and it can be a Spalding football or a Rawlings football. Next in preference is the composite football. It does not play as well as a leather football but costs about half as much. It can be a Rawlings football or an Olympia football. The least expensive football is made of rubber. It does not play as well as either leather or composite but is satisfactory in most conditions. It can be a Champion football, an Olympia football, a Mikasa football or a Baden football. Serious family football teams have three footballs ready for each game to avoid interrupted play.
Accessories are also very important. They are the football pump (hand operated air pump or foot pump), the pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. These items keep game footballs properly inflated and in good playing condition.
The third key item is the ball bag. It is a nylon ball tote with a nylon draw string. It comes in many colors and transports football equipment to and from games and keeps its safe at the game. This ball tote can carry up to 10 footballs.
“No pain, no gain” has a special meaning for family footballers. Those who play it best are those who give the game their best effort and use only the best support equipment. This is the “pain” and they experience the “gain” in their play!
Who is meant to play family football? This article looks at the participants in family football games and concludes that anyone who is willing can play. This includes old and young, good and bad players and boys and girls. This article will also review the equipment needed to play a family football game in which anyone who wishes to can play.
Family football is first and foremost a family game. This means that anyone who is willing can play. Yes, there are much tougher brands of family football in which only the hardiest and best can play. But this is the minority of games played. Family football is played mostly be a wide selection of players enjoying a game of football on a grassy field some warm Sunday afternoon. This type of game does not discriminate about who can play. If a potential player, old or young, male or female, experienced or new, is healthy and can stand the rigors of outdoor football, then that person is eligible to play. No one should ever be excluded. Family football is meant for anyone who wishes to play.
The equipment used is more selective. There are three types – footballs, accessories and tote bags. The football used should be an official football 11 inches long and inflated to 13PSI. It can be a leather football, a composite football (rubber and leather) or a rubber football. The best football is the official NFL football covered in top grain leather. It is the most expensive but it also plays the best. It can be a Rawlings football or a Spalding football. Next in performance is the composite football. It plays well enough under most conditions and is about half the price of a leather football. It can be an Olympia football or a Rawlings football. The least expensive and most popular in family games is the rubber football. It does not play as well as either the leather or composite football but it also costs much less. The rubber football can be a Champion football, an Olympia football, a Mikasa football or a Baden football. Regardless of cover three official footballs are recommended for each family football game to allow for uninterrupted play in the event of a damaged football.
Accessories normally include a football pump, a pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. The ball pump can be an hand operated air pump or a foot pump. In all cases the best possible accessories should be used to insure no play interruption from an under inflated or damaged football.
The ball bag or tote bag should be a nylon ball tote. It has a nylon draw string and comes in a variety of colors. The ball tote is used to carry up to 10 footballs and all accessory equipment to and from games. Also, at games ball bags can keep spare equipment safely stored.
Family football can be played by anyone who is fit enough to enjoy the game. Don’t discriminate and let all who wish to play get a chance to use the football equipment and play the game!
Family football is all about having fun. Regardless of how tough the play may be if players are not having fun in the game then why play? Many teams take the game very seriously and do all they can to win. But they do not lose sight of the basic fun objective of family football. This article looks at the fun in family football in three ways: (1) how to prepare properly, (2) how to participate fully, and (3) how to follow up creatively. Each of these ways will be reviewed in turn.
Proper preparation to play family football has two basic elements. First get the mind and body ready, And second, get the equipment ready. Mind and body preparation is fundamental. To play family (or any) football properly all players must want to play the game and be committed to doing their best. This is mental preparation. Body preparation is more structured. It requires gaining physical fitness, stopping all deleterious practices like smoking, drugs and alcohol and eating healthy food.
Equipment preparation means ensuring that all football equipment is ready for play. There are three types of football equipment – the football, the accessories and the tote bag. The football should be an official football (11 inches long and inflated to 13 PSI), preferably an official NFL football in top grain leather. Footballs can have one of three coverings – a leather football, a composite football (leather and rubber) and a rubber football. The leather football plays best under all conditions and can be a Rawlings football or a Spalding football. The composite football plays less well but is still suitable. It can be a Rawlings football or an Olympia football. The least playable football is made of rubber but it also the least expensive. It can be Champion football, an Olympia football, a Mikasa football or a Baden football. Three official footballs, regardless of covering, are recommended for each game.
Football accessories are a football pump, a pressure gauge, inflating needles and a repair kit. The ball pump can be a hand operated air pump or a foot pump. Regardless, all accessories should be good repair.
The ball bag is made of nylon mesh with a nylon draw string and comes in a variety of colors. This nylon ball bag can hold up to 10 footballs and all accessory equipment. The nylon ball tote transports football equipment to and from the game and keeps it safe while the game is played.
Full participation means that all players give the game their best effort. Anything less than this means that this individual player is not having fun. The most fun is had in family football when every player gives their best effort to the game.
Creative follow up is also a hallmark of family (or any) football. When the game is over it is always worthwhile to review the play. What worked and why are key questions to answer. Family football is the most fun when the players involved can see how their play helped or hindered the overall effort. Without creative and objective follow up family football never improves and so loses its fun value!
Having fun is the best way to play family football. But fun can only be achieved if each player is ready, plays his or her best and learns from the experience.
Family football, like all football, is a game of proper preparation. To prepare well for a game is to increase the likelihood of victory. This article addresses preparation in four ways. How to properly prepare the: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, and (4) equipment to win at family football.
Preparing the mind for family (or any) football is the most difficult task. All players have some pregame apprehension about playing their best. In fact, certain players get physically sick as they prepare themselves for the game. There is no simple answer for proper mind preparation. However, if a player has done as much as possible to mentally and physically prepare for the game, then the mind will normally react favorably. For most players the pregame mind problem disappears as soon as the real game begins.
Body preparation is basic. All football players should prepare their bodies properly to play a hard physical game like football. Proper physical preparation means having a strong, well nourished and exercised body that does not intake any damaging substances like drugs, smoking or alcohol. Body conditioning is basic in all organized football. It should be equally important in family football.
Having the right spirit to play family (or any) football should never be an issue. But sadly it is. There are frequent examples in all levels of the game where teams play well one week and then “lose it” the next week. Texas Tech is a good example. One Saturday they played Texas, the number one football team in the country, and won. As a result they were ranked number two. The very next week they lost by huge lopsided score to Oklahoma and literally finished their season. They had the right spirit to beat Texas but soon lost it. The very best teams know how to maintain their spirit week after week.
Proper equipment preparation in family football focuses on three activities. These are to prepare the: (1) footballs, (2) accessories and (3) tote bags. Football preparation varies by class of team. All teams should use an official football (11 inches long inflated to 13PSI). After that only the top teams use an official NFL football covered in top grain leather. It plays best but is the most expensive. This can be a Rawlings football or a Spalding football. Next in line is the less expensive rubber and leather composite football. It does not play as well as the leather football and is the Rawlings football or the Olympia football. The cheapest is the rubber football. It plays least well and can be a Champion football, an Olympia football, a Mikasa football or a Baden football. Regardless of cover each family football team should stock at least three footballs for all games to ensure uninterrupted play.
Accessories include a football pump (hand operated air pump or foot pump), a pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. These items keep game footballs always ready for play.
A nylon ball tote bag is needed to transport all football equipment to and from games. This ball bag is made of nylon mesh with a nylon draw string. The tote bag can hold up to 10 footballs and all accessory equipment. It also serves as a secure place to store football equipment at games.
Game preparation involves mind, body, spirit and equipment. When all these items are in sync the chances for winning are greatly increased.
Family football is an interesting game. Unlike the organized game family football has few plays. Family football is primarily a passing game and focuses mostly on executing pass plays successfully. Also, the game has a few running and kicking plays. However, if the playing field does not have goal posts the kicking game is very restrictive. So this article looks at two things: (1) what are the right plays in family football, and (2) what equipment is needed to make these plays happen?
There are only nine basic passing plays in family football. A family football quarterback can pass: short (up to 10 yards), mid range (10 to 20 yards), and deep (over 20 yards) in three zones – left, center and right. This totals nine plays. However, the variety of passes is truly infinite since passes can occur anywhere and at any time. When practicing a family team works on its passing game by sending receivers into all nine zones.
Running in family football is also limited. The ball carrier can run left, right or straight ahead. Most family running plays are the pitch out type where the quarterback throws the ball left or right to the running back. Also, there is a draw play that fakes a pass before running the ball. The success of running plays in family football depends on good line blocking. This is so since most family games do not block down field. Running plays are a refreshing change from a diet of consistent passing and so deserve regular practice.
The only other family football plays are related to kicking. This will occur on the fourth down or for field goals. If there are no goal posts then kicking is restricted to fourth down play. However, a fake kick that is really a passing or running play can be quite effective.
An important consideration here is football equipment. There are three basic types of equipment in family football: footballs, accessories and tote bags. All footballs should be the official football 11 inches long and inflated to 13 PSI. There are three coverings: a leather football, a composite football (leather and rubber) and a rubber football. The best family football teams prefer a leather football, usually an official NFL football in top grain leather. This football is the most durable and plays best in all conditions. It is a Rawlings football or a Spalding football. The composite football plays less well and can be a Rawlings football or an Olympia football. The least effective football is the rubber football. It is the cheapest and plays well in good conditions. It can be a Champion football, an Olympia football, a Mikasa football or a Baden football. Regardless of cover family football games should have at least three footballs on hand to insure uninterrupted play.
Football accessories consist of a football pump, a pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. The ball pump can be a hand operated air pump or a foot pump. Regardless of the pump selected all accessories should be top quality.
The other piece of needed equipment is the tote bag. It is a nylon ball bag that accommodates 10 footballs and all accessory equipment. The ball bag carries all football equipment to and from the game and keeps it secure while the game is played.
The key to winning in family football is to practice and perfect the three types of plays and keep all equipment game ready!
Now that spring is here it’s time to throw off the “winter blues” and get ready for family football. The season will be here before we know it. So how does a family footballer get ready to play? What can be done right now in early practice to prepare for the upcoming season? There are three key activities. First, get your body in condition to play. Second, become familiar with the plays that will be used. And third, ensure that all equipment is ready for play. Each of these three activities will be reviewed here in more depth.
Getting your body in condition to play family (or any) football requires three activities. First, get regular aerobic and strengthening exercise. This will ensure that you can run without excessive tiredness and take the hard knocks of football. Second, stop all harmful practices like smoking, drinking alcohol and using banned drugs. The best conditioned players are those who avoid all dangerous activities. And third, eat plenty of healthy food. This means avoiding most meat and all fast foods. Also, you should eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Familiarizing yourself with all the game plays is fundamental. There are not a lot of plays to learn for family football. However, the ones that are used should be well understood and properly executed. The best way to get comfortable with family football plays is to practice them with a helpful teammate. In this way both of you can run the play patterns and become completely familiar with the play and its intended result. Practice makes perfect.
Family football equipment is not extensive. It consists of a good football, quality accessories and a reliable tote bag. For footballs there is only one type, i.e. an official football. The most popular is the official NFL football covered in top grain leather. This leather football is the choice of many family football teams because it plays best in all weather conditions. It can be a Rawlings football or a Spalding football. Another choice is the composite football (leather and rubber). It is a good substitute for the all-leather football but it does not play as well. It can be an Olympia football or a Rawlings football. The least reliable is a rubber football. It does not play as well as either a leather football or a composite football. But it is popular with many family football teams because it is inexpensive. The rubber football can be a Champion football, an Olympia football, a Mikasa football or a Baden football. Regardless of the football cover, at least three footballs are recommended for every family football game.
The choice of football accessories is limited. All that is required is a reliable football pump (hand air pump or foot pump), a good pressure gauge, workable inflating needles and a quality football repair kit. These items ensure that the game football will always be in good repair and correctly inflated.
Another key accessory item is the tote bag. It is a nylon ball bag made of nylon mesh with a nylon draw string. It holds up to 10 footballs and all accessory equipment. It is very effective in transporting equipment to and from games and keeping equipment safe at games. Every family football team needs a ball bag.
Early practice for family football is essential. Those players who practice early play best during the season.
A new family football season is almost here. This means that all current and potential players are getting ready for another season. Part of this preparation is the testing of football skills. This includes working on passing, running, blocking and kicking skills. In this article we look at what is required to test and perfect these football skills. It first examines these skills and then reviews the equipment required to perfect them.
There is no easy way to strengthen football skills. Some of these skills are naturally given but most require practice to perfect. Take passing for example. Anyone who can’t throw a football will ever be a great passer. But natural ability as a passer will never permit such a person to excel in the intricacies of passing deceptively in a football game. This only comes through consistent and arduous practice. The same is true of every other football skill – running, blocking and kicking. Each requires repetitious and sometimes boring practice. But there is no doubt that practice makes perfect. The best football players are those who improve their natural skills with much practice. And this practice never ends. It is an integral part of football at all playing levels, including professional football.
An important part of all family (or any) football skill development is equipment. This includes a football and accessories like a football pump, a pressure gauge, inflating needles, a football repair kit and a nylon ball bag. For footballs there is only one official football (11 inches long and inflated to 13PSI) but three covering choices. The top choice is the leather football like the official NFL football. It plays best under all game conditions and lasts longest. This includes the Rawlings football and the Spalding football. An acceptable substitute is the composite football (leather and rubber). It plays reasonably well and has an acceptable life. The composite football is the Olympia football and the Rawlings football. The least acceptable, but also the least costly, football is the rubber football. It plays well if the weather is good and has a reasonable life. It is most popular among casual family footballers and can be a Champion football, an Olympia football, a Mikasa football or a Baden football. It is recommended that each family football game has at least three game footballs.
The accessory choices are widest for ball pumps. These can be hand operated air pumps or foot operated foot pumps. Regardless of the pump selected all accessories should be sturdy and well made. Family football teams should select and use top quality accessories. They stand up well in all game conditions and last the longest.
Selecting the best is also true of the nylon ball tote bag. It is used to store and transport up to 10 footballs and all accessories. It is made of nylon mesh with a nylon draw string and comes in a wide variety of colors. The tote bag is a key part of all football equipment.
Testing football skills requires consistent practice with the best possible equipment. Practice and good equipment are essential parts of football skill building and should never be skipped.
