Archive for January, 2010
Making Do
Family football cannot always be played under the best conditions. To play this game it may be necessary from time to time to just “make do”. What does this mean? This article looks at “making do” in family football by examining how this type of play affects: (1) location, (2) players, (3) plays, and (4) attitude. It also reviews the impact on football equipment.
The best location for family football is a grassy field, properly lined with goal posts in a public park. There should also be ample parking and a convenient place to have an outdoor meal. But this best location may not be available, so how do aspiring family players cope? They look for a suitable substitute location. This may not be grass covered and likely lacks goal posts. However, any location that is approximately the right field size does fine as a football field. After all, it’s the playing that’s most important.
Good players are always preferred for family football. However, they again may not be readily available. So the “make do” players field the best team they can. These players may be of any age, sex or skill level. But they are all bound together by one desire: to play family football. Often these games can be the most fun because the players are there just to enjoy themselves. They are typically unconcerned about the score and are playing just for the fun of it. It’s no wonder that they enjoy the game so much!
In high level games the plays are carefully rehearsed and executed with finesse. In the “make do” game there are only a few plays and they are not complicated. Again the key ingredient here is to have fun. There are usually a couple of pass plays and several runs. But the plays are not as important as the fun everyone has in completing a pass or a long run. The dominant factor here is to enjoy your self. Play selection and execution pale beside having fun. And “make do” plays can often be the most fun!
In the “make do” game the prevailing attitude is enjoyment. No one worries about the score or winning. People play this kind of game to just enjoy themselves. With this objective in mind they do all they can to have a good time playing family football. Nothing could be better.
Good equipment: an official football, quality accessories and a proven tote bag, helps. The best football is the official NFL football covered in top grain leather. This all leather football can be a Rawlings football, a Spalding football or a
Regardless of the football selected, quality accessories are needed to insure no game interruptions. These accessories include a football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. The ball pump can be a hand operated air pump or a foot pump.
Another key accessory is the ball bag or ball tote. It is made of nylon mesh, comes in many colors and has a nylon draw string. This nylon ball tote or nylon ball bag can carry up to 10 footballs to and from games. It also protects unused equipment from theft at the game. No game is complete without a good tote bag.
“Make do” games can be a lot of fun. Just never forget that even these games should be played conscientiously even though having fun is the primary objective!
Who Can Play?
To agree on who can play family football it is first important to define family football. This game is meant to be played for fun. But there are two distinct types of fun. On the one hand there is the fun of just playing a game of anything (it doesn’t even have to be football) on a pleasant day outside. On the other hand there are the serious football players who go at the game very aggressively. In both cases having fun is the watchword and good football equipment helps. This article reviews who can play family football and why. It also looks at good football equipment.
In the game for the just for fun players, everyone is welcome. This includes players old and young and does not exclude women. Also, game knowledge or experience is unimportant. All participants in the fun game are there for that reason – to have fun! In this game the score is not as important as participation. Everyone who shows up to play will play. There is no discrimination. The key requirement for this game is to enjoy playing football on a grassy field on a mild spring or fall day. With these very open playing requirements this kind of game logically attracts a lot of interest. Players of all ages, sexes and abilities show up to play and are welcome. So when participants play in this kind of a game they are sure to enjoy themselves. This is the only reason for playing!
In the game for the serious players, only the committed and able participants need apply. This game clearly discriminates by age, sex and ability. Typically this is a game for younger, fitter players. Girls are not welcome to play unless they have exceptional (and proven) football talent. Also, this game respects talent and so only skilled players will play this game. Unproven players are not welcome. In this game scoring is paramount as is determines the winner. The serious game is played as such. Its primary objective is to play the game as aggressively as possible. This means that hard blocking and even tackling are accepted. For players to have fun in this game they must enjoy its tough requirements. This is clearly not a game for the neophyte!
In either type of game good football equipment is required. This means an official football, quality accessories and sturdy tote bag. The best football (most favored by the serious players) is the official NFL football covered in top grain leather. This all leather football can be a Rawlings football, a Spalding football or a
Good football accessories are needed. These include the football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles, and a football repair kit. The ball pump is either the hand operated air pump or the preferred foot pump.
A ball bag or ball tote is another useful accessory. It is made of nylon mesh, comes in many colors and has a nylon draw string. This nylon ball tote or nylon ball bag can accommodate up to 10 footballs. It can carry football equipment to and from games and protect unused equipment from theft at these games. The nylon tote bag sees a lot of use.
Family football is not meant to be an exclusive game for only the best players. So be sure to offer family football for all who wish to play regardless of age, sex or ability!
Object Of Game?
The prime objective of any family football game is to have fun! But the definition of fun varies by team. Some players seek a more casual game where participation is more important than scoring. The opposite is true for the more serious player. This article looks at both reasons for playing and describes each one. It also examines the key role of football equipment.
If fun is the prime reason for playing family football it has the following description. First, in a fun game everyone plays. There are no exceptions regardless of the skill level of the players involved. Second, scoring doesn’t matter. In fact the score in a fun game is so unimportant that it may not be kept all. Since winning is not critical in this fun game neither is the score. And third, in the fun game there is no hard play. There can be some line blocking but any other type of blocking or tackling is not required. The primary mission of this type of game is for all players to just have fun and enjoy themselves.
On the other hand there is the serious game. It is a direct opposite of the so-called fun game. This is not to say that players in this game don’t have fun. They do, but their reason for playing is defined differently. First of all, they prefer to have experienced players who know the game and how it’s played. This is not a game for the neophyte. Second, scoring in this game is critical since it determines the winner. Both teams do all they can to score. And third, this game is characterized by hard play. This means blocking at the line of scrimmage and down field. It can also include tackling. Once again the objective of this game is to have fun by playing hard and playing to win.
In both types of game, football equipment is important. This includes an official football, quality accessories and a proven tote bag. The preferred football by the serious player is the official NFL football covered in fine grain leather. This all leather football plays very well and can be a Rawlings football, a Spalding football or a
Both types of players need to have good accessories to keep game footballs playable. These accessories include a football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles or a football repair kit. The ball pump can be a hand operated air pump or the more expensive foot pump. Quality accessories are always needed.
Another key accessory is the ball bag or ball tote. It is made of nylon mesh, comes in many colors and has a nylon draw string. This nylon ball bag or ball tote can hold up to 10 footballs. It is very useful for carrying football equipment to and from games and for protecting unused equipment from theft at these games.
It is always best to determine in advance the object of the game. There can only be two objectives – play for fun or play seriously. Whichever you choose be sure its right and stick to it!
Ever Let Up?
Do you ever “let up?” in family football and play at less than full speed? The unequivocal answer is no! The key guideline here is the professional teams who never let up in any game. Yes, they may not always use their best players for the whole game in order to rest them for future play. But the best teams do not ease off. They play their best at all times. This article looks at “letting up” on offense and defense and reviews the role of quality equipment.
A good recent example of not letting up was the playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings. The
This is good advice for family football play. On offense it makes no sense to ever let up. The winning team should keep the pressure on and ensure that the losing team continues to lose ground. This is exactly what happened in the Dallas/Minnesota game. The Vikings kept the pressure on the Cowboys and forced them to make continual mistakes on defense. At no time did the Vikings “let up”. Brett Favre passed for four touchdowns – two in each half. He never gave up at any time; nor did his team. They knew that their offense was going to have to continue to score and they did!
It is even more important to keep the pressure on defensively. Once again it was clear that
Good equipment should not be overlooked. This is an official football, quality accessories and a proven tote bag. The very best football is the official NFL football covered in top grain leather. This all leather football plays extremely well under all conditions. It can be a Rawlings football, a Spalding football or a
Quality accessories are most important to keep the game going. These include a football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. The ball pump can be the hand operated air pump or the preferred foot pump.
The ball bag or ball tote is another key accessory. It is made of nylon mesh, comes in many colors and has a nylon draw string. This nylon ball bag or nylon ball tote can accommodate up to 10 footballs. It is used to carry football equipment to and from games and to protect unused equipment from theft at these games.
Do you ever “let up” in family football? Never. It is best to play the game all out all the time. This kind of play provides the most satisfaction for the winners and the most grief to the losers!
Don’t Give Up On Training!
It is not wise to play family football if you are not in good physical condition. Too many disastrous things can happen. These include: playing badly, getting injured or giving up too many points to opponents. Therefore, it is wise to not give up on training. This includes: (1) aerobic exercise, (2) strength training, (3) play perfecting, or (4) game strategy. Good training and good equipment are both important.
Family football is a basically a running game. So it’s important to continue to work on aerobics. In this way players can play the game at full speed and not get overly tired. Aerobic training is an important part of any family football program. The best trained aerobic players will last the entire game and continue to play all out. This is the way family football is meant to be played.
Don’t overlook strength training. Aerobics are critical but so is strength. Many plays in family football like blocking require strong bodies to execute properly. So in training be sure to include a program of strengthening. It pays off in better play execution be it line or down field blocking or any type of running or pass play. Strong bodies are best for excellence in family football.
One of the most important training activities is play perfecting. Good play execution is the heart and soul of any properly functioning family football team. Plays must be practiced continually to ensure proper execution. There is no room for error and every player must be able to execute the play without mistake. There are many missed plays in family football. So play training is essential.
No game is ever won without a clearly defined and understood strategy. This strategy defines how the game will be played on offense and defense. All major football teams devise and adhere to a game strategy. It should be the same in family football. Decide in advance how your team will play against its next opponent. Then work on installing this strategy so it is understood by all participants.
Good equipment should not be overlooked. This is an official football, quality accessories and a proven tote bag. The best football is the official NFL football covered in fine grain leather. This all leather football plays best and can be a Rawlings football, a Spalding football or a
Quality football accessories are also very important. These are a football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. The ball pump is either a hand operated air pump or a foot pump. To insure uninterrupted play, it is unwise to skimp on football accessories.
Another key accessory is the ball bag or ball tote. It is made of nylon mesh, comes in many colors and features a nylon draw string. This nylon ball bag or nylon ball tote accommodates up to 10 footballs. It is used to carry football equipment to and from games and to protect unused equipment from theft at these games.
Don’t slack off on training. The best family football teams are the best trained!
Play For Keeps!
Family football is meant to be played primarily for fun. But does this mean that these games should be casual or unimportant? This is not best way to play. The game must be treated with respect. This translates into “playing for keeps” and requires four key actions: (1) motivate the players, (2) use creative plays, (3) maintain a winning attitude, and (4) don’t give the game away. These actions, reviewed below, together with good equipment produce a game played for keeps!
Playing for keeps requires dedicated player motivation. Even the best players cannot get and stay motivated for every part of every game. This is where the coach must prevail. One of his key responsibilities is to motivate the team both before and during a game. He (they are entirely male) does not have the luxury of being anything else but completely motivated to winning the game. Others may falter but he cannot. All players and other coaches look to him for positive leadership.
Creative plays are a key part of playing for keeps. Every play from scrimmage must have the potential to score and should be played as such. It is unknown when any play will be a winner. So every play must be executed as such. In the professional game it is interesting to see which plays will score. There are many pass plays. But running to score is never forgotten and can be one of the most exciting plays to watch and execute. Good teams practice each play to score and this is the “play for keeps” motivation.
A top team has a winning attitude. When the New England Patriots went undefeated (except for the Super Bowl) in the 2007-2008 season they had to be motivated to win every Sunday. This is not an easy task in any football league. For example, despite an auspicious winning start the Indianapolis Colts lost two games in the 2009-2010 season. In all the years of the NFL only the Miami Dolphins have been undefeated in one season! So a winning attitude takes real effort!
Top teams do not ever “give the game away”. They play to win and despite any game setbacks they do not give up. There are numerous examples in all football where an apparently losing team is able to come back and win. This is a poignant example of never giving the game away. Any football game is never over till the final whistle blows. And the best teams never let up!
Good equipment helps too. This is an official football, quality accessories and a sturdy tote bag. The best football is the official NFL football covered in top grain leather. This all leather football can be a Rawlings football, a Spalding football or a
Good accessories should not be ignored. They are a football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. The ball pump can be the hand operated air pump or a foot pump.
Another key accessory is the ball bag or ball tote. It is made of nylon mesh in many colors and has a nylon draw string. This nylon ball bag or nylon ball tote can carry up to 10 footballs to and from games. It also protects unused equipment from theft at these games. Never overlook the tote bag!
There is truly only one way of playing family (or any) football and that’s for keeps! Don’t slack off during the game. You only let down the team. Always play to win regardless of the odds!
Best Food
What has happened to our food? More Americans than ever are obese or overweight. They eat all the wrong foods and get little exercise. Obesity is second only to smoking as a key disease contributor in this country. How can this problem be corrected? This article looks at the best food to eat when playing family football. The family meal is an important part of the family football ritual. There eating properly is critical. Good football equipment is also reviewed here.
Why do Americans not get the best food? There are three key shortcomings: (1) too much food, (2) the wrong food, and (3) eating too frequently. Each of these shortcomings will be reviewed in turn.
The quantity of food that Americans eat both at home and in restaurants is excessive. We are trained from birth to eat all the food on our plates and what is being served is getting larger. This is particularly noticeable in restaurants where food quantity has steadily increased to partially offset increasing prices. The secret to eating less is just that. At home eat nutritious foods that are filling and in restaurants eat only half portions. Don’t be ashamed to leave uneaten food. It’s much healthier!
A key dietary problem in
Americans never stop eating. We are blessed with a surplus of good food. But this should not mean that we have to eat all the time. We are besieged by fast food outlets, numerous restaurants and full line food stores. The secret here is to eat less and do it less frequently. We must resist the temptation to eat more than three times a day. In fact, two good meals each day will suffice the dietary needs of most Americans. Eat less frequently; it pays off.
Good football equipment helps too. This is an official football, quality accessories and a sturdy tote bag. The best football is the official NFL football covered in top grain leather. It can be a Rawlings football, a Spalding football or a
Regardless of the football selected quality accessories are a must. These include a football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. The ball pump can be a hand operated air pump or the more expensive foot pump. But the key here is to use the best accessories.
The ball tote or ball bag is another valuable accessory. It is made of nylon mesh in many colors and has a nylon draw string. This nylon ball bag or ball tote can accommodate up to 10 footballs. It carries football equipment to and from games and keeps all unused equipment secure at these games. Don’t forget a tote bag!
Nutritious food should be a key part of any family footballer’s diet. By eating the proper food less frequently and in sensible quantities family players are helping to combat
Avoid Distractions
Being distracted from playing is easy to do in family football. There are three major distractions. These are the: (1) location, (2) fans, and (3) players. Each of these will be developed here together with a review of good family football equipment.
Most family football games are played on grassy fields in public parks. The very fact that they are played in a public park can mean multiple distractions. Other people not engaged in the family football game are also there to enjoy themselves. They could be playing their own games or just enjoying the out of doors or even exercising their dogs. Any family football player who is not concentrating on his or her game can be easily distracted by all the other public park activity. So the key to playing good family football is to stay focused.
Family football games attract fans. These folks are the players’ friends and neighbors. They come to watch the family football game and to partake of the family meal following the game. Like any football fans they are enthusiastic and often boisterous. This kind of behavior is accepted provided it is not injurious. But even normal fan enthusiasm can be distracting to some players. In family football there are no stands so the fans are right at field level. To excel in family football a player must ignore the fans and concentrate on the game.
On the field the opposing players themselves can be distracting. They will taunt the other team on offense or defense with the desire to disrupt its play. This kind of behavior is prevalent in all football games from the pros on down. Once again a dedicated family football player will just ignore these taunts and play the game. If the taunts have no effect they will soon be stopped. Or better still, outstanding play by either family team on offense or defense will dissuade any critic on the opposing team from further taunts. So again avoid distractions by outstanding play!
Good equipment helps. This is an official football, quality accessories and a proven tote bag. The best family football is the official NFL football covered in top grain leather. It is preferred by top family teams and can be a Rawlings football, a Spalding football or a
No game can be played without good accessories. These include the football pump, the pressure gauge, inflating needles and the football repair kit. The ball pump can be a hand operated air pump or the more elaborate foot pump. Regardless, always have good accessories on hand to repair a damaged football.
The ball bag or ball tote is another key accessory. It is made of nylon mesh, comes in many colors and has a nylon draw string. This nylon ball bag or nylon ball tote carries the football equipment to and from the games. It also protects unused equipment from theft at these games.
There can be many distractions at a family football game. The secret to good play is to ignore all distractions and concentrate on doing your best on every play.
How To Block Effectively
The key to an effective offense in family (or any) football is good offensive blocking. This is done at the line of scrimmage or down field. Regardless, the secret to good blocking is to shield the ball carrier from aggressive defensive players. This article looks at some of the key requirements for effective blocking. It also discusses the role of good equipment.
There are two types of offensive blocking – line of scrimmage and downfield. There was a time when these two types of blocking varied in execution. But this is no longer true. Both types of blocks are essentially similar. To block well offensive players must: (1) keep their feet, (2) set squarely, (3) use their hands effectively, and (4) move with the play. Each of these attributes will be reviewed here.
Staying on one’s feet is the only way to block well. Once an offensive player is on the ground they are ineffective. A good blocker is someone who continually puts him or herself between the ball carrier and the defensive player. Nicety of execution in blocking is not as important as positioning. The key is to keep the defensive player away by any legal means.
The best blocks are those in which the blocker is able to set squarely before delivering the block. Being off balance often produces an ineffective or failed block. It is not always possible to set squarely but if possible do this since it produces the best block.
Blocking now requires a much greater use of hands than ever before. There was a time when the hands were kept close to the body. For the best blocking this is no longer true. An effective blocker will use his or her hands to shove off a defensive player. The key requirement is not to hold as you make better use of your hands.
Good blocking is not stationary. The best blockers move with the play and may block opponents several times on any one play. The best professional blockers are those players who keep their feet, move with the play and look for multiple opportunities to block opponents. This is also the best way to block in family football.
As usual, good equipment helps: an official football, quality accessories and a proven tote bag. The top football is the official NFL football covered in top grain leather. It plays the best of all and can be a Rawlings football, a Spalding football or a
Good accessories are needed. These include a football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. The ball pump can be a hand operated air pump or the more expensive foot pump. Regardless, don’t skimp on the accessories. They keep any game going.
Another key accessory is the ball tote or ball bag. It is made of nylon mesh and comes in many colors with a nylon draw string. This nylon ball tote or nylon ball bag can carry football equipment to and from games and keep unused equipment safe from theft at these games.
Effective blocking is the key to a well run total offense. Be sure that all offensive players are well schooled in blocking. It pays handsome dividends!
When To Kick?
Kicking can be a lost art in family football. But it really shouldn’t be. Kicking is a vital part of any football game. The pros use it as an important game winning weapon. So it should not be forgotten in family football and has many applications. Some of these include the: (1) fourth down kick, (2 field goal, (3) point after touchdown (PAT), and (4) on side kick. Each of the actions will be reviewed here together with the best family football equipment.
The most obvious use for a kick is on fourth down. When no kicker is available some family football teams just forgo the kick or may even throw the ball and not kick it. The fourth down should not be forgotten in family football. It is an important part of any football game. It leads ultimately to a change of possession. But it can also produce a number of surprises like a fumbled football, a lost of yards penalty or lost possession. Do everything possible to keep the fourth down kick in your family football game. It enhances the fun!
When goals posts are available there is no play more exciting than a field goal. In professional football it is often the game winning play with kicks of up to 50 yards or beyond. In family football copy the pros and keep the field goal in the game. So look for a park location with goal posts and encourage any budding kickers to try their luck with a winning field goal.
Even more important than field goals is the point after touchdown (PAT). This action takes place after every touchdown and can be an almost automatic additional point. In the pros it is almost automatic. But once in a while a PAT is missed in a professional game and the kicker can even lose his job if this happens too frequently. In family football ever effort should be made to attempt a PAT. It’s good game practice for both the team and the kicker.
One of the most exciting plays in football is the onside kick. The defending team is often caught off guard by this action and so a change of possession can take place. The onside kick is not used very frequently in either the college or professional ranks. It can be very dangerous for the kicking team who may risk a blocked kick or a short yardage loss of possession. But used judiciously the onside kick can be a fine offensive weapon.
Good equipment should never be forgotten. This includes an official football, quality accessories and a sturdy tote bag. The best football is the official NFL football covered in fine grain leather. It plays very well under all conditions and can be a Rawlings football, a Spalding football or a
Good accessories are a must. These include a football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. The ball pump can be a hand operated air pump or a foot pump. Never play with inferior accessories!
The ball bag or ball tote is another key accessory. It is made of nylon mesh in many colors and has a nylon draw string. This nylon ball bag or nylon ball tote can accommodate up to 10 footballs. It is used to carry football equipment to and from games and to safeguard unused equipment at these games.
Kicking is an important part of family football. Don’t lose it!