Footballs 4 Family

 

How do you size up an opposing team? When watching an opponent team before the game what specific things does an astute observer look for? This article looks at opponent watching and suggests how it should be done and the proper role for equipment in this endeavor.

Before every family football game one of the key activities must be to watch the opposing team warm up. In professional and college football this opponent watching or scouting activity is carried on to a fine degree. It includes such activities as watching opponent’s game films and even some clandestine observation. This kind of scouting is just not possible in family football. But it is possible to get some understanding of an opponent’s play by conducting two activities: (1) pregame observation and (2) discreet practice watching.

Pregame observation is quite simple. Some knowledgeable player or coach from your team observes closely the pregame warm up activities of your opponent. These observations will look specifically at how the opposing team passes, runs and kicks the football. Your observer should be looking for stand out players on the opponent’s team. He also sees how the opposing team is managed overall. Much can be learned by careful observation. But be aware that no teams will reveal much in the pregame warm up.

The very best way to observe an opposing team is during one of their practices sessions. These practices will often be held at the same park as the regular games are played. The secret here is to attend this practice session unobserved and note what the opposing team is doing. Some of the questions to ask are: What are their best passing and running plays? What do they seem to be practicing most? Who are their best players? What are those players’ best offensive plays? The key requirement here is thorough but careful evaluation. It will pay off when your team takes the field against these opponents.

Having good equipment will not evaluate an opponent but seeing what and how their football equipment is used does help. The best teams use an official football; normally an official NFL football covered in top grain leather. This leather football plays best and can be a Rawlings football or a Spalding football. Lesser teams use the composite football. It is covered in a mixture of leather and rubber and can be an Olympia football or a Rawlings football. The least talented teams use the inexpensive rubber football. This football is the least playable and can be a Champion football, a Mikasa football, an Olympia football or a Baden football.

As for accessories the best teams use top quality accessories. These include a football pump, pressure gauge, inflating needles and a football repair kit. The ball pump is very good and can be the preferred foot pump or even a better quality air pump.

The good family football teams also use the tote bag. This ball bag or ball tote is made of nylon mesh and comes in many colors. The nylon ball bag or nylon ball tote is used by top teams to carry football equipment to and from games. The ball bag also keeps football equipment secure at the games.

Sizing up an opponent is required to win in family (or any football). It should be done before the game and even at an opponent’s practice session. Good equipment can help but getting an advance look at an opposing team can pay off with a winning game.

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