Footballs 4 Family

 

An important part of all family (or any) football games is defense. Yes, the offense is usually more exciting to play but no one wins games with just a good offense. The team that shows a fine balance of offense and defense is the team who wins football games. This article examines the defense and describes what is required to field an effective defensive team. It looks at defending against passing, running and kicking. It also reviews the requirement for good football equipment.

Passing is the most prolific of all family football offenses. All family football teams pass. Therefore, it is essential to have a good pass defense. This kind of defense features two key characteristics: an aggressive pass rush and “blanket” down field pass coverage. To keep the passer on edge and off balance it is important to have an aggressive pass rush. The best professional football teams work hard on their pass rush and strive on every play to “sack” the quarterback. This was very well done by the New Orleans Saints in their NFC playoff game against Minnesota. Brett Favre, the Vikings quarterback, was rushed on every play and took some very hard knocks. Did this affect his play? Yes, he was intercepted twice in this game when he had only been intercepted seven times in the previous 15 games!

Running the ball happens less frequently in family football. However, it does happen and can be devastating if the offense has an excellent runner. Guarding against the run depends a great deal on the defensive linebackers. They must look very carefully at the offensive linemen and learn to “key” on them. These plays will usually give an advance tipoff to the type of play. If they move either way from their initial line position then a running play is likely imminent. Good linebackers know how to “read” the offensive line and invariably move in the direction of the running play every time. They are not always successful due to effective offensive blocking. But these defensive players are key when it comes to stopping the running play.

Kicking in family football is rare due to the scarcity of good kickers. However, when it does happen the best defense against it is a hard rush. Periodically, a fourth down kick can be blocked or the kicker hurried. A good defensive rush on fourth down assures this. The best overall advice in family football for any defensive player is to rush the quarterback hard on every play. It pays off!

Good equipment also helps. This includes 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 Wilson football. The leather and rubber composite football is also good. It can be an Olympia football or a Rawlings football. The least playable and least expensive football is the rubber football. It is preferred by casual players due to its low cost. It can be a Baden football, a Champion football, a Mikasa football or an Olympia football.

Quality accessories are always needed. 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 more expensive foot pump.

Another useful 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 nylon ball tote can accommodate up to 10 footballs. It is invaluable at carrying football equipment to and from games and protecting unused equipment from theft at these games.

A good defense is critical for an effective family football team’s overall success. Keep the pressure on the offensive quarterback on every play. This kind of defensive effort pays off!

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