Football Tip

Presented by Timo Lunceford, Camp Director

Football Tip: 3 Drills to Keep Your Game Sharp at Home

For many football players, life revolves around the sport. From the moment they wake up in the morning, to bedtime, football is always on their mind. For those who want to ensure they are improving outside of structured practice, there are good areas to focus on at home. Try these tips from Contact Football Camps Director, Timo Lunceford, to stay sharp and be at the top of your game.

Footwork/Agility Drills

Even off the field, it is important to keep working on your footwork and agility, no matter what position you play. One agility drill that only requires a minimal amount of space is the three-cone drill. This is a drill where you set up three cones in a triangle-like shape, at your desired distance. Starting at one of the cones, you will run forward to the next cone and then start backpedaling to the third cone. Once at the third cone, you will side shuffle back to the starting cone, repeating several times.

Staying in Shape

Football is a very physically demanding sport. It is important to try to be in the best possible shape, so practice and games do not become too physically taxing. There are simple exercises that football players can do at home, with no gym equipment necessary. Some important exercises include push-ups, side lunges, squats, single-leg squats, and planks/side planks. All these movements only require body weight, and if done properly and often, they can keep you in great shape. Add in some cardio into your routine with jogging, sprints, and jump rope.

Visualization

Visualization is hugely important when it comes to success in football. Visualizing yourself being successful will build confidence. Confidence is what makes great football players stand out. If you ever find yourself at home unable to use a football field, take a few minutes to sit or lay in a quiet area, and just visualize yourself succeeding. It could be making a great tackle in the open-field or making a great throw at a critical point in the game. Whatever it may be, it’s important to see yourself making those plays, so when the time comes in real life, you are confident because you’ve seen yourself do it before. Some of the greatest players to ever play football have talked about the importance of visualizing success, so the next time you find yourself at home, take a few minutes to envision yourself making great plays.

While it is ideal to practice on an actual field, these 3 drills and techniques to do at home will contribute to your success as a player. Join Contact Football Camps this summer to learn football skills and make new friends!