How to Play Guard in Football
When little kids are growing up does anyone ever hear one say "I want to play guard on the football team." The answer is no. Guard, however, is one of the most integral positions on a football team. This is demonstrated by the position's escalating salary in the professional ranks over the past few years. Read on to learn how to play guard in American football.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Possess the correct body type to play Guard in American football. A guard must play in what is commonly referred to as the "trenches" and if the player is undersized it will make it extremely difficult if not impossible to play the position. The average high school guard weighs 245 and that number has continued to rise over the past few years.
-
2
Establish the proper demeanor to play guard in American football. One of the most essential traits to play guard is aggressiveness. Some players can be taught this trait but for the most part players have it or not.
-
-
3
Learn the drills necessary to compete. See the Resources section for a link. A large component to playing any sport successfully is repetition. If the proper technique is not learned the player not only cannot play the position but he risks injury as well.
-
4
Communicate well with other members of the offensive line. There are four other members of the offensive line and the five must work together as a single unit to be successful.
-
5
Understand the physics of the position. Learning philosophies of leverage and balance can be the difference between a successful guard and one that gets demoted. A smaller player that understands and maintains good balance and leverage can defeat a larger defender.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Playing offensive guard often requires a person weigh more than 300 pounds, even in high school. There are serious health concerns that go along with this weight and a doctor should be consulted before such a weight gain is undertaken or maintained.
