How to Become a Better Quarterback
Of all the positions on the football field, none is more important than the quarterback. The position requires leadership, hard work and a keen sense of vision, all coupled with the gift of natural talent. Fortunately, there are several ways improve your quarterbacking skills.
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Things You'll Need
- Football
- Access to weight room
- VCR or DVD player
- Television
- Video camera
- People to catch passes
Instructions
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Strengthen your body, because quarterbacking is not simply about a strong arm. It requires core strength, including added strength in the abdominals, legs and hips, all of which will help add a little zip to a quarterback's pass attempts. Quarterbacks can increase their strength by lifting weights, including the bench press and squat thrusts, as well as through combining medicine balls with throws, rotations and work with the abdominals. Staying in shape is also key, and can be achieved through sprints and endurance-related running.
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Practicing and studying are the most important parts of any quarterback's success, both on and off the field. Practice throwing at a specific target over and over again, moving the target to different points on the field. Plus, get together with friends/teammates to work on route running. Have receivers run a number of different routes--both short and long--to work on arm strength, timing and accuracy.
The work, however, doesn't end on the field. Studying tapes is key. Tape yourself during drills or look at old game footage to spot areas of improvement. For instance, some quarterbacks may notice they're dropping their passing elbow, which can hinder arm strength and accuracy. By being consciously aware of weaknesses, identifying ways to improve is that much easier.
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Work on foot speed. Some of a quarterback's best weapons are his feet. Practice jumping rope, carioca (in which you run laterally alternating feet behind one another), and other quick footwork drills to improve foot speed.
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Consult a quarterback coach. Whether that coach is your junior high, high school or Pop Warner league coach--or even a specialty coach whom you pay for their time--these coaches specialize in improving quarterbacking skills. Even the best quarterbacks in the world, including Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, have coaches who inform them of ways in which they can improve. The best quarterbacks are always looking to improve.
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Keep a positive attitude. Quarterbacks are leaders, and leaders set the tone for their teams. By keeping a good attitude in both good times and bad, a quality leader will keep his football team on an even keel, which is half the battle in the mentally tough game of football.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't overdo the weightlifting, as too much bulk can hinder your quickness and mobility. Always warm up, as throwing a football long distances with a "cold" arm can lead to shoulder and elbow problems.
References
- Photo Credit OpenPhoto.net
