Gain speed and out-run your competition
When the NFL great Reggie Williams was asked his greatest football strengths, he simply replied, “Speed, strength, and the inability to register pain immediately.” If you ask any successful football player, he will most likely rank speed as a top football strength. One of the great things about speed is that it is not necessarily a quality that you are born with.
Instructions
1. Do drills. Drills are going to be the single most important thing to gain speed. Start off with 20 meter running drills. Do 10 sets of these with 40 seconds of rest between each drill. As you begin to gain more speed, increase the distance to 30 and 40 meters.
2. Perform rapid knee lifts. There is a lot of running and knee lifting in football. You'll wait to get your body to use to this so it becomes natural and comfortable come game time. Lift your left knee up quickly, followed by your right knee. Keep switch back and forth in place at a very brisk pace. Try to lift as high and fast as you can. Continue to do this in 30 second intervals for about 10 repetitions.
3. Run up and down your school's bleachers. This is similar to leg lifts, but there are less breaks and you'll be running distance, not in place. You'll also gain concentration by focusing on where you are running, which you can apply to the game of football as well.
4. Attend football summer camps. Many professional teams put on summer camps for junior league and high school football players. These camps have drills focused on gaining speed. Once you attend, you can use these drills daily to improve your speed. Check your local newspaper or school for any upcoming camps.
5. Consult with a personal trainer or a coach. In order to receive the best exercise advice for your body type, you'll need to meet with a trained professional. Often times, coaches will meet with their players for free and give them helpful, personal advice not found in health magazines.
Tags: meet with, summer camps, your body