Each week, Coach Tom Bass answers questions from football players of all ages and abilities. Submit your questions by emailing him at NFLaskthecoach@aol.com. Be sure to include you NAME and HOMETOWN in the email.
Dane from Monterey sent the following question:
Hey coach, I am going to be a junior next year and am in contention for the starting quarterback position. My coach says that I need to work on leadership. How can I do this and secure a starting position?
HI Dane,
Study, study, study. Know your offense inside out. Practice diagramming each and every play. Learn everything there is to know about your position and then begin to learn the assignments for the other ten players on offense.
Try to do the same for the various defenses that you will face during the year. Focus on the different fronts and pass coverages that you will be working against. Anticipate what the defense will do on the snap
Then work on calling your plays and the way you present yourself in the huddle. No fumbling with words, speak in a strong voice, and do not allow any talking when you are calling out the formation, play, and snap count.
Carry your strong voice to the line of scrimmage. Prior to starting your cadence check and correct any misalignment in the formation.
Stay positive in any comments you make to your teammates, give praise to the other players on the offense when things go well and accept responsibility when they do not.
Know and act like you are the boss of the offense and only discuss, with your coach, any problems that may occur when the offense is on the field.
When the players feel that they have confidence in your knowledge and that you care about each of them, they will begin to look to you as their leader and follow your directions.
You have a big job that requires a great deal of study away from the practice field, so get started right now so you are totally prepared when practice begins in the fall, Coach Tom Bass.
Korbinian from Munich, Germany sent the following question:
I'm from Germany and I'll move to California for two years with my family this summer. I will be in my 2nd high school year. I'm really interested in football (I already got a lot of information from the internet) and would really like to play on the school team. I have no idea what's coming up to me there or in which team (freshmen/JV...) I would be on. Is there a chance for me to make it, if I'm already very sportive?
Hi Korbinian,
Welcome to the US. There is no reason, if you have the athletic ability, for you not to learn the game of football and earn a position on the team. Because of your year in school and your lack of actual playing time, you will probably start on the JV team.
The first adjustment you will face will be the structure of each practice session and the physical toll it will take on you in the beginning when you have to practice in a full uniform during the heat of the summer. This is the main reason for you to start a good well disciplined running program every day as soon as you can.
The next challenge will be in learning the rules and terminology used in the game In order to execute the drills and learn the plays you will have to study the terminology so you have no doubt what you are supposed to do on each play.
My recommendation would be to meet with one of the football coaches as soon as you arrive in the US. Let them know of your desire to play and I am certain they will do all they can to help you make the transition to American Football.
It will be difficult in the beginning, but stay positive, work hard, set aside time to study away from the field, and above all have fun, Coach Tom Bass.
Tyler from Scott sent the following question:
Coach Bass, my name is Tyler and I live in Scott, Louisiana. I decided to tryout for my high school football team the "Wolves". My current coach Mr. Arceneaux brags to the Wolves coaching staff on how I am a born football player. I think the coaching staff will watch me do my drills more often than anybody. What do you think?
Hi Tyler,
You may find that the other coaches pay a little more attention to you in the beginning of fall practice but since football is a full team sport, they will quickly focus on all of the players as they try to develop the best players for the team at every position.
You may be starting with a nice advantage but never forget that potential is one quality coaches try not to get too excited about and instead, they look for performance and improvement each and every practice, Coach Tom Bass.
Cortez from Oviedo sent the following question:
Coach, I'm in 10th now. Last year I only played in three games. I played DT. I'm trying to go for DE. My last speed was 5.21. I'm 5`11 about 238. What should I do?
Hi Cortez,
Try to build on what you learned last season and the experience you gained in playing in the games. You should be starting out with a good idea on how to play the defense, know your assignments, terminology, and understand how to defeat the various blocks that the offense will use against you.
Try to work on your stance, start, and physical conditioning during this summer so that you improve your quickness coming off the ball and your ability to play the entire game.
As a defensive end, you will need to understand that you are now playing on the edge of the defense, not in the center of the formation, and this will mean that you will often have the responsibility of keeping the QB in the pocket when you are rushing on any pass play or turning the ball carrier back to the inside on running plays.
I hope you have a great season and have more opportunity to get on the field during more games this season, Coach Tom Bass.
Gerardo from Chula Vista, CA sent the following question:
How you doing sir, first of all let me introduce myself my name is Gerardo, I live in Chula Vista, CA. I have always loved football, always played with friends and family but never played on a team. I'm fast and I got some good catching skills. I recently decided to join my high school football team. I didn't expect what there was to come.
Football is much more then just what I thought. There are a ton of different plays that I don't understand, like I formation, like some slant, or some bootleg with cut / blocks. I am an 11th grader at school I am going to be a senior, and I started spring training a week ago. I don't know if I should continue. I love football it is my favorite sport.
I am willing to learn how to play it better and better and how to do my part on making a better team for my high school.
When the coaches are practicing drills and plays, I am kind of confused. I some times even stay back and skip my turn of practicing those plays. It seems to me like the majority of the kid's trying out there already know these plays.
I'm trying out for varsity because I am an 11th grader going to be a 12 grader. I have to try out for varsity, and I really don't know any of those plays. It is embarrassing to not know these plays. There are over 90 kids trying out. This is my first time playing football.
I really want to learn those plays because I know I got what it takes to learn those basic Wide Receiver plays. I really want to learn, and honestly I am embarrassed to ask the coaches for some help on the side. Today was our last day of practice before a four day weekend.
I had told myself I was going to ask the wide receiver coach after practice for some help. I was going to let him know how I feel, and how I don't know any of the plays. I wasn't ready to approach him.
Right now I'm just looking around the web, searching for Tips & Drills that I can use. I am going to practice on my own this weekend to be better prepared for practice when I return to school next week.
Coach don't get me wrong when the coaches out there go over some new plays I pay close attention and try to grasp them and learn them, as best as possible. But the fact that I don't know the other plays makes me frustrated and makes me forget the plays I previously learned. I need your advice Coach, I really do. I would appreciate it very much. I have faith in myself. I believe in myself. Lastly I think your advice and tips will benefit me. Thank you, Sir.
PS: please take a minute or two to give me some advice.
Hi Gerardo,
You have presented a number of challenges that need to be addressed before you begin fall practice. It will start with you making up your mind to speak to your coach concerning your lack of football background, the difficulty you are presently having learning your plays and your strong desire to do whatever is necessary to learn. This needs to be done right away.
Next you must start a notebook, where every night, you write down each new play and your assignment on that play. As you progress with your notebook, you will find that there will be many plays where you have the very same assignments; this is especially true for a wide receiver.
Group these plays together. Write the assignment at the top of a page and then list every play where you have this assignment. Go over them as many times as you can each day until they are embedded in your memory. Make flash cards if necessary.
Finally, make sure you taking your turn during drills. Taking your turn, and getting corrected when you do not do it correctly, is the only way you are going to learn and get better. Doing a drill wrong is expected and something every player goes through, but not trying can become a real problem, good luck and be sure to speak with your coach, Coach Tom Bass.