Coach Tom Bass brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to USA Football. Along with answering youth coaching questions, he also receives emails from young players. You can email the coach at NFLAskTheCoach@aol.com.
Chase from Pittsburgh sent the following question:
If you were a football player, would you want to be the kicker, punter or long snapper?
Hi Chase,
I would try to develop the one specialist skill that I did the best. It is true that there are players who can act as the kicker and the punter at the same time, but usually one player is not given the responsibility for doing both.
Kickers and punters do not need to have size to do their job, but being a long snapper does require some size to snap, block and then run down the field and be a part of the tackle on the return man.
All three are very important jobs on the football team and it takes a great deal of time and practice to really perform well at any one of them. Try to pick the one that you feel you are the most comfortable doing and do well. Then try to be the best you can at that position.
Coach Tom Bass
Hi Coach,
I am teaching the center snap in football. I remember my P.E. teacher instructing us to grip the ball like we are going to throw it, then place the back of our throwing hand on the ground (with the ball still in our hand and fingers on the laces).
Then, we were told to add the other hand almost on top, a little off to the opposite side a little. Is this an introductory technique? What is the best way to teach it to 8-year-old beginners using a junior ball?
Hi Kirk,
I'm not sure that I ever heard of teaching the center snap (long or short) in that manner.
My technique has always been to have the center line up with his feet shoulder width apart and even. I then have them get into a basic four-point stance. His shoulders should be square, his back straight and his hips and shoulders should be even. The height of his hips influence the height of the snap (low = low snap, high = high snap.)
At this point, you want to place the ball on the ground in front of the center in the center of his body. The laces need to be rotated around and down past the center point of the ball to the side of his passing hand.
He should then reach out and grasp the ball as he would to throw a forward pass. His little finger should rest on the laces near the center of the ball, and his next two fingers should extend over the laces and be spread. His index finger is near the front of the ball over the seam where the laces are located.
At this point, he can rest his other hand lightly on the top opposite side of the ball to help guide the ball. He then needs to look back through his legs to make certain the holder or punter is ready for the snap. His head and eyes should be up when he makes the snap.
His snapping motion should bring both arms back through his legs, and as he releases the ball, both hands should rotate to the outside.
As a teaching tool, you can have your players practice the action while on one knee with the ball over their head, then start them five yards apart and gradually move them back as they develop a consistency and accuracy in their snaps.
You might want to let all your players throw the ball and make a note about the ones who have a natural skill that may be converted to making the snap. I hope this helps.
Coach Tom Bass
Anton from Santa Rosa, Calif., sent the following question:
I'm a running back (fullback) and am having trouble at the point of contact with the defender - more often with smaller players. I will dip my shoulder and explode through them, only to be pulled down onto my face and hands. Is there any way to prevent this?
Hi Anton,
This is a very common problem, especially with power runners like you. It is caused because as you dip your shoulder, you extend your head and shoulders way in front of your hips.
As you prepare to have contact, try to think in terms of always keeping your shoulders over your hips, your hips over your feet and any dip or lowering of your shoulder pads should come from a bend in your knees and not at your waist. Try to see if this helps correct the problem.
Coach Tom Bass
Charles from Forest City sent the following question:
I play wide receiver, and I am 6-feet tall and weigh 167 pounds. I have been out of football for two years now, and I am going to get back out there for my junior year. The only thing is that our coach does not throw the football that much, and I want to get looked at by top schools. What should I do - stay here and ride it out or go to a different school and play?
Hi Charles,
As far as transferring to another school, you should have that discussion with your parents. It is important to remember that you are going to school to get an education first and then football, not the other way around.
If you do decide to remain at your present school and make the decision to once again play football, it will be important to approach the team with a very different attitude to have success. Starting out being critical of the coaching (even after being out of the program for two years) is not the way to be a positive influence and make a successful contribution to the team.
It is unrealistic to think that the coaches are going to change their offense at this date, so you need to accept how it will be and try to work within the system. You might ask an assistant coach to work with you before or after practice on running routes and catching the ball correctly.
Work on becoming one of the best blockers at the wide receiver position and work hard to aid the ball carrier when he crosses the line of scrimmage.
Next summer, you might want to attend a camp at a nearby college that features a passing game. In this way you get in front of college coaches, receive good instruction and can work on becoming a better receiver.
Work hard on staying positive and think a great deal before you transfer schools.
Coach Tom Bass
Buzz from Port Saint Lucie sent the following question:
What does it mean when the quarterback points to someone on the defense and yells, ‘51 is the Mike?'
Hi Buzz,
The quarterback is usually identifying which linebacker is the middle backer and needs to be blocked by one of the five offensive linemen along with the four down defensive linemen.
This identification is vital on pass plays for pass protection, but it can also be important on some running plays that the offense may use when running inside the tackles. Verbally calling out (and often pointing out) the middle linebacker (Mike) helps eliminate a majority of doubt or indecision concerning who blocks who during the offensive play.
Coach Tom Bass
Coach Tom Bass, the technical writer and advisor for USA Football, is a 30-year NFL coach who has also authored several books, including "Play Football the NFL Way" - the first "how to" book ever authorized and published by the NFL. Coach Bass is happy to personally autograph his books to you. Book ordering information can be found on http://www.coachbass.com/.
