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.
Santiago sent the following question:
I'm from Mexico, and next year I'm going to go to a boarding school in New Hampshire to study. I'm 5-foot-5, and I'm a running back. I don't know if I will be able to play football in the U.S. because I'm small and the level of play in the U.S. is superior than in Mexico. Do size and experience matter in high school for a running back? I've seen the running back from the San Diego Chargers, Darren Sproles, who is 5-foot-6, and he plays in the NFL.
I would like to hear your advice on this.
Hi Santiago,
It is great to hear from a player from Mexico. When I played junior college football, we played four games in two years against the White Burros of Polytechnic University in Mexico and believe me, we were not superior to those players. Those four games were some of the most competitive that we played during those two seasons.
You play a position - running back - which does not require great size, so I would not worry about that as you make your decision. I do not know what your experience is to date, but with hard work on the practice field and study off the field, I am certain you will find that in a short time you will be competing with the other running backs on the team.
I have experience in moving to new high schools and my experience was that being a part of the football team was the quickest way to get to know my fellow students and become a part of the student body.
I really would like to encourage you to give serious consideration to going out and becoming part of the football program at your new school. I believe it will be fun for you and provide an opportunity to assimilate quickly into your new environment.
Coach Tom Bass
Jayde sent the following question:
I am 12-year-old girl, and I really want to go out for the football team. I have been thinking about it for about two years now but have been too scared to play. Last year I went to football camp, and I am going again this year. I have a lot of friends who are on the team and are really good, but I don't want to disappoint them or anyone. It is my dream to make the winning touchdown pass or even be good. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.
Hi Jayde,
Today more and more girls are going out and playing football. If you are fortunate enough to attend a school that is open to having girls participate in football, then I think you should really give it a try.
You have made a first step by attending summer football camp, so you already have a good feeling about what it takes to play the game. Going to summer camp again this summer will really help you develop as a player.
You can not worry about failure or disappointing others. What you must focus on is learning to play the game, learning your assignments, learning the various techniques you need to perform and learning to compete in practice and in the game.
In addition to summer camp, check and see if the team has summer workouts that you can attend and establish a daily running program (sprints one day, distance running the next) so that the running associated with two-a-day practices will not be a problem for you.
With your love for football it will be a shame if you did not at least give it a good try and see just how much success you can have playing the game. Good luck and please let me know how you are doing.
Coach Tom Bass
Nicholas sent the following question:
What is the best way to get around or avoid a chop block? I play DT in a 4-3 defense, and if I'm not getting double teamed, I usually get chop blocked one-on-one.
Hi Nicholas,
Playing the chop block successfully requires concentration and good use of your hands and arms. You have to really concentrate on the player in front of you and see the instant when his head and shoulders start to dip toward the ground.
At this point, it is important that you extend both arms and hit the blocker in his shoulder pads with the palms of both your hands. Once you feel your hands making contact, lock out your elbows to create separation and push the blocker down to the ground. His momentum will help you do this.
It is also important to control your charge and stay low so that the blocker cannot reach your legs and feet. You may find that you do not get as good a forward charge but you will be able to free yourself, locate the ball carrier and start your pursuit to get in on the tackle.
The key is watching the blocker and not standing up to find the ball carrier until you have defeated his block.
Coach Tom Bass
Mike sent the following question:
What kind of advice would you give to a young man that wants to play football but is scared to do so?
Hi Mike,
Young players must be told that it is very normal and OK to be scared when they first start playing football. This is something that every player experiences when they are beginning to play the game.
They will overcome this fear once they begin to play the game and learn safe techniques to play their position. It really helps if their coach understands that this is a normal feeling from beginning players and teaches the techniques to the players in drills run at half speed during the start of the season.
Try to get him to talk it through with you and give him the assurance that the feelings he has are the same for every player in the game. Once the games start and he has success, this feeling will be less and less of an issue for him.
I made our varsity team as a ninth grader at a high school in Pennsylvania. I ran back kickoffs and punts. Everyone thought I was fearless but the truth was that I was scared of getting hit by the big guys on the other team. It happens to all of us.
Coach Tom Bass
Lance sent the following question:
This question concerns my son, who is only a high school senior and does not have access to a "diet coach," someone who monitors every breakfast, lunch and dinner. What can he do at the dining table to make sure that he gets his weight up to 255-260 pounds, where he'll be the perfect weight for a defensive end?Once he gets his weight up to that point, what can he do to make sure it stays at that point?
Hi Lance,
Many players have this problem especially when the team is going through two-a-day practices in the heat of August. It is very important that he begins right now to increase his daily calorie intake. He needs to make sure that he eats three good meals a day and then supplements these meals with nutritious snacks throughout the day.
He is going to be a player that must force himself to carry food with him all the time and diligently have a snack mid-morning, in the afternoon and then again just before going to bed at night.
I would suggest he carry fruit and sandwiches (peanut butter is good) with him and to have a supply of energy bars that he can eat between classes.
During two-a-days, in addition to regular snacks and meals, he must make certain that he drinks enough water or better yet, sport drinks, so that he stays hydrated.
If at all possible, have him weigh in every morning and evening and before and after each practice so that he is really aware if his weight starts to go down. Weight loss after practice will usually be due to water loss. If he sees that he is losing weight, he should immediately add more nutritious calories to his diet.
It is important that the weight he gains does not adversely affect the speed and quickness that he uses playing the game.
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/.
