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.
Gary had the following question:
I have the starting spot at quarterback this year. The problem is that the center and I can't get the exchange right because we keep fumbling, but we don't know whose fault it is. Can you give us some tips?
Hi Gary,
There can be a couple of things that you may need to look at to decrease your exchange problems. It is important to make certain that you are not pulling away as the ball is snapped. It may help if you move your body and hands slightly forward as you take the snap so that you are certain of really securing the ball.
Make sure the center is turning the ball sideways as he brings it up between his legs so that you are grabbing the center of the ball with each hand and can get a firm grip.
You should also have the center move in all directions as he makes the snap so that you get the feel for receiving the ball when he is firing straight ahead, moving to his right and left and setting up to pass protect.
At the same time, you should go through your movements in all directions. You may find it advisable to call out a play so that you can determine if there is any specific movement or play that is causing the greatest problem.
Make sure that you bend your knees so that you can get your hands in proper position to take the snap. The center may grow taller so you need to make certain that your knee bend puts you at the correct height to take the snap.
Try to stop and talk about what has happened anytime you have a bad exchange.
Coach Tom Bass
Armando had the following question:
If a QB throws a forward pass to his receiver, who is behind the original line of scrimmage, is this receiverable to throw another forward pass (with the only condition that when he throws he is still behind the line)? Also, is the offense only allowedto throw just one forward pass?
Hi Armando,
There can only be one forward pass per play. If a receiver is in a position behind the quarterback when the ball is thrown and caught, it is not a forward pass but a lateral.
In this case, the player receiving the lateral would be in position and be allowed to then throw the one legal forward pass for that play.
One interesting fact is that the ball is allowed to bounce before it reaches the receiver on a lateral and some teams will use this type of action to try to fool the defense into thinking it is an incomplete pass and then the receiver can take the ball and throw it down field. This works best on an artificial field.
If the receiver is behind the line of scrimmage but in between the line and the quarterback, the throw would be the one legal pass for that play and the receiver could not legally catch and then throw a forward pass.
I hope this clears things up for you.
Coach Tom Bass
Ilhan had the following question:
I am 19 and a receiver on a German team that plays in the second league. Next season, I want to advance to the first league, which is approximately on the level of a good NCAA Division II program.
I have two problems. While the ball is in the air, I usually tend to stare into the horizon instead of focusing on the ball. Do you have any drills for me that will make me focus on the ball better?
My mind game is not up-to-date. I love to play football, but I have fears of failure and I am scared of dropping the ball when I get on the field. Do you have anything that could help me with my inner game?
Hi Ilhan,
It is great to hear from a player from Germany, and I am aware of how good the level of play is there, especially in the first league.
Focusing on the ball, or to be more specific, the front tip of the ball, requires concentration and starts with you seeing the ball at the first possible opportunity as it leaves the quarterback's hand.
To accomplish this, you need to practice turning your head and eyes back to the quarterback the instant you make your final break into your designated pass route. Players often make the mistake of not really looking for the ball, but instead looking at the defensive players as they run their route.
Working with a partner, serving as the quarterback, run your route and as you make your break, have your partner hold up his passing hand exposing a different number of fingers each time. You should focus on his hand and be able to call out the number of fingers to demonstrate that you are focusing in on him as you run your route.
You can also use a few footballs and write a different number in white ink on the front tip of each ball. As you make a reception, call out the number on the ball. As you make the catch, make sure that you extend your hands to the ball and that you see both your hands and the ball at the moment of the reception.
As I have mentioned here before, I encouraged my receivers to practice on their own throwing a tennis or hard rubber ball up against a wall, changing the angle and velocity of the ball coming off the wall and making certain that you reach out to make the catch. This is a good individual drill to make certain that your eyes are directly on the ball and that your hands automatically extend out to grasp the ball in flight.
Training your mind to think positively and not focus on the negative begins with putting positive pictures in your mind that you can reference during the game. You need to sit in a quiet, dark place, close your eyes, picture yourself running a particular pass route, making the reception and scoring a touchdown.
Do this for each of the routes that you will be asked to run for your offense. Away from the field, repeat this drill as much as you can, at least once every day. When a particular pass pattern is called in the huddle, the things you now focus on in your mind should be your assignment, the snap count and then the picture of you having success running the route.
See the ball leave the quarterback's hand, focus on the front tip of the ball, catch the ball in your hands, secure the ball and see the picture of it all happening in your mind as you break the huddle before the play begins.
Coach Tom Bass
Kim had the following question:
On a 3-point stance for a tight end, how is your body weighted, and is it really important to get it right? Also, it's kind of hard for me to catch the ball when it's thrown high because it either bounces off my hand or when I catch it the ball falls to the ground. Do you have any advice?
Hi Kim,
It is very important to have a balanced stance when you are playing TE because you will need to move in a variety of directions stepping first with one foot and then with the other. You need to have both feet under your hips and not have too much weight on your down hand.
One method you can use to practice is to start with you feet even, bend your knees so that you can rest both forearms on each of your thighs. Then reach straight ahead with both hands and place them on the ground just slightly ahead of your shoulder pads.
This gets you into a balanced stance where your shoulders are even. You can then lift up one hand and again rest your forearm on your thigh putting you into a balanced three-point stance.
You will need to be able to take a position step with your inside foot when you are angle blocking or double-teaming a player to your inside. When you need to hook block a player to your outside you will need to take the first step with your outside foot.
Your first step for your release on a pass play will often be determined by the position of the defensive player lined up in front of you and the pass route you are going to run.
Many players have a problem reaching for a high pass. The problem is often that they are not extending their hands forward as well as up to meet the ball, thereby allowing them to be able to see the ball and their hands at the moment of the catch. Also they must cock their wrist back in order to catch the ball so the ball will not deflect to the ground.
Work on these two techniques and make certain that you have your thumbs together if the ball is coming directly at you.
Coach Tom Bass
Larry had the following question:
I went to a Leigh University lineman camp, and they told us to do the opposite stuff our lineman coach told us to do. I don't know who to believe or know which method is right?
Hi Larry,
The longer you are in football, the more you will find that there are a number of ways to do the same thing. This is a normal occurrence so do no worry about it too much.
In your situation, I would follow the coaching of your present coach so that he does not begin to think that you cannot learn what he is trying to teach you. If he feels this is happening, he may not feel good about putting you in the game.
If you feel that you have a good relationship with your coach, you might ask him if he has ever taught or considered teaching one of the techniques you learned at camp and see if he is open to discuss it with you.
You can tell him where you learned the technique and he may let you try it in practice, or he may tell you why he prefers the technique he is teaching for the style of offense your team uses. Try to keep low key and just ask a question with no emphasis on one way being better than the other.
You can never be hurt by being exposed to different ways of doing the same thing, and sometimes in football there is no real right or wrong way to do a technique. Often it is the technique that your coach has learned from his coach, used when he played and feels comfortable in teaching to you.
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/.
