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.
Jeff sent the following question:
During a game, my team uses a rubber ball for high school football. I get really sweaty hands, and it makes it very hard to throw. How can I get rid of my sweaty palms and fingertips? I'm sick of throwing incompletions because the ball slips.
Hi Jeff,
One of the first things I would suggest is that you have the center wear a towel in the back of his pants so that you can dry your hands every time you come to the line of scrimmage to run a play. This way you know that you are starting each play with dry hands.
You can also wear a towel in the front of your belt so that you can keep your hands dry. You may need to change the towel every quarter.
Speak to your coach and ask him if he can request that the officials dry the ball during the game. Often they will be doing this if they know it is a problem.
Finally, you may want to look at wearing gloves. This would be the last solution if you cannot help the problem by having you and the center wearing a towel so that you can always be sure that your hands are dry.
Coach Tom Bass
Dustin sent the following question:
I'm an upcoming freshman, and I weigh 228 pounds and am 5-foot-6. I bench 185, squat 315, push jerk 315 and power clean 155. Should I try out for varsity or stick to JV?
Hi Dustin,
For a freshman, you have good weight room numbers that indicate that you have been doing some work in the weight room. I also hope you have been spending as much time working on your speed and endurance so that you are ready to actually play the game of football.
To answer your question, in my feeing has always been that you should play at the level at which you are going to get the greatest opportunity for playing time. In your case, that would probably be to start on the JV team and only when the coaches felt you should be playing with the varsity, would I consider moving up.
Even if you do move up to the varsity, I would ask the coaches if you could still play in the JV games so this year doesn't end up with you sitting on the bench with little or no game experience.
Let your coaches make the decision after they have had the opportunity to see you practice and play and try not to be in a rush. You have a number of seasons ahead of you when you will be on the varsity.
Coach Tom Bass
Matthew sent the following question:
I'm 5-foot-11 and a wide receiver. I'm playing varsity for my school, and I'm only a sophomore. Every time I get in my stance, I feel wobbly and out of balance. I look at other receivers and some have their legs wide with their hands down and some keep their legs close and arms up. Can you give me your suggested wide receiver stance?
Hi Matthew,
Not having the opportunity to see you in your stance, my best guess would be that you have your feet too close together. Many times receivers have this problem when they line up in a very narrow stance.
Try to line up in a two-point stance by standing up straight with your feet even and spread the width of your shoulders. Then take a step directly forward with your outside foot. Lean forward with your shoulders so that your head and shoulders are slightly in front of your front foot. Turn your head to the inside so that you can see that you are onside and so that you can see the ball when it is snapped.
Your weight should be slightly more on your front foot so that your first step is with your back foot and that you cross the line of scrimmage with this initial step.
Try lining up in this manner every down until you feel that your hips are over your feet and that you have a balanced stance. Remember that the closer your feet are together, the less stable your stance will be.
Coach Tom Bass
Matt sent the following question:
I live in a big football city. I'm going to be a freshman this year, and I play tight end and outside linebacker. I am kind of skeptical about me making an impression with the coaches. I have asthma and have to use my inhaler once or twice a practice. My endurance isn't that great, and I really wish I could show the coach that my four years of experience wasn't for nothing.
Hi Matt,
First of all, make sure that you have everything cleared with your doctor, as I am certain that you have. Next, make an appointment with your position coach or head coach away from the practice field as soon as you can and explain the situation to him. You may even want to bring a statement from your doctor, for the coach to keep on file.
Once the coach understands your situation, I am sure that he will be ready to make allowances for any time that you need to take a break in either practice or a game.
Explain to the coach that you really want to play football and that it is important to you. Tell him that it may seem that you are not in good condition, but that because of your asthma, your endurance is not as great as some of the other players, but your effort will always be there.
I am certain the coach will understand, and I hope you have a good year.
Coach Tom Bass
Booker sent the following question:
I play JV football as a wide receiver. Every time I run my routes, corners play 7-10 yards off of me because I am usually faster than they are. When I run my slants and stops, I usually catch the ball. The problem is when I run the fly, I burn the corners all the time and when the ball comes to me, I usually drop it. How can I work on my concentration and catching the deep bomb?
Hi Booker,
Consistency in making the catch is one of the most important attributes for any wide receiver regardless of the distance of the route. The challenge that many receivers face when catching a long pass is that they never get their hands where they can see their hands and the ball as the ball arrives.
When you cannot see your hands, it often happens that your little fingers are not together and your hands are spread rather than close together. Whenever a pass is coming over your head or over one shoulder or the other, work on extending your arms back over your head and shoulders so that you see the ball and your hands as the pass arrives.
The thing you do not want to do is follow the flight of the ball and then at the very last second, try to find your hands and see if they are positioned correctly to make the catch.
Try to have the quarterback throw these passes to you before practice. You can run down the sideline and the quarterback can loft the ball to you over either your left or right shoulder and then directly over your head.
Try to arch your back and bend your head and shoulders back so that you can easily see the ball in flight and your hands and the ball as it comes to you as you make the catch.
When doing this drill you do not need to run far or fast - 5 or 10 yards at the most - but make certain you run straight away from the quarterback for the best results.
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/.
